Mexico News Today Wednesday, May 13, 2020

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

New investigation suggests Covid-19 deaths five times higher than reported in Mexico City Crematoriums have three-day backlogs and morgues and storage rooms are stacked with bodies while official claims numbers are underreported by factor of 5, claims report by British media company. FULL STORY Tuesday sets new record for Covid deaths, infections Mexico recorded its biggest single-day increase to the number of cases and the death toll as it enters its fourth week of phase three of the pandemic. FULL STORY RELATED: Active coronavirus cases see decline of 169; first drop since April 21. FULL STORY Share this email and introduce friends to Mexico News Daily Forward

In a month and a half, virus cost 753,000 jobs According to the Mexican Social Security Institute, 198,033 jobs were lost between March 13 and 31 and a record 555,247 disappeared in April. FULL STORY 300,000 Covid-19 test kits to arrive from China As of Tuesday, 142,204 people had been tested, amounting to a rate that is 30 times less than in the US. FULL STORY Volunteer paramedic beaten, attacked with bleach Two men attacked a volunteer Red Cross paramedic in Guerrero after accusing him of spreading coronavirus. FULL STORY If public continues to ignore quarantine, Hidalgo hospitals at risk of collapse The state's health minister warned that hospitals could be overwhelmed if residents continue to flout stay-at-home orders and other measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.  FULL STORY Bicycle maker attempted to hide 350 employees The manufacturer attempted hide the employees at a Mexico City factory during an inspection to verify that the company had halted production during the coronavirus emergency, city officials said. FULL STORY Puerto Vallarta hotels seek ‘Covid-safe’ designation With coronavirus restrictions expected to ease in June, hoteliers are seeking to have the popular tourist destination certified as Covid-safe by the Ministry of Health.  FULL STORY Poultry producer serves chicken soup at hospitals Poultry company Bachoco is on its way to serving over 50,000 bowls of soup to doctors, nurses and relatives of Covid-19 patients outside hospitals in Mexico City, Puebla and Monterrey. FULL STORY For the tequila industry, coronavirus has been a boon Mexico’s national drink has seen a surge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic, market research firms report, one of the few bright spots for the Mexican economy as it heads into what will likely be a deep recession.  FULL STORY Inflamed by phoney WhatsApp message, residents attack ‘suspects’ Residents of Villa Victoria in the state of México accosted two funeral home workers who were forced to burn their hearse after false reports on social media said they were trying to kidnap children. FULL STORY Young croc worries residents in Morelia, Michoacán Residents of a southern neighborhood of the city are living in fear of a meter-long crocodile that has evaded capture since April. FULL STORY AMLO decrees continued policing by armed forces The military will continue carrying out public security tasks for another four years, a move that appears to acknowledge that the National Guard has failed. FULL STORY AMLO reopens ‘Fast and Furious’ case with diplomatic note to US The federal government has sent a diplomatic note to the United States Embassy to seek information about the decade-old gun-running sting, renewing focus on a controversial issue that dates back 10 years. FULL STORY Phase one of economic reopening begins May 18 The government revealed a three-phase plan Wednesday for the eventual lifting of coronavirus restrictions and a color-coded “stoplight” system to determine each state’s readiness to return to what is being called a “new normal.” FULL STORY Government was to announce ‘the new normal’ The federal government said it would announce a plan outlining how “the new normal” will look as Mexico takes steps to reopen the economy and get back to work.  FULL STORY 450 markets closed in Mexico City to reduce coronavirus contagion Boroughs in Mexico City have closed down over 450 open-air and mobile markets in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in the city. FULL STORY States raise salaries to attract more medical personnel for virus fight States are offering generous salary hikes in an effort to attract doctors and nurses to help treat coronavirus patients.  FULL STORY Back to work: automotive, construction, mining declared essential activities The General Health Council has designated automotive production, construction and mining as essential activities, paving the way for the sectors to reopen despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. FULL STORY Adulterated liquor kills at least 34 on Mother’s Day Thirty-four people died after drinking tainted alcohol in Puebla and Morelos, local authorities reported. FULL STORY THE MND POLL THE STORY: AMLO: violence will be controlled because there is no longer collusion FULL STORY THE QUESTION: How likely is it that there is no longer collusion between authorities and organized crime? VOTE HERE LAST POLL: Do you have confidence in the government's coronavirus predictions? 91% said no. VIEW FULL RESULTS

OPINION Defining what’s essential in times of coronavirus is a challenge If there’s one thing that the coronavirus has taught it’s that there’s quite a variety of definitions out there, writes Sarah DeVries, some more valid than others. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE For vendors without savings, credit or support, aid group comes to the rescue A weekly grocery basket is one form of assistance provided by the network of volunteers behind Ayuda Mutua in Mexico City, writes Lydia Carey. FULL STORY