|
 Less than a month later, that celebration appears to have been
pre-mature.
That same week in June, Mexican officials pushed forward with
re-opening schools and permitting restaurants, stadiums and cinemas
to boost capacity. COVID-19 cases sky-rocketed in some parts of the
country.
Infections spiked 64% in three weeks, according to health ministry
data.
"You can definitely talk about a new rebound," said Laurie
Ximénez-Fyvie, a professor and molecular genetics investigator at
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
The accelerated pace of the increase could lead to a "catastrophic"
situation, she added.
In the state Baja California Sur, home to beach destinations like
Los Cabos, infections jumped 366% in June to 1,721 cases, up from
369 a month earlier, health ministry data showed. Daily cases in the
state during the month of June exceeded the numbers recorded at the
height of the pandemic in January.
Despite the spike in cases, however, deaths and hospitalizations
have remained fairly low.
The new cases are seen mostly in younger people, and for now, the
highly contagious Delta variant has not spread widely in Mexico.
With the majority elderly almost fully vaccinated, officials are
cautiously optimistic the worst has passed.
Mexico's vaccine campaign has been slow and still has a long way to
go before the government's goal of at least one dose for everyone
over the age of 18 by October. So far, only about 24% of Mexico's
126 million people have had their first shot.
TOURISM AND HURRICANES
At least a third of Mexico's 32 states have marked an increase in
coronavirus cases since the beginning of June. Tourist hot spots
along Mexico's coastline were especially hard hit.
Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that does not
require a negative COVID-19 test to enter, making it a popular
option for international tourists, particularly from the United
States. Local governments are pinning hopes of an economic boost on
a rebound in tourism.
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 The Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) warned last week that the
reactivation of tourism and the onset of
hurricane season could aggravate the pandemic
due to increased movement and a lack of social
distancing and ventilation during a storm.
Despite the increase in cases, there are almost
no government restrictions on mobility or
capacity.
DELTA VARIANT, CHINESE VACCINES
The Delta variant, first confirmed in India in
October, has been identified in at least a third
of Mexico's states, mostly concentrated in Baja
California Sur and Mexico City, according to the
Mexican Consortium for Genomic Surveillance.
Some studies have indicated the Delta variant
was resistant to some vaccines but Lopez-Gatell
said that was "still controversial."
If the Delta variant spreads widely in Mexico,
where many people received Chinese vaccines, it
could complicate the pandemic further, said
Ximénez-Fyvie, adding that Mexico is already
behind the curve in vaccinations.
The Sinovac vaccine is 51% effective in
preventing symptomatic disease, while Cansino is
65% effective. Mexico plans to cover 35% of its
population with Chinese vaccines.
China has not provided vaccine effectiveness
results against the Delta variant based on
large-scale data in clinical trials or
real-world use.
"If Uruguay and Chile, which have vaccinated
around 60% of their population, cannot stop the
rebound, why could we with 20%?," said
Ximénez-Fyvie.
(Reporting by Diego Ore, writing by Cassandra
Garrison; Editing by David Gregorio)
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