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  • Coronavirus. López Obrador orders the return of the military to the streets of Mexico

After 51 days of voluntary isolation marked by a false sense of tranquility, Mexico has entered the expected peak of the pandemic this week, recording its worst daily death and infection rates. According to the last official court, the total cases already rise to 3,926 and 38,324 respectively. These are not easy days for President López Obrador, involved since Monday in the controversy of having broken his main electoral promise: to return the Army to the barracks, decoupling his role from Public Security. The Mexican president was in need of good news and this Wednesday he had the opportunity to redeem himself during his usual morning conference at the National Palace. Escorted by four state governors, López Obrador has explained that the plan to return to normality will start on May 18 and that it will be "gradual, orderly and cautious."

"Today we think about the return, after 51 days of Sana Distancia. It has been difficult in the health, social aspects. We have learned that the union of both aspects is indivisible, we are in the critical part of the epidemic, we are doing well, always and when we follow the recommendations, "said López Obrador from his rostrum. Next Monday, 269 ​​municipalities, of the 2,500 that exist throughout the country, will be the first to abandon restrictions due to the coronavirus. The conditions that must be met to enter this list are: that neither your region, nor the neighboring municipalities, register any active cases. Around them a sanitary fence will be imposed with which to prevent the importation of cases and that will also allow the reopening of schools, universities and non-essential activities.

The second phase of the process, classified as "preparatory", will start next Monday and will end on May 31. During this period the isolation recommendations will be maintained but the construction, mining and manufacturing of transportation equipment will be included within the essential and therefore permitted activities. Despite the fact that the epidemic curve continues these days in a clear upward trend, the Mexican Executive has a great interest in accelerating the country's economic recovery. According to data from the Mexican Social Security Institute, in the last two months eight jobs per minute have been destroyed in the country , bringing the total number to 685,840 layoffs. And this only in the formal sector, in the informal sector (which represents 33% of the country's labor force) the situation could be much more serious.

System is 'traffic lights'

Starting on June 1, the process of returning to normality will be extended to the rest of the national territory under a system of gradual opening of activities. As with traffic restrictions or the levels of danger of volcanoes, the system chosen in Mexico to differentiate the different phases of the process is a traffic light , in this case four colors. The Ministry of Health will be in charge of assigning colors to the states each week based on the evolution of the pandemic in their territory. As detailed by the Secretary of Economy, Gabriela Márquez , with the color red, conditions identical to those of the month of May will be maintained, with the orange "activities that can be developed as essential and non-essential are increased at a reduced level", in addition " health fences will be installed in some workplaces and vulnerable people will also be able to join their jobs. "

Yellow will expand the activities allowed and the mobility of citizens. Closed public spaces such as temples, cinemas or restaurants may be opened, but still with limitations. Finally, with the green light, all restrictions will be removed , educational centers will be opened and the country will resume its frenetic habitual activity. As explained by the Secretary of Health, Jorge Alcocer : "The economic revival plan meets the criteria of safety and certainty (...) the health of Mexicans has prevailed."

Without coercive measures

Unlike other countries in the region, such as Argentina, Colombia or Brazil, no coercive measures have been imposed in Mexico to isolate the population . All the indications of the health authorities have been, in fact, recommendations, never obligations. Following this line of blind trust in citizens, López Obrador has reiterated that "the bet is on the responsibility of our people and it has become clear that the people of Mexico are a people of legal age, a responsible people, very aware , and participatory ". He has also dedicated a few words to those governors (such as those of Jalisco or Sonora) who have tried to mark their own path during this health crisis, ignoring the indications of the Executive: "This plan is of voluntary application. If there is a municipal, state authority, that according to its characteristics decides that it will not abide by this plan, there will be no controversy , we will not fight, we will not divide, we will not bet on separation. "

Accustomed to setting the news agenda with daily public appearances, López Obrador has surprised this Wednesday by leaving the lectern without giving rise to questions from the press. In his most anticipated speech in recent weeks, when there was more interest in clarifying the doubts raised by the process (or the moment chosen to announce it), the Mexican president has opted for the 'scared' . Nor has he had the opportunity to refer to the controversial return of the Army to public security tasks with which it fails to fulfill its main electoral promise. The day after Mexico broke its own record, with 353 deaths and 1,997 infections in 24 hours , López Obrador did not need questions from the press to tarnish the good news he was going to convey.

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