Mexico City, Mexico — Health authorities in Mexico City say that week 49 of the epidemic opened with a reduction in cases after two consecutive weeks of increases. With this, Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, the Undersecretary of Health, says the trend toward a fourth wave of infections may have been broken.
“We opened this week with a reduction, which is encouraging because we had two consecutive weeks where there was an increase, but we see that this was not configured in a generalized trend towards a possible fourth wave.”
In a press conference from Jalisco with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the health official warned that although there is a maintained reduction of infections, health authorities will continue to be aware of epidemic trends around the country.
“At the moment, we are still declining but of course, we will be monitoring events every day. If there is any change in the trend, we will inform people in a timely manner,” he said.
López-Gatell explained that according to the most recent report, 0.4 percent of the cases are active, while hospitalizations nationwide show a reduction of 90 percent in contrast to the highest peak, which was recorded during the second wave of infections.
“Hospitalization, which is a reflection of the occurrence of severe COVID disease, the relevant or most relevant part of the epidemic, is also on a downward trajectory.”
He clarified that the reduction in hospitalizations for COVID-19 is largely due to people being vaccinated. “As we have already commented on several occasions, it is above all a positive consequence of vaccination.
“Vaccinations substantially reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and, of course, deaths,” he stressed noting that 86 percent of adults over the age of 18 have already been vaccinated, most with a complete two-dose scheme.