El COVID-19 en México: ¿Hay Razón para Temer? • COVID-19 in Mexico: Is There a Reason to Fear?
by Hortensia Picos Lee
COVID19 has highlighted, as never before, that fear can paralyze and manipulate. In the United States, President Donald Trump as part of his electoral strategy, exploits this situation giving it a racist tint. He does not openly express it, but when he says that the coronavirus came from China[1], he stigmatizes the Chinese population and associates them with images of uncleanliness, contamination and poor health. In Mexico, opposition groups to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his government try to take political advantage of fear by constantly spreading false information leading people to mistrust government information and measures. This is also done for their own political gain.
In this attempt there is also discrimination. Many of the conservative representatives in Mexico complain that the government of the self-proclaimed Fourth Transformation has not yet decreed a forced quarantine or curfew as in Italy[2], for example. In this, they do not take into account the millions of Mexicans who do not have employment that allow them stay home and remain financially stable. For example, Riki Barker, a media personality, tweeted the following:
Now another thing.
Why do they live hand-to-mouth? That is not a great plan.
If your current job only allows you to live like this, I
Think they should look for another one.
Stop surviving and think more about living !!!!!!!
https:
In response, the vast majority of Mexicans do not have the possibility of simply changing jobs, and these proclamations made from people able to take shelter in the comforts of their homes with an assured level of income, reflects a disconnect with the major sector of the population living in poverty, people who have to leave their homes day after day to earn a living for their families. There have been unfortunate cases such as that of a Mexican company, a franchisee of a transnational company, which has sent its employees home without pay, without taking into account their need for the salaries they normally receive.[3]
Wealth and classism often go hand in hand with the measures demanded by those who support these initiatives. The same people who, while exhibiting a natural concern for preventing the spread of disease, are not sensitive to those who are unable to stay at home. Staying at home is not an option for many, like domestic workers, street traders, taxi drivers, etc. In Mexico, the risk of not going to work affects more than half of the workers in Mexico.[4]
In times of pandemic, traditional media and social networks are abuzz with information. These media often offer reliable and useful advice and news, but they have also spread false information. An example of this was the news of the death of a wealthy Mexican businessman who apparently died of a complication of pneumonia caused by COVID19. The news was false.[5] It is best to ignore rumors and news that have not been verified by official sources. May our ideology, our values, our worldview, our affections, our interests and our emotions not prevent us from objectively interpreting the information we receive.The fear caused by irresponsible and sensationalist information can have a very detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of those who feel it and do not control it.
The wisest method is to pay attention to authorized voices such as those of health specialists, in this specific case of COVID19 I mention Jean Marc Gabastou and Cristian Morales Fuhrimann, representatives in Mexico of the World Health Organization (WHO) and of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The latter, in an interview for the Spanish newspaper El País published on March 21, said: “Mexico is taking several of the lessons learned by other countries, such as China, and is applying measures consistent with the WHO recommendations; it was the first to develop a screening test for the coronavirus, and that is the basic premise for reducing the spread rate of the pandemic.” Gabastou pointed out, in the same interview, the following: “[Mexico] has facilities, very high-quality technology and highly trained personnel. The reaction capacity was immediate, it has one of the highest quality laboratories in the region and in the world, and it was the first country to implement the algorithm for complete diagnosis. It has capacity, it is a matter of organization and reorganization of services in a situation like this and that is where we will see how it responds to scenario 3 in the coming weeks.”
While the Mexican government promotes social distancing as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID19, it also recognizes this pandemic represents a challenge not only in health but also in economic terms. That's why the Mexican government and other specialists suggest a balance between these factors. Of course there is a clear emphasis on respecting the suggested social distancing to avoid the spread of the disease, but on the other hand, local consumption is also encouraged so that the economy is not paralyzed completely. This also as an act of solidarity with small businesses who will suffer more acutely from the economic consequences. The government and specialists recommend the following:
Buy what is necessary to avoid generating artificial shortages.
Make purchases in a single trip to avoid going out more than necessary.
Purchase from the closest businesses because, in addition to activating the neighborhood economy, it will help prevent overcrowding.
What is God's response to fear? If the spirit of fear overcomes us, then we must trust and love God completely. First John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." However, no one is perfect, and God knows it. That is why God has generously spread encouragement throughout the Bible. Starting from the book of Genesis and continuing through the entire Bible to the book of Revelation, God tells us "Do not fear." For example, Isaiah 41:10 encourages us “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We often fear the future and what will become of us. But Jesus reminds us that God cares about the birds of the sky, so how much more will be provided for the children of God? “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31).
Once we have learned to put our trust in God, we will not be afraid of things that come against us. We will be like the psalmist who confidently said: “…let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” (Psalm 5:11).
1] The perverse effects of Trump's obsession with calling the coronavirus the "Chinese virus". https:
[2] Italy declares the curfew and closes all the country's businesses to stop the Coronavirus. https:
[3] Alsea reduces expenses due to coronavirus: offers employees 30 days of absence without pay. https:
[4] Coronavirus Mexico: Staying at home is not an option for millions of workers. https:
[5] Health Department denies José Kuri's death from coronavirus. https:
