coronavirus

Mexico Says Coronavirus Now Endemic, Not Pandemic

Mexico never enforced face mask requirements, and the few partial shutdowns of businesses and activities were lifted weeks ago

A health worker applies a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a drive for those between the ages of 15 and 17, at the Campo Marte venue in Mexico City, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.
AP Photo/Marco Ugarte

The Mexican government said Tuesday that COVID-19 has passed from a pandemic to an endemic stage in Mexico, meaning authorities will treat it as a seasonally recurring disease.

Mexico never enforced face mask requirements, and the few partial shutdowns of businesses and activities were lifted weeks ago.

“It is now retreating almost completely,” said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said Thursday new data shows its kid-sized booster shot helps healthy 5- to 11-year-olds rev up virus-fighting antibodies.

New case numbers have declined. But that may be because Mexico, which never did much testing, is now offering even fewer tests.

Daily death rates have also dropped sharply.

Mexico has recorded almost 325,000 test-confirmed deaths, but government reviews of death certificates suggest the real toll is almost 490,000.

About 90% of adult Mexicans have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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