Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Mexico: AMLO shakes, hugs, cheek-kisses despite virus advice

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Health us greet each other in a
authorities are imploring way that we do not need
Mexicans to change life- to be inside the healthy dis-
styles and deeply ingrained tance," López-Gatell said.
customs to slow the spread A video featured on the
of the new coronavirus: Department's coronavirus
Avoid physical greetings, website shows Zacatecas
keep your distance from state officials demonstrat-
others, avoid nonessential ing alternative greetings:
activities, among others. bowing, saluting, wav-
The message doesn't seem ing, elbow-bumping, even
to have sunk in with Presi- throwing up rock 'n' roll
dent Andrés Manuel López hand gestures. Meanwhile
Obrador, who isn't practic- officials have also be-
ing what his own officials gun calling off some mass
are preaching. events, while allowing oth-
Touring the Mexican coun- ers to continue as normal
tryside this weekend, López for now.
Obrador gave a series of The global pandemic
campaign-style speeches has infected more than
to crowds of townspeople 156,000 people and killed
touting his administration more than 5,800 as of Sun-
and barely mentioning the day. The disease for most
pandemic, saying Sunday A spectator wearing a face mask with a painted skull attends a show during the Vive Latino music people causes only mild or
that he has "great faith that festival in Mexico City, Sunday, March 15, 2020. moderate symptoms but
we are going to advance Associated Press for some, especially the el-
our beloved Mexico, no derly or people with under-
misfortune will hurt us, pan- for contravening what his man discuss the properties try on the number of con- lying health conditions, it
demics, none of that." government's coronavirus of water from the chicayo- firmed coronavirus cases — can cause more severe ill-
It's how he spends most response team is calling ta fruit as villagers crowded 41, up from 26 the previous ness. Nearly 74,000 people
weekends, and a milieu in best practices. around. López Obrador day and 11 the day before have recovered from it so
which he often seems most On Saturday he waded sampled the beverage that — and warning that far, mostly in China.
at home: Getting out of through a crowd of fans and closed the encounter the situation in Mexico is ex- On Sunday López Obra-
the crowded capital and jostling each other to get with a hearty handshake. pected to get more serious dor was again speaking to
pressing the flesh among selfies with him outside a Hours later, back in Mexico soon. crowds and greeting sup-
poor, rural Mexicans who hotel, giving out hugs and City, Health Department "We have already said, it porters in the Costa Chica
make up a core part of even cradling and kissing Deputy Secretary Hugo is highly recommendable region of Guerrero state,
his base. This weekend a young girl on the cheek. López-Gatell gave his daily starting today that we tweeting that people there
though, his usual way of en- Later in the day he stopped evening news conference, avoid greeting with hand- were "enthusiastic, excited
gaging locals was notable his car to listen to a young soberly updating the coun- shakes, kisses, hugs. ... Let and happy." q

Puerto Rico cracks down on violators of coronavirus curfew

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) their way to a beach that only five confirmed cases coming days. a two-week closure of non-
— Sirens blared across Puer- police had driven through of COVID-19 as of Monday, Officials also announced essential government of-
to Rico's busiest beaches on just an hour ago to empty and no deaths. that the National Guard will fices and commercial busi-
Monday as police cleared it out. The new coronavirus start screening passengers nesses except for gas sta-
hundreds of tourists from Other tourists heeded the causes only mild or mod- arriving at Puerto Rico's tions and those in the food,
the U.S. territory's coast in warnings and shuffled back erate symptoms, such as main airport and that the health and finance sectors.
a crackdown on people to their hotels, many carry- fever and cough, for most government will hold all Puerto Rico also cancelled
violating a newly imposed ing take-out meals before people, though it can meetings and press confer- major events, including an
curfew aimed at curbing locking themselves in. cause more severe illness ences online only. Ironman race scheduled
the new coronavirus. Puerto Rico Secretary of for older adults and people Some private sector em- for this past weekend.
Using loudspeakers, police State Elmer Román said with existing health prob- ployees complained their Tizgel High, a 41-year-old
in patrol cars ordered peo- at a press conference on lems. bosses where ordering athlete from Nashville,
ple off the beach: "Please Monday that no one is al- The World Health Organiza- them to go to work despite Tennessee who was sup-
stay at home. Governor's lowed to go to the beach, tion says people with mild the curfew, prompting the posed to compete in the
executive orders. The clarifying an executive or- illness recover in about two government to urge all Ironman competition, re-
beach is closed." der issued Sunday that has weeks, while those with non-essential workers to signed herself on Mon-
The sweep surprised many confused many. more severe illness may stay at home. day to run around a track
tourists in the capital of San "Unfortunately, tourists take three to six weeks to Román warned that police near the beach. She had
Juan, some of whom disre- have to stay in their rooms," recover. will issue fines to individuals, received an alert via her
garded orders to stay inside he said. Elsewhere across Puerto not just businesses accused cellphone on Sunday that
their hotels on a sunny day. Román earlier told local Rico, authorities said Mon- of violating the order. Of- people were banned from
"Why would I get sick at the residents, "You will stay day they had fined more ficers have started 12-hour being outside from 9 p.m.
beach? I'm not going to be in your house unless you than two dozen businesses shifts to ensure people com- to 5 a.m., but she had not
touching anything," said are going to buy food or and arrested a bar owner ply with the curfew, with heard that they could not
46-year-old David Zimmer medicine," he said. "People for violating the curfew, violators facing a six-month be outside during the day.
of Richmond, Minnesota, as have to understand this is and they warned that vio- jail term or a fine of up to "Not being on the beach
he joined a group of fam- something serious." lators would be pursued $5,000. On Sunday, Gov. doesn't make much sense
ily and friends flip-flopping Puerto Rico had recorded more aggressively in up- Wanda Vázquez ordered to me," she said.q