Page 152 - Speedhorse June 2020

E Ef f f f e e c c t t s s O O n n E E q q u u i i n n e e s s I I n n M M e ex x i i c c o o
The General Environment
by Luis Prieto Zamudia, translation by Speedhorse • photos by Miguel Ángel Espinoza / Hipódromo de Las Américas
On Dec. 31, 2019, the first outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. Two months later on Feb. 28, 2020,
the first case of the disease was confirmed and reported in Mexico, and the first death occurred on March 18.
By May 31, the pandemic reached proportions that exceeded any forecast from federal health authorities. The May 31 report includes concerning and growing figures, with the number of confirmed infected persons at 90,964, of which 16,962 are active (including positive cases with the start date of symptoms in the most recent 14 days) and 9,930 deaths accumulated over three months.
The pandemic arrived in Mexico at a very unfortunate time. The economy was already
in a recession due to the lack of confidence of domestic and foreign investors in the policies implemented by the government of leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador since Dec. 1, 2018, which has led to growing unemployment. It also found a health system in crisis because
of historical investment lags in so-called ‘public medicine’ to meet the demand of the eligible population; and a health system which is not protected by any social security institution.
According to experts, the ravages of the virus have been exacerbated by the relapse of a highly vulnerable population due to the lifestyle adopted in recent decades that, in addition to weakening their immune system, has led to large sections of the population developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking and respiratory conditions. These have been the ‘fuel’ of the pandemic in Mexico and the world.
Standing out among the actions undertaken is the ‘National Day Of Social Distancing’ on March 23, which consisted of a one-month suspension of school, economic and non- essential services activities, the cancellation of mass events, avoiding crowds of people, isolating at home, maintaining a physical distance to reduce the risk of contagion, and protecting pregnant women and adults over 60 years of age. These actions were taken in order to avoid the spread of the virus that would cause an increase in hospitalization crisis. Technically, the goal was to ‘flatten the contagion curve.’ Due to unsatisfactory results, it was decided to extend this day until May 31.
This was summed up in an extensive media campaign under the slogan: ‘Stay at home’
to encourage individuals to go out only for essentials and to take all necessary precautions to avoid transmission of the virus. The effect was soon felt in all economic and social sectors, mainly in small and medium-sized enterprises that had to dismiss their workers and employees in whole or in part, in the face of a paralysis of income and the absence of official support to alleviate the crisis. In April alone, the Mexican Social Security Institute reported 555,247 lost jobs, which was added to the 130,593 lost in March. Bank of Mexico estimates a figure of 1,400,000 fewer businesses in operation at the end of 2020.
A large number of these newly unemployed will increase the already broad informal sector of the economy by adding to those who seek their livelihood by ‘working on anything,’ being very vulnerable because they lack social protection.
THE CURRENT COVID-19 SITUATION
At the conclusion of the ‘National Day of Social Distancing’ on June 1 the so-called ‘new normal,’ began, under which the rules for the re-implementation of social activities, labor, economic, educational and cultural activities is sought-gradually, and in accordance with the priorities defined weekly for each state. These rules are in accordance with the evolution of
the pandemic in each municipality under strict health measures, in order to avoid the resurgence of new cases, with the consequent suspension of activities and the risk of saturating the available health services.
This decision tool is a sophisticated ‘traffic light’ to reopening activities, which began on June 1. It consists of four colors: red, orange, yellow and green, where each color means
the level of risk. Red corresponds to areas and activities at high risk of contagion, orange and yellow at an intermediate risk, while green indicates no health restriction.
The activities that are restarted under this criterion – in addition to the essential ones
that were never suspended – are: construction, mining and manufacturing of transport equipment and all those related to the processes they develop.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EQUINE INDUSTRY?
Suspension of horse racing at the Hipodromo de las Americas:
On March 18, the CODERE Company, which is the concessionaire and operator of the
150 SPEEDHORSE June 2020