Mexico not halting flights from UK amid virus strain

Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO (AA) - Mexico’s Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez Gatell said Tuesday the government will align with World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations and will not block international flights.

"Blocking flights from the United Kingdom will not have a specific contribution diminishing the risk of contagion. Viruses can not be contained by physical barriers or shutting down air and maritime ports, there is no evidence that supports this claim," he said.

The comments stem from recent news about the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus in the UK. Ever since the discovery was first reported, the Mexican government has been asked to block flights arriving from the UK.

Lopez Gatell said there is no evidence the new strain is more lethal or infectious than previous mutations or expressions of the virus and explained that the reported 70% infection rate of the new strain is still under investigation.

"For now, there is no evidence that the new mutations found to result in a more virulent or infectious disease," he said, taking the opportunity to reassure the country that there is no evidence that the newly produced vaccine is not effective against the new strain.

"At this moment, the World Health Organization advice against blocking incoming flights, since this does not pose a threat to public health additional to the fact that the virus is propagated all around the world," he said, adding that halting international flights is more detrimental than beneficial.

Mexico is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 infections, with hospital beds and ventilators scarce in highly populated areas such as Mexico City. The country has 86% of beds in use and is using 89% of respirators in the Mexican capital.

Infections have reached 1,505,274 and there are 135,694 deaths, as reported by the Nationa Council of Science and Technology.