The states of Michoacan and Jalisco in western Mexico on Monday imposed mandatory containment to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, adopting tougher measures than the federal government. These two states alone concentrate around 10% of the 120 million inhabitants of Mexico.
The government of Michoacan, where Mexico’s most important port is located, Lazaro Cardenas, has decided to impose compulsory confinement and will impose sanctions, including community service, on those who do not respect this measure, announced in a message broadcast Monday the state governor, Silvano Aureoles. Mandatory confinement was decided because of the indiscipline of people who "continue to organize parties" in the state, said the governor. Only people can now leave their homes who have to go out to buy food, medicine, go to health centers, banks, or to help the elderly, minors or people with disabilities.
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To help maintain containment, the Michoacan police, where 4.6 million people live, will distribute food aid to those most in need, the governor said.
Those who violate containment will face sanctions ranging from a fine to compulsory isolation in ten centers set up for this purpose, continued Silvano Aureoles. They may also be forced to make anti-virus masks or "do cleaning in hospitals and health centers ," he said.
Likewise, the governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, announced in a video broadcast on Sunday evening that "from Monday social isolation measures will be compulsory, that those who do not respect them will be punished, and that the law enforcement will be responsible for enforcing them . ” The state of Jalisco has 7.9 million inhabitants. Guadalajara, its capital, is the second largest city in Mexico, with 4.6 million inhabitants.
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The federal government, for its part, led by leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has announced that it will not take mandatory containment measures in the fight against the pandemic, unlike what other countries have done. the region like Peru or Argentina. He suspended classes at educational institutions, called on non-essential companies to suspend their activities, and cut sporting and cultural events until May 30.
According to the latest assessment, Mexico has 8,261 cases of Covid-19 contamination and 686 deaths.