Controversy over photos of López-Gatell on vacation

(CNN Spanish) -

Several photographs of the Undersecretary of Health of Mexico, Hugo López-Gatell, in which he appears in a place near the beach, circulated this Sunday on social networks and unleashed great controversy in the country.

A Mexican government source told CNN that the images are authentic, although they did not confirm when they were taken.

The photographs were released several days after López-Gatell, also a spokesperson for the covid-19 emergency in Mexico, asked citizens not to leave home if it was not necessary to avoid more infections.

In the last weeks of last year there has been a rebound in the number of cases and deaths from the disease, especially in the capital and the state of Mexico.

The Mexican Ministry of Health informed CNN that, for the moment, it will not issue a statement on the matter, although it is expected that Undersecretary López-Gatell will refer to it this Monday in his press conference in which he updates the situation. of the covid-19 pandemic in the country.

In his usual meeting with the media, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador avoided commenting on the controversy on Monday and pointed out that he preferred López-Gatell himself to explain the matter.

“What I can tell you in addition to López Gatell's behavior is that he has been working hard, very hard, that he has been fully fulfilling his responsibility.

He is a very good public servant, a good specialist and professional.

That's what I can comment on, ”said López Obrador.

Hugo Lopez-Gatell