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Mexico tops 1 million coronavirus cases, as death toll nears 100,000

A sign above crowds of people in a street in Mexico City, Mexico, warning to "avoid masses" and keep distance from others during a nationwide, 12-day shopping event that's running through Nov. 20, designed to stimulate the economy. Photo: Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images

Mexico surpassed 1 million coronavirus cases and over 98,200 deaths from COVID-19 late Saturday, per Johns Hopkins data.

Driving the news: Mexican health officials have focused on testing the seriously ill and conducted only about 2.5 million COVID-19 tests in total — representing 1.9% of the population, AP reports.

  • The relatively small amount of tests makes contact tracing and identifying outbreaks or asymptomatic cases early difficult.
  • The government has not followed other internationally accepted practices during the pandemic management, including the wearing of face masks and restrictions, AP notes.

Of note: Mexico has reported the fourth-highest number of deaths from COVID-19 in the world, after India, Brazil and the U.S.

Zoom in: Mexico City is a coronavirus epicenter. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday that bars would shut for 15 days and businesses including restaurants and gyms must close earlier in an effort to curb the spread, per Al Jazeera.

By the numbers: Per Johns Hopkins, Mexico is the 11th country to exceed 1 million cases. The others are:

  1. The U.S. (over 10.9 million)
  2. India (over 8.7 million)
  3. Brazil (5.8 million-plus)
  4. France (more than 1.9 million)
  5. Russia (nearly 1.9 million)
  6. Spain (over 1.4 million)
  7. United Kingdom (1.3 million-plus)
  8. Argentina (more than 1.3 million)
  9. Colombia (nearly 1.2. million)
  10. Italy (over 1.1 million)

Go deeper: Mexicans offered little coronavirus aid as death and economic tolls climb

Go deeper

Shawna Chen
14 hours ago - Health

CDC panel: COVID vaccines should go to health workers, long-term care residents first

Hospital staff work in the COVID-19 intensive care unit in Houston. Photo: Go Nakamura via Getty

Health-care workers and nursing home residents should be at the front of the line to get coronavirus vaccines in the United States once they’re cleared and available for public use, an independent CDC panel recommended in a 13-1 emergency vote on Tuesday, per CNBC.

Why it matters: Recent developments in COVID-19 vaccines have accelerated the timeline for distribution as vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna undergo the federal approval process. States are preparing to begin distributing as soon as two weeks from now.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Orion Rummler, Alayna Treene
Updated 18 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Bipartisan group of lawmakers unveils $908 billion COVID stimulus proposal

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the Capitol in 2018. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday proposed a $908 billion coronavirus stimulus package, in one of the few concrete steps toward COVID relief made by Congress in several months.

Why it matters: Recent data shows that the economic recovery is floundering as coronavirus cases surge and hospitals threaten to be overwhelmed heading into what is likely to be a grim winter.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Jonathan Swan, Rebecca Falconer
13 hours ago - Health

CDC to cut guidance on quarantine period for coronavirus exposure

A health care worker oversees cars as people arrive to get tested for coronavirus at a testing site in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday. Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The CDC will soon shorten its guidance for quarantine periods following exposure to COVID-19, AP reported Tuesday and Axios can confirm.

Why it matters: Quarantine helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which can occur before a person knows they're sick or if they're infected without feeling any symptoms. The current recommended period to stay home if exposed to the virus is 14 days. The CDC plans to amend this to 10 days or seven with a negative test, an official told Axios.

  • The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.