Mexico’s AMLO says he’ll end public events when time’s right
MEXICO CITY — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday he will suspend his tours of the countryside and intimate, person-to-person interactions with large numbers of supporters when his coronavirus czar tells him it’s time to do so.
After a weekend visit to the southwestern state of Guerrero where he waded into crowds, shook hands and gave and received cheek-kisses, in contrast to advice from health officials that Mexicans begin practicing social distancing to slow the virus’ spread, López Obrador said the decision will be up to Health Department Deputy Secretary Hugo López-Gatell.
“He will tell me, ‘It’s not convenient that you meet with a lot of people, or you should no longer go to those events, nor greet with hugs, kisses, nothing,’” López Obrador said. “He will tell me when.”
Mexico has 82 confirmed cases of the virus as of the latest complete report Monday evening and no deaths, though health officials said Sunday that that a 71-year-old man was in critical condition, knocking down media reports he had died.