The lessons of the crisis in Mexico

Travel light, I think you are in a bad mood tonight.  Arlene’s clear intent was to point out the self-centerness of Americans and others who can’t follow the most simple pandemic rules.  She wasn’t discussing working class people in Mexico or the United States who don’t always have the luxury of social distancing.  Unfortunately, there are thousands of people, especially in the U.S. who simply won’t follow the simplest Proscribed guidelines because they either don’t like the inconvenience or this wish to politicize a public health crisis.  Obviously, less privileged and poorer people can’t always practice social distancing rules.  That was a given in Arkene’s post.

I also don’t have much confidence in the Covid case numbers being provided by Mexico. There are so few tests that necessarily mean the official numbers are very low.   The official case numbers shown are mostly based on visible symptoms and disease.  As everyone knows, there are at least 25-35% more people who are asymptomatic.  This is a potential problem long-term.

Markenzee wrote:

Travel light, I think you are in a bad mood tonight.  Arlene’s clear intent was to point out the self-centerness of Americans and others who can’t follow the most simple pandemic rules.  She wasn’t discussing working class people in Mexico or the United States who don’t always have the luxury of social distancing.  Unfortunately, there are thousands of people, especially in the U.S. who simply won’t follow the simplest Proscribed guidelines because they either don’t like the inconvenience or this wish to politicize a public health crisis.  Obviously, less privileged and poorer people can’t always practice social distancing rules.  That was a given in Arkene’s post.

It's all about people attacking each other  Merkenzee, that is a slippery slope for everyone. It also totally ignores the constitution.

I base my actions on what is happening locally my city my county my state.  For whatever reasons here in OR we have not been overwhelmed unlike our neighbors in WA and CA.  IMO many of the actions taken by our state govt were done based on fear not facts.  99.9% of the time actions taken based on fear don't work out well. Hence a 2.5 month shutdown is going to take 3-7 years to recover from economically.☹️
I have been following the situation in Mexico but it's even more difficult to get hard facts than here in US. So many in Mexico depend on tourism to support themselves there is no help from govt there so at least economically the situation for those in tourism dependent work are being hit very hard.  Maybe this crisis will precipitate change there.
I was planning my relocation to Baja in August/Sept but now plans are up in the air due to border restrictions.

Trixie2 wrote:

I base my actions on what is happening locally my city my county my state.  For whatever reasons here in OR we have not been overwhelmed unlike our neighbors in WA and CA.  IMO many of the actions taken by our state govt were done based on fear not facts.  99.9% of the time actions taken based on fear don't work out well. Hence a 2.5 month shutdown is going to take 3-7 years to recover from economically.☹️
I have been following the situation in Mexico but it's even more difficult to get hard facts than here in US. So many in Mexico depend on tourism to support themselves there is no help from govt there so at least economically the situation for those in tourism dependent work are being hit very hard.  Maybe this crisis will precipitate change there.
I was planning my relocation to Baja in August/Sept but now plans are up in the air due to border restrictions.

Well, Trixie its better here than you might think.

There are a number of states in the U.S. that are in scary shape due to the fears you talk about. Here there are some fears but it hasn't caused people to attack each other or report each other for the most part, as far as I know. In the U.S. they inflate numbers and here they give them less attention, possibly underreporting
Mexico is used to hard times, and they are quite good at working around problems. Yes there was the throwing bleach on nurses, and people responded with kindness, and the guilty people were arrested.

The president here has a sort of nothing to see here attitude . The governors drive the restrictions.
My big problem has been that even though I speak Spanish I do depend on my bilingual friend to interpret meanings to behaviors and traditions. Because of that I get stuck without backup wondering ' what do they mean by that, or what do they expect, and I can't turn to him . I didn't think about that so I'm having to work around also.

I’m completely happy...and healthy!

Agree. What kind of big sacrifice is it to wear a face covering, be socially distant, etc. I arrived back in California March 21 from Puerto Vallarta and since then have felt horrified and disgusted by the large numbers who are noncompliant in spite of posted signs at grocery stores, etc. Sheer selfishness and ignorance. The storeowners appear to be afraid of losing this segment of their customer base and instead put the compliant customers at risk. Shameful!

Travellight, I think it is pretty arrogant telling others they should not voice their opinion. Arlene has an opinion that is just as valid as yours. It may differ from yours but that is why they are called opinions. Plus you totally twisted her words.

She was not discussing financial hardship and saying poor people were selfish, it was totally apparent that she was referring to the suggested protocols of wearing masks, maintaining distance and washing hands. Anyone can do that, but some decide not to. Your choice was to twist her words to a totally different topic just to suit your agenda and attempt to make her look bad.

I agree that people who chose not to follow those basic steps are selfish. Sure, wearing masks is nasty, I don't know anyone who likes it, but if it prevents just one person from dying it is worth it until we are in a position to know otherwise.

Others may think it is a giant hoax and they are entitled to their opinion too, I sure hope they are right and it is just a giant plot because that means that all of those people that are supposed to have died are really alive and well somewhere.

Your comments about job loss, the economy, and financial hardship are all very real concerns and you may like to start a thread on those for people who have an opinion but on this topic I suggest you show some manners and not boss others around just because their opinion differs from yours.

Reginadow,
If you are afraid by all means wear a mask and stay at home.  What is being generated is hate and finger-pointing which leads to violence.  If you are wearing a mask because you are afraid that is your business and your right. It seems that you are no longer in Mexico so I'm not sure what your post has to do with Mexico.

This is where the focus has been misdirected with the entire thing. The media insists on putting attention on "number of cases". This will change just based on the amount of testing being done. Testing increases, therefore cases will increase. But this is the wrong thing to put attention on. The mortality rate is the key here. What percentage of people die from covid? That is the question. There are different reports but based on medical and other data I have discovered, it runs about 1% to 1.5%. This is similar to the regular flu. Covid-19 is a cousin of the flu. The flu is a "corona virus".

So, we have the media doing exactly what the media always does and that is to create fear and stress in others. And they are "professional dangerous environment makers"

I live in San Jose Del Cabo and fly back and fourth between here and Los Angeles. I ask everyone I run into including taxi and uber drivers, people at reception desks and airport facilities, people on the street, etc., two questions:

1. How many people do you now who've died from covid?
2. How many do you know who've been diagnosed with covid?

I always get one of two answers. First and most common is "nobody". Second, "I have a friend who knows someone.....". Meaning, it is most likely hearsay/rumor.

This is not to say there is nothing there. There certainly is something there. But it is being exaggerated. Putting attention on the mortality rate is the correct thing to look at not "number of cases" since most people will not have any symptoms anyways. And most people that do have symptoms, they are flu like. Can this cause death! Yes it can. Just like the flu can and does.

But folks, take a good hard look at the number of times the actual mortality rate is talked about on TV or anyplace by the media. Every now and then, someone does mention it but never has the mention included a factual number. It is said like, "people everywhere are dying", or some such comment. Look at the facts and this whole thing starts to loose momentum and die down.

Just saying.