Mexican government implored to step up lax coronavirus fight

A general view shows an almost empty Periferico after the local government asked residents to stay at home as part of the measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease , in Mexico City, Mexico March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Tomas BravoMEXICO CITY: Mexico's government needs to take much bolder action to address the coronavirus pandemic before it wreaks havoc on lives and an economy that was already in a recession, several business leaders and state officials have said.

"If our country does not rise to the challenge, the agricultural food sector, which sends 78per cent of its exports north , we're looking at near term consequences that could have catastrophic consequences for the economy, health and lives," said de la Vega.Mexico has so far avoided the worst of the outbreak, with 164 detected coronavirus cases and only one death. Globally, there have been more than 270,000 cases reported and a death toll of over 11,000.

"For days, we've been saying, let's not think that with the continuation of social programs we're going to be able to confront a crisis so big that we haven't been able to calculate it yet," said Salazar, in an apparent reference to youth scholarships and other welfare spending prioritized by Lopez Obrador.

Mexico's states have asked the federal government for tax breaks, help with debt payments to suppliers and fix prices for products meant to combat coronavirus, the association of Economic Development Ministers said in a statement.

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