translated from Spanish: Mexico must do more COVID tests ahead of ‘new normal’

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that more tests are needed to detect COVID-19 for a regrowth-free reopening.
At a press conference, Jean-Marc Gabastou, WHO Health Emergencies Advisor, as it enters a descending phase of contagion, diagnostic capacity should be increased so that each suspicious case can have a sample.
“There we do have to immediately detect the emergence of any suspected case to prevent this local spark from turning into a fire and emergency of the disease,” he said.
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According to Gabastou, as the pandemic progresses, surveillance should be consolidated, specifying who should be tested: 100% of severe cases, 10% of suspected cases and the freedom of health personnel to spread it to people at risk, such as 100% of symptomatic pregnant women and 100% of symptomatic health personnel.
That’s why, he said, there is installed capacity in all states and there are 58 private laboratories that have technology to perform the tests.
“Unfortunately there are still structural barriers of time for taking and processing, personnel notifying and uploading information to surveillance systems. In addition, there is no full compatibility with the systems, it is being corrected, which will allow next week the ISSSTE, IMSS, Pemex and large laboratories to enter their complete information,” he said.
The representative of WHO also reported that today “almost 50 thousand positive cases have been detected in private laboratories, but cannot enter the system because they are not accompanied by clinical and epidemiological information”.
“The location is good.”
About the epidemiological traffic light strata that has been implemented in the country, Jean-Marc Gabastou noted that it is appropriate “because it did become of the situation in real time and for decision-making”.
The expert indicated that this measure is effective, however it does not replace physical estrangement.
“The traffic light takes the step, but to give more force to the measures of staying at home when we are in red, as is the case today. The estrangement should be kept if for essential reasons we must go to work, the bank, the supermarket or other activities. Healthy distance is the only way with hand washing to mitigate transmission and new outbreaks,” he explained.
Read more: People in risk groups should go to clinic for assessment from the first symptoms of COVID: Health
In the event of re-openings, it anticipates that re-financing would be the last step to be taken.
For his part, Cristian Morales, who representative of WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), said that the response of the Mexican government’s strategy “is positive. One sees that even in more compromised entities by number of cases there is still availability of beds.”
“It’s a little complex to put it this way, but without a doubt the fact that we are living this very complex moment with entities that are rising or are at the top, and others that are coming down but near the top of COVID-19 cases in serious condition and with the unfortunate more than 14 thousand deaths that we carry, however it is important to note that this is occurring now and not in April, when the health system may have been in a more complex situation to respond properly,” he said.
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Original source in Spanish