Mexican governor says poor are ‘immune’ to coronavirus
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by: The Associated Press
Posted: Mar 26, 2020
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The governor of a state in central Mexico is arguing that the poor are “immune” to the new coronavirus, even as the federal government suspends all nonessential government activities beginning Thursday in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
Puebla Gov. Miguel Barbosa’s comment Wednesday was apparently partly a response to indications that the wealthy have made up a significant percentage of Mexicans infected to date, including some prominent business executives.
Officials say three-quarters of Mexico’s 475 confirmed cases are related to international travel, and the poor do not make many international trips. Some people apparently caught the virus on ski trips to Italy or the United States. The country has seen six deaths so far.
“The majority are wealthy people. If you are rich, you are at risk. If you are poor, no,” Barbosa said of the coronavirus. “We poor people, we are immune.”
Guillermo Gonzalez Sanchez sells cigarettes and snacks from atop his wheelchair, outside the Palace of Fine Arts in downtown Mexico City, Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Gonzalez, who doesn’t believe the new coronavirus is real, says the threat is just the latest tactic to suppress the Mexican people, many of whom like him live from day to day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Barbosa also appeared to be playing on an old stereotype held by some Mexicans that poor sanitation standards may have strengthened their immune systems by exposing them to bacteria or other bugs…
>https://www.borderreport.com/health/mexican-governor-says-poor-are-immune-to-coronavirus/