MEXICO CITY — In gleaming office towers and gritty markets, Mexicans returned to work Wednesday after a five-day swine flu shutdown, and dozens returned to a heroes' welcome from "humiliating" quarantines in China. But Mexico's death toll rose, feeding fears of more infections now that crowds are gathering again.
The World Health Organization urged countries not to quarantine visitors or impose trade restrictions without scientific reasons. But China defiantly justified its quarantines as protection for its densely populated cities. Even impoverished Haiti turned away a Mexican ship carrying desperately needed food aid because of flu fears.
In Mexico City, friends and co-workers greeted each other with back slaps, firm handshakes — and dollops of hand sanitizer. Some high-rises stationed doctors in their lobbies who questioned returning employees and required visitors to fill out forms stating they had no flu symptoms. Maitre d's in surgical masks stood at attention amid rows of sidewalk tables that were pulled out and washed down for the first time in days.
The city's health secretary late Wednesday announced that all businesses — including sports arenas, dance halls, movie theaters and all restaurants — will be allowed to operate today. But Armando Ahued said businesses must screen for ill people and make surgical masks mandatory for employees and customers.
"We're returning to normal," said Eugenio
But Ernesto Viloria, 40, worried about his children using public transit and returning to school.
"Nothing can be the same," insisted Viloria, who works in finance. "The virus continues, even though it's declining, and we have to pay attention."
The confirmed death toll in Mexico reached 42 on Wednesday — mostly as backlogged cases got tested, but also two new deaths were reported .
No comments:
Post a Comment