• TESTS: Mexico rejected Wednesday the reliability of rapid coronavirus tests saying that no respected health authority around the world has approved tests of that sort including the US. This despite Abbot Laboratories winning approval of a new device in the US.
• NUMBERS: As of late Wednesday, Mexico’s Ministry of Health reported 1,378 confirmed coronavirus cases and a total of 37 confirmed deaths. Mexico City accounts for 21% share of confirmed cases. In second place is neighboring Estado de México with 11% share.
• REJECTION: “No competent health authority in the world has accredited rapid tests. Mystery solved. There are no useful rapid tests at this time”, said Hugo López Gatell, Mexico’s undersecretary of health, who said he had reached out to authorities in Germany, Canada and the US.
• ABBOTT: Last Saturday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency approval for device developed by Abbott Laboratories that delivers coronavirus tests in minutes. However, access to the device is not readily available in all US states.
