Government data shows 294,287 coronavirus-related deaths through March 15, more than 61% more than the confirmed number.
Mexico has recorded more than 294,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to new government figures, confirming long-held beliefs that the number of confirmed deaths in the country was far lower than the actual figure.
Data shows that 294,287 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in Mexico through March 15 this year.
This is 61.4 percent higher than the confirmed death toll of 182,301 shown in the same table.
The Mexican government has long said it believed deaths from COVID-19 were higher than the official tally, largely due to a lack of testing in the country.
The excess death toll, which is the difference between projected and reported deaths, in Mexico during the pandemic stood at 417,002 in the sixth week of 2021, the new data also showed.
Last week, the government announced that coronavirus-related deaths had exceeded the 200,000 mark, the third highest total in the world after the United States and Brazil.
Mexico has also struggled to obtain vaccines to immunize its population.
Earlier this month, the US government announced it would “lend” 2.7 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Mexico to help with his vaccination efforts.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter last week that the country expected to receive all doses by April 1.
“Mexico appreciates this great support from President Biden’s government against COVID-19,” he said.
I confirm that Thursday, April 2, 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive from the United States, which will be added to the first shipment next Sunday to reach 2.7 million doses. Mexico appreciates great support from President Biden’s government against Covid-19
– Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) March 26, 2021
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has recovered from the virus himself, has been accused of being late in imposing a lockdown and has only worn a mask on rare occasions.
The leftist populist, who continues to enjoy high public approval ratings, however, pointed out that the Mexican government was one of the first in Latin America to begin vaccinations on December 24.
So far, around 6.1 million doses have been administered in the country of 126 million people.
“For there to be a real mass vaccination, we need 10 million vaccinations per month,” epidemiologist Alejandro Macias told AFP news agency.
On Saturday, former President Felipe Calderon wrote on Twitter that “more than 400,000 Mexicans have died, above the average for previous years … probably the highest number in the world”.
