Disturbing news tonight that the Health Secretary & Federal Government have suspended all federal govt operations & non-essential private sector jobs as well. I'm not clear if this is nation-wide or just in Mexico City, but it's troubling! Already, they have been losing $57 million DOLLARS a day due to the swine flu, with closings of restaurants (except for take-out), museums, cinemas, etc...
Just a few weeks ago Mexico was #1 on the list of countries to watch on the verge of economic collapse. This is serious stuff for a country that was working so hard to climb out of third-world status. Now, factories and businesses will be closing and waiting for the flu to pass, meaning that people will not be making money, not spending money, and not making products to export. Here in Monterrey, the Lego factory has closed through next week. I am waiting to see who will follow.
Please keep Mexico in your prayers. This goes so much deeper than health.
True...the economic impact is huge. I'm not sure where they are going to get the half a billion dollars they are trying to use to fight the pandemic.
Of course, people are buying...walmart is packed with people making their stockpile purchases.
Tourism is dead, too. We were on vacation at the beach last week...hardly anyone there (even foreigners). I know it's off-peak season, but still...nobody's traveling to Mexico right now.
Posted by: Dennis | 2009.04.30 at 10:43 AM