Mexico grapples with virus surge

Mexico City and a half-dozen of the country's 32 states are now on "red" alert because COVID-19 infections rose to their highest level ever. As of Friday, Mexico had over 148,800 active coronavirus cases nationwide. The country has seen 244,228 test-confirmed deaths, but little testing is being done, and studies of death certificates indicate the real toll might be closer to 370,000.

The federal Health Department said the capital is "red" on a color-coded alert system for the pandemic, but Mexico City officials claimed they were still on orange level, which allows wider business activity. The alert colors are determined by case loads, hospital bed availability and the rate of change in those and other factors, and there have been discrepancies between state and federal ratings before. Mexico has never had a European-style strict lockdown or testing or vaccinations for visitors. Mexico has vaccinated 48 million people with at least one dose.