Many young Mexicans at risk from Covid-19

By James Blears

A high proportion of those who`ve died from conona virus in Mexico so far, had high blood pressure and diabetes. In Mexico, slightly over ten percent of the population aged twenty or over suffer from  diabetes. That`s 8.6 million people. High blood pressure or hypertension levels are even worse. It affects fifteen percent of Mexico`s population, which adds up to fifteen million people aged twenty or older. Obesity has greatly increased since Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, and processed food became both cheaper and much more easily available.  Seventy five percent of the population over the age of twenty are overweight. It`s increased by an alarming seventy one percent in the last six years.

All of this makes a relatively youthful  population appreciably younger than retirement age, much more vulnerable to corona virus, unless they recognize and acknowledge their greatly elevated risk level and isolate themselves by staying  home.  Mexico`s Federal Government is urging people to stay home for the next month.  But in a country whose economy is both precarious and fragile, this for some at least isn`t  a viable option.