Your Healthy Distance

Now that the Mexican government is finally recognizing the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, it has trotted out a public service campaign featuring a cartoon character that looks much like Wonder Woman.  She is called "Susana Distancia", which is a play on words for "su sana distancia" (your healthy distance).  

(image taken from the web)

Susana advises people to keep a distance of 1.5 meters away from others.  (That is just under five feet... a bit less than the six feet of distancing recommended here.)

Until recently, Mexican President López Obrador has completely ignored the concept of social distancing, and he was constantly shown in the news hugging and kissing his supporters.  He even filmed a TV spot encouraging Mexican families to go out to eat at restaurants to help the local economy. 

(image taken from the web)

Regardless of the contradictory messages, practicing social distancing is often impossible in a city with a metropolitan population of more than 21 million people.  Although the streets of downtown appear strangely empty on the webcams I see, passengers on public transportation are still often crammed like sardines in the subway and busses. Even though more people are staying at home, the frequency of the busses and subways has been reduced.  Yesterday Alejandro told me that passengers will not be allowed on public transportation without a mask.