Mexico City — In response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, residents and merchants across Mexico City have reinstated the use of face masks in markets, stores, shopping malls, and public transportation. This resurgence in mask-wearing highlights the city’s heightened vigilance and commitment to public health amidst ongoing concerns about the virus.
In the Granjas México neighborhood of the Iztacalco municipality, the local market has seen a noticeable increase in face mask usage among both buyers and sellers. Fernanda, a resident of the neighborhood, shared her experience, “My mom sent me to buy chicken and some things for lunch, but she doesn’t let us go out if we don’t wear face masks. She’s very protective, you could say.” Fernanda expressed her mixed feelings, noting, “It feels very strange to wear a mask again when I thought that ‘that horrible time was over.'”
Public transportation users have also begun to adopt precautionary measures once more. At the Iztacalco station on Metrobús Line 2, a significant number of passengers were observed wearing face masks, while others carried small bottles of antibacterial gel attached to their backpacks. Michelle Vera, a Metrobús user, commented on the necessity of these precautions, saying, “Because it is necessary, it is ugly, but it is necessary. If it is already very doubtful to get on the Metro or Metrobús and put your hands on the tubes that thousands of people grab every day, imagine if there is COVID again what those tubes and seats will not bring.”
The increased demand for face masks has also impacted local vendors. At newspaper stands and among street vendors, masks are now sold for five pesos each. A newspaper stand owner detailed the variety available, “They cost five pesos, they come in various colors, and the KN95, the cloth ones, and the ones with drawings cost exactly the same, but almost everyone buys the cloth ones.”
Despite the lack of an official announcement regarding a COVID-19 resurgence, many residents believe in the importance of maintaining preventive measures. Alberto Contreras, a student, emphasized this point, stating, “I feel that more people should continue wearing face masks, even though we have not been officially informed of any COVID resurgence. We must not let our guard down, and for a few years now, it seems that people have stopped taking care of themselves.”
As the city navigates this new wave of cases, the renewed emphasis on face masks serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. Residents and officials alike are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to health guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of all.
