Before Announcing Positive For COVID-19, The President Of Mexico Conducts A Three-Day Working Visit

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. (Source: Wikimedia Commons / David Agren)

JAKARTA - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced he was infected with COVID-19 on Sunday, January 24 evening local time. This announcement was made just hours after he flew out to meet and attend several public events.

It is known that President Lopez Obrador previously had a three-day working visit to several places in North Mexico and Central Mexico. This raises questions regarding the potential for transmission to occur. Reporting to Reuters, Mexico is the country with the fourth highest death toll from COVID-19 in the world.

"How irresponsible and careless he would have been to get on a plane knowing that he might be infected," said Jesus Ortega, a former leader of the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD).

"The problem is he's the president. If the president violates health guidelines, he's setting a bad example to others," Ortega said, wishing Lopez Obrador a speedy recovery.

President Lopez Obrador declared himself positive for COVID-19 just 6 1/2 hours after the plane carrying him from the city of San Luis Potosi landed in the capital. A number of ministers who were involved in contact with him were quick to respond to this.

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Interior Minister Olga Sanchez and Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez were among the top officials who were quick to say they had carried out tests after his announcement. Others say they will self-isolate.

Meanwhile, on Friday Night President Lopez Obrador was known to have attended dinner at the house of former chief of staff Alfonso Romo, attended by a number of big Mexican businessmen, including CEMEX Chairman Rogelio Zambrano and Chairman of the Alfa Armando Conglomerate Garza Sada.