Hugs, Kisses, Dining Out During Virus Raise Fear in Mexico
- President was slow to send workers home and urge distancing
- He worried that many who live hand-to-mouth must still work
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a press conference on March 25.
Photographer: Pedro Martin Gonzalez Castillo/Getty Images
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In mid-March, as vast portions of humanity hunkered in coronavirus lockdown, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico was still hugging and kissing constituents. Eight days ago, he urged them to keep eating out.
Stung by global criticism and disapproving national polls, the leftist populist widely known as AMLO began to shift in recent days. He sent home nonessential state employees and urged companies to do the same; he promised no more hugs and advocated hand washing even as he urged traditional markets to remain open and kept the airports operating.