Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed Tuesday that he had contracted COVID-19 for a second time, however asserted that "this virus is on its manner out" even amid a steep surge in circumstances.

Whereas showing through video feed at his morning press briefing he normally holds at Mexico Metropolis's Nationwide Palace, the president indicated that he had contracted the Omicron variant, the Related Press reported. He stated that "luckily, this variant doesn't have the diploma of hazard that Delta did, and I'm experiencing that."

López Obrador, who's absolutely vaccinated and obtained a booster shot, stated that his signs have been gentle and felt "like a chilly." He had no fever and his oxygenation was good, he stated.

López Obrador first contracted the virus in January 2021 however was in a position to return to his day by day information briefings in February after a two-week absence.

Regardless of his second COVID an infection and Mexico's 186 p.c spike in confirmed circumstances final week, López Obrador predicted that "issues will get again to regular very quickly." Well being Secretary Jorge Alcocer stated that the president might resume his in-person briefings as quickly as subsequent week.

Mexican President Contracts COVID Again
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed Tuesday that he had contracted COVID-19 for a second time, however asserted that “this virus is on its manner out.” Obrador speaks as a part of the day by day briefing at Palacio Nacional on December 16, 2021 in Mexico Metropolis, Mexico.Hector Vivas/Getty Pictures

When López Obrador was first contaminated, he revealed he obtained experimental remedies, which he described solely as an "antiviral" treatment and an anti-inflammatory drug.

This time round, the president stated he was taking solely paracetamol, a light ache treatment.

On Monday, the president informed Mexicans to only assume they'd COVID-19 if they'd signs.

López Obrador claimed the Omicron variant is "a bit of COVID," noting hospitalizations and deaths had not elevated on the similar fee as new circumstances. Nevertheless, consultants say these are each lagging indicators that won't present up for weeks after infections spike. Within the U.S., the place the Omicron wave hit earlier than it did in Mexico, COVID-19 deaths have once more began to rise.

Studying recommendation posted on Twitter, the president stated Mexicans with signs ought to simply keep at house, take paracetamol and isolate relatively than going out and looking for assessments.

Since Christmas, personal pharmacies and the few out there testing facilities have been overwhelmed by lengthy traces. The Twitter recommendation drew on tips from Mexico Metropolis and different well being authorities.

López Obrador's administration has lengthy refused to implement mass testing, calling it a waste of cash. He known as on corporations to not require COVID assessments for workers.

Mexico has additionally been one of many few international locations to not impose lockdowns, flight bans or necessary face masks necessities.

Mexico handed 300,000 test-confirmed coronavirus deaths final week, however so little testing is completed within the nation of 126 million that a authorities evaluate of dying certificates places the actual toll at nearly 460,000.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

Mexico COVID
The variety of confirmed COVID-19 circumstances in Mexico jumped by 186 p.c final week. A well being employee swabs a person for COVID-19 on the car parking zone of the Through Vallejo purchasing heart in Mexico Metropolis, on January 5, 2022.Alfredo Estrella/AFP through Getty Pictures