In tonight's task force presser, Mexico's "coronavirus czar" is giving a master class in offloading govt responsibility onto individuals in response to a reporter's question about not increasing the capital's "traffic light" alert system to red due to ongoing surge in cases.

Here's the video of the question and answer. The reporter basically asked what officials can do to keep people off the street during an intense outbreak. The response was basically that the govt can't do much more than urge people to voluntarily stay home.

In his verbal abdication of govt responsibility with regards to pandemic restrictions, "coronavirus czar" López-Gatell specifically cited Germany as an example of how governments can't control the pandemic. Fact check: Germany has closed restaurants & bars https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germany-announces-tightening-of-restrictions-until-christmas/a-55724968

And since he brought Germany up, here's some other ways Germany has used the power of governance to make the country safer during a deadly pandemic:

- economic aid to individuals and businesses
- free mass testing
- public health restrictions
- partial lockdowns
- mask mandates

Speaking of mask mandates, part of tonight's presser was used to yet again give wishy-washy guidance on masks, contradicting advice of Mexico City's govt. "Toda esta discusión absurda que se ha dado de si cubrebocas sí, cubrebocas no; no tiene sentido."

The abject failure of Mexico's federal pandemic management strategy is really something. It's demoralizing to witness and terrifying to live in with loved ones. But the way officials leading it double down on mistakes and anti-science practices is a special level of negligence.