Without a doubt, the Undersecretary for Health Promotion and Prevention, Hugo Lopez-Gatell became one of the most controversial figures of 2020, for being at the forefront of the pandemic of COVID-19, along with the head of the Ministry of Health, Jorge Alcocer.
It was the morning of February 28 when the epidemiologist confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the country, and since then it has kept Mexicans informed about the world situation of the spread of the coronavirus, through a daily conference that takes place in the National Palace from 7 to 8 at night.
López-Gatell’s comments, explanations and decisions about the SARS-CoV 2 virus, which has taken the lives of thousands of people worldwide, divided opinions between politicians, specialists, former officials and the country’s population, because while some They accuse of mishandling the health emergency, others support it.
Who is Dr. Hugo López-Gatell? The specialist who attends the coronavirus crisis in Mexico
➡️ https://t.co/WFCNBUQXL2 pic.twitter.com/KGjqf0SrLP
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) April 18, 2020
At the end of May, the World Health Organization (WHO) requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (WED) your consent to include López Gatell on the list of experts in epidemiology of infectious diseases, so the rumor emerged that he would leave the country in the middle of a pandemic.
A few days after receiving the invitation, the Doctor revealed that he took office as an expert on the committee, so it was not necessary to travel to Switzerland.
“I don’t have to go to Geneva as some have thought. I will be able to continue exercising the task that I have entrusted ”, he assured.
However, in November the WHO called on the Mexican authorities to take the health emergency seriously, due to the increase in cases and deaths from COVID-19.
López-Gatell responds to the WHO after reports about COVID-19 in Mexico https://t.co/3wubttGiBL pic.twitter.com/NKDTX3a8e0
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) December 1, 2020
Senators lash out at the epidemiologist
So far the health emergency Hugo Lopez-Gatell he has been attacked on several occasions by senators, who have even accused him of being “misogynistic” and “arrogant”, as well as acting negligently in handling the pandemic.
PAN Senator Xóchitl Gálvez described the epidemiologist of “misogynist”, for allegedly committing gender “political violence” against legislator Alejandra Reynoso, during the Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) of the Upper House, which was held at the end of May.
“It was superb and misogynistic”: Xóchitl Gálvez attacks López-Gatell for comments to senator
➡️ https://t.co/Gmvi4BwUWl pic.twitter.com/dFc8ISvm0R
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) May 28, 2020
In July, PAN senators filed a complaint with the Organization of Nations, as well as with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Organization of American States against undersecretary, for mishandling the Covid-19 pandemic and for its alleged negligence in the country.
They go on López-Gatell; PAN senators accuse him of negligence for handling COVID-19
➡️ https://t.co/KTJ62WxCDk pic.twitter.com/u3peOyT7of
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) July 12, 2020
With everything and banners, in October, senators accused him again of “arrogance” during his appearance in the Upper House, and demanded a change in the strategy to face the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic; Furthermore, they reproached him for the number of deaths that the new disease has left in our country.
“Excess of pride”: This is how López-Gatell was received in his appearance before the Senate https://t.co/9Z1ei7rZrH pic.twitter.com/f8K5HNDNOZ
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) October 12, 2020
López-Gatell has a fan club!
While senators filed complaints against the specialist, he achieved such fame on social media that they organized a fan club for him!Hugo López-Gatell’s official lub, which remains current on Facebook.
On this page, members of the fan club share photos next to the official and replicate the information that he offers daily in his evening lectures.
López-Gatell already has a fan club! and they tell you how to get a PHOTO with it
➡️ https://t.co/zwlna1bqEk pic.twitter.com/oZEaVTCYpr
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) May 5, 2020
AMLO supports López-Gatell
For his part, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has defended the work of Hugo Lopez-Gatell, as it ensures that its strategy against the pandemic has given good results, so there should be no changes.
“There is a whole campaign to demerit the doctor Hugo Lopez-Gatell […] They wanted the government to be a disorder, a chaos and that this delicate matter not be handled with professionalism and that we did not have the experts that we have ”, said the president in the ‘morning’ of May 4.
“You’re not alone!”: AMLO shows support for López-Gatell and accuses campaign against him
➡️ https://t.co/MtBvhsmGtS pic.twitter.com/HsGkn5WbfO
– Formula Group (@Radio_Formula) May 4, 2020
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