The schools are closed. Soccer matches are played in empty stadiums and movie theaters have closed their doors. There are no public events and it is no longer possible to have lunch in a restaurant. The army has been giving out masks out on the streets. Shopping malls are nearly empty, as well as the hallways of supermarkets. This is life in Mexico City.
The outbreak of the swine flu has left the city paralyzed and the country closely monitored by its neighbors and international organizations. Countries around the globe are considering canceling flights to Mexico. Tourism has already dropped: who would go to a country hit by a deadly virus? This will not help the Mexican economy.
The Mexican government seems to be on top of things. Indeed, the number of suspected cases of the virus decreases day by day. However, a city of more than 24 million people cannot leave on takeouts and children need to go to school. The question everybody in Mexico City is asking is when will this be over? More importantly, how will the country recover from the economic and social consequences of the outbreak? Only time will tell.
