MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s coronavirus czar has become a well-known controversial character in his country. While he heads the strategy to fight the pandemic, he has been criticized for not following the same health protocols he recommends. And this weekend he revealed that he has contracted COVID-19.
Hugo López-Gatell is Mexico’s undersecretary of health, leading the fight against COVID-19 along with the president.
On Saturday, López-Gatell tweeted that he has mild symptoms of the virus, and that he will continue working from home.
López-Gatell has faced criticisms for his policies, arguments and personal approaches to the pandemic. He once defended the president for not wearing facemasks, arguing that he is a source of morality and not of infection.
The undersecretary was recently exposed vacationing in a beach not following health protocols, and he offers press conferences without a face mask.
Critics say López-Gatell’s pandemic strategy has been exceedingly relaxed, while the vaccination numbers are still very low.
