What was cited as a major contributing factor to the high number of COVID cases and deaths in Mexico?

The high number of COVID cases and deaths in Mexico is significantly attributed to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). During the early stages of the pandemic, many healthcare workers faced a critical deficiency in PPE, which made it challenging to protect themselves while caring for COVID-19 patients. This shortage not only compromised the safety of medical professionals but also hindered their ability to provide appropriate and timely care to a large number of patients.

Without adequate PPE, the spread of the virus was exacerbated, leading to increased transmission rates within healthcare settings and the community at large. This situation was further complicated by various systemic issues in the healthcare infrastructure that impacted the overall response to the pandemic. By focusing on the importance of PPE, the relationship between proper protective measures and reducing infection rates becomes clear, highlighting how essential it is for frontline workers to have the necessary gear to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.