Mexico’s army will deploy 16,750 members to control the COVID-19 crisis

Luis Cresencio Sandova

l, the head of Mexico’s National Defense Ministry ( SEDENA ), announced the institution will launch the so-called DN-III plan , an emergency plan, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak . The emergency plan includes the deployment of 16,750 members of its medical staff to treat those infected with coronavirus .

During President López Obrador ’s news conference, general Sandoval said the institute has 1,727 nurses ; 824 medical officers ; 8,152 medical corps ; and 649 dentists who will be trained to help during the contingency .

Additionally, the Mexican army will also deploy 100 intensive care ambulances , 470 ambulances , and use 313 hospitals .

In previous days, President López Obrador announced the army would operate 10 hospitals .

Moreover, Mexico’s Finance Ministry transferred an additional MXN $4,500 million to the army and navy , in order for both institutions to launch their emergency plans: DN-III plan and the Navy Plan.

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According to Finance Minister Arturo Herrera , the army received MXN $4,000 million, while the navy received MXN $500 million.

On March 24, Mexico entered the second stage of its contingency plan even though only 1% of COVID-19 cases are spread by the community and were not imported from China , Europe , or the U.S.

According to phase 2, the government will implement more strict measures to halt the propagation of the virus .

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