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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Mexico Shuts Down to Stem Outbreak

Calderón orders citizens to stay home for 5 days

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(Newser) – The Mexican president told citizens to stay home tomorrow through May 5 for a five-day partial shutdown of the country's economy to reduce the risk of spreading swine flu, Reuters reports. In his first televised address since the outbreak, Felipe Calderón said that "there is no safer place than your own home," and ordered non-critical government offices and private businesses to shut.

The swine flu is already taking a toll on Mexico's economy, and today's announcement sent the peso falling sharply. Mexico City has come to a standstill, with schools, restaurants, and bars shuttered and public events suspended. Recently the country's central bank said that the outbreak would probably deepen the country's recession—in the first quarter of 2009, Mexico's economy shrank by as much as 8%.

Commuters, wearing protective face masks to prevent infection from swine flu, ride in the subway in Mexico City Wednesday April 29, 2009.
Commuters, wearing protective face masks to prevent infection from swine flu, ride in the subway in Mexico City Wednesday April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Canadian tourists sunbathe at the nearly empty Gran Caribe Real hotel's terrace in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
Canadian tourists sunbathe at the nearly empty Gran Caribe Real hotel's terrace in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Israel Leal)
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon speaks as President Barack Obama, right, listens at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Thursday April 16, 2009.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon speaks as President Barack Obama, right, listens at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Thursday April 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Commuters, wearing protective face masks to prevent infection from swine flu, ride in the subway in Mexico City Wednesday April 29, 2009.
Commuters, wearing protective face masks to prevent infection from swine flu, ride in the subway in Mexico City Wednesday April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A woman, holding her child, leaving the emergency area where people with swine flu-like symptoms are checked at the Naval hospital in Mexico City, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
A woman, holding her child, leaving the emergency area where people with swine flu-like symptoms are checked at the Naval hospital in Mexico City, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
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radnip
May 2, 09 5:22 AM CDT
Good thing they'll doing this every year, at least once a year, for the more lethal flu. Reply
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