Mexican president tests negative for virus

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday he had tested negative on an antigen test, after testing positive for COVID-19 about 12 days ago. Lopez Obrador said he was in "good health", but would remain in isolation for a few more days. The Mexican President has been receiving treatment at his apartment in the colonial-era National Palace, where he also has offices.

Earlier on Thursday, Mexico's Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez Gatell said the Lopez Obrador had been working from isolation, mainly on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This week health authorities started a national registration for elderly people to receive the vaccine, but supplies have proven low.

Mexico is scrambling to line up shipments of the Pfizer and Russian Sputnik vaccines, but no new doses are expected to arrive until mid-February. For the third straight day, millions of Mexicans who tried to register for vaccines when they do arrive were met with a non-functional website. According to Lopez Gatell, half a million people have signed up successfully. The country posted a near-record daily death toll of 1,682 Thursday, bringing the total to 162,922. 

(Image Credits: AP)