Youth focus of COVID-19 infections in Mexico's 3rd wave

Health officials say infected youth are a driving factor in Mexico's third wave of COVID-19 cases

MEXICO CITY -- Hours after Mexico City authorities raised the capital’s COVID-19 alert level in the face of surging infections, especially among young people, residents packed a plaza on a pleasant evening in the charming Coyoacan borough. Among them was Mario Estrada Flores, a lanky 21-year-old college student, who along with nine friends — all without masks — started up an impromptu rap performance that drew dozens of applauding onlookers. “I’m not worried about getting infected because I’m young,” Estrada Flores said. “I have more defenses than an older person ... we have the idea that since we’re young nothing bad is going to happen to us or if we do get it it’s not going to be so strong.” Specialists say that attitude is common in Mexico’s youth, a population that is driving the increase in infections in the country’s third pandemic wave.