Mexico launches massive virus testing drive

As Mexico City looks to keep its economy running amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican capital's health department is carrying out tests at people's homes to detect and isolate new cases early. City authorities are pushing to identify infections and trace contacts to try to reactivate a metropolitan area of some 20 million people safely.

Mexico City was never under a mandatory lockdown, but people were urged to stay at home. The regional government has said it hopes to be able to process 100,000 tests per month by July, in contrast to the federal government's reluctance to implement mass testing.

Technician Patsy Sánchez described the "fear" she can feel from people when their mobile testing lab arrives at their home. As of Wednesday Mexico had reported 154,863 cases of the virus, including 18,310 deaths, but with both tolls considered to be undercounts because of the lack of testing. 

(Image Credits: AP)