Mexican president says he has Covid for second time

MEXICO CITY: Mexican President

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

said Monday that he had

Covid-19

for a

second time

and was experiencing mild symptoms, as the hard-hit country battles another wave of infections.

"I inform you that I am infected with Covid-19 and although the symptoms are mild, I will remain in isolation and will only do office work and communicate virtually until I get through it," he tweeted.

Lopez Obrador said that Interior Minister

Adan Augusto Lopez

would replace him at his usual morning press conference and other public events while he recovered.

Hours earlier the 68-year-old president had appeared in front of journalists without a face mask speaking with a hoarse voice, prompting accusations from his critics of irresponsible behavior.

He said he planned to get tested for Covid-19 but believed he had the flu.

Lopez Obrador overcame a first bout of Covid-19 in early 2021.

He has received the

AstraZeneca

vaccine including a booster on December 7.

Like many countries, Mexico is in the grip of a new wave of coronavirus infections following the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant and traditional year-end family gatherings.

On Friday, Mexico's official Covid-19 death toll the fifth highest in the world surpassed 300,000, although daily

fatalities remain

far lower than during previous waves.

The country of 129 million people has reported a total of more than 4.1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

The real figure is believed to be much higher due to the

low level

of testing.

One of the world's most popular tourist destinations, Mexico has kept its borders open during the pandemic and does not require any tests or vaccination passes from arriving travelers.