Good Morning Mexico City!

People are heading back to work in Mexico City. Fewer, for sure, are wearing surgical masks, but an aura of uncertainty predominates.  Is this bug over? Could it get worse? President Calderón says not to declare victory over AH1N1 just yet.

To honor the reopening of the city, Margot and I went out to breakfast. The restaurant we chose diligently followed the Secretary of Health´s guidelines: instead of the normal 34 tables they only put out 11, set wide apart.  Each table floated alone, like its own little island. The sensation of sitting in a restaurant where the next table is more than two meters away could be described as untethered.

Our waitress squirted antibacterial gel into our hands the moment we sat down. News crews circulated, interviewing waiters about going back to work.

We observed a woman eating alone at the next table whose actions captured, perfectly, the general ambivalence: she picked at her food nervously and then, the moment she finished eating, popped on her blue surgical mask. She had chosen to eat in a restaurant, but was not comfortable even though (or, because?) the only people within two meters of her were waiters wearing masks.

At work, no one is greeting with kisses and two people, in another very common expression of ambivalence, are wearing their masks around their necks, like lumpy scarves.

As the daily routine cranks up in Mexico, nothing feels normal yet.  

Lots of people have been blogging the flu. Here are some of the best:

Take a look at Rachel Laudan´s post about how the flu has affected prices in super markets.

David Lida quotes the CDC as saying masks won´t work.

Deborah Bonello offers both insightful and witty commentary at mexicoreporter.com.

Daniel Hernandez nicely selects and summarizes foreign press reports.

And, for some swine flu jokes and more personal observations check out Paul Robert´s blog.