World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday that "Mexico is in bad shape" with the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for immediate action to curb the surging cases.
"The number of increasing cases and deaths in Mexico is very worrisome," the WHO head told a press briefing in Geneva, urging Mexico "to be very serious."
The warning came as Mexico registered 6,472 new cases and 285 additional deaths on Monday, raising the total caseload to 1,113,543, with 105,940 deaths.
Public health experts said the actual figure is likely to be significantly higher due to low testing levels.
Mexico's COVID-19 death toll exceeded 100,000 on Nov. 19, becoming the fourth country in the world to reach the grim milestone after the United States, Brazil and India.
The WHO head also underscored the importance of mask-wearing, hygiene and physical distancing, calling on Mexican leaders "to be examples" for citizens.
