Mexico City, April 9 (RHC)-- Residents of the Mexican rural region of Las Sabinas, in Nuevo Leon, set fire to a hospital to prevent it from accepting COVID-19 positive case-patients.

Daniel González Garza, Las Sabinas’ mayor, declared: “These were acts of vandalism that we condemn.”  They happened because of the news brought there by people on social networks, who don't want the sick to come here, they're afraid they'll come here.”

Gonzalez Garza explained that the attackers sprayed flammable substances throughout the installation.  Despite the destructive actions, the facility did not suffer major damages.  The hospital was recently constructed and is not yet completely equipped. 

According to Las Sabinas’s administration, these events are under investigations and the perpetrators are not identified.  This is not the first sample of fear and discrimination among the Mexican people due to COVID-19 spreading.  Several social network users reported attacks against medical personnel, fearing the contagion.  This marginalization of sanitary workers is a consequence of misinformation and the prevalence of fake news.