MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Businesses in Mexico City reopen; masks for workers and customers

Many businesses in Mexico have re-opened after a five-day shutdown caused by the A/H1N1 influenza outbreak that killed 44 people, including two in the US. From Thursday, all businesses in Mexico City can re-open, so long as they follow hygiene guidelines, including masks for all workers and customers.

The number of confirmed infections worldwide rose, including another 240 cases in the US, up from about 400.

Meanwhile, dozens of healthy Mexicans quarantined in China arrived home. The quarantine - after one case of infection in a passenger from Mexico to Hong Kong days ago - had sparked a diplomatic row as Mexico accused China of discrimination.

The Mexican health authorities said the latest number of confirmed deaths from the virus stands at 42 - up from 29 as a backlog of test results were released.

However, they believed the infection rates were decreasing.

Under the easing of restrictions by the Mexican government, universities, churches and museums will re-open on Thursday.

In Mexico City, cinemas, restaurants, sports venues and dance halls will be able to operate, said City Health Secretary Armando Ahued. Schools will not restart classes until next week.

BBC correspondent Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City says the rush hour resumed as normal on Wednesday.

Shops, restaurants and other businesses opened their shutters, while some pedestrians could still be seen wearing masks.

In the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention increased the number of confirmed cases from 403 to 642, including two deaths.

Three new states reported infections - Hawaii, Washington and Oklahoma - showing that the infection had spread to 41 US states.

The centre said it “expects that more cases, more hospitalisations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks”.

When the flight from China touched down at Mexico City's International airport carrying those kept in quarantine, First Lady Margarita Zavala greeted the 136 passengers.

Seventy-two had been in Shanghai, 18 in Beijing, 34 in Guangzhou and 12 in Hong Kong. None had flu symptoms, Mexican diplomats said, according to AP news agency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) urged nations to remain vigilant in spite of the apparently relatively mild nature of swine flu, saying a global pandemic remains a threat.