13 deaths in 7 days: Yucatan’s worst week in the COVID-19 fight

The Yucatan State Public Health Laboratory is ready to process more diagnostic tests in less time. The Health Ministry hired a larger number technicians and scientists to verify COVID-19 infections. Photo: Courtesy

Three more patients perished from coronavirus today, bringing Yucatan’s death toll to 23. Thirty-one new cases were confirmed by the Health Ministry.

Fatalities appear to be accelerating in Yucatan, with 13 patients gone since Saturday. The last 48 hours alone saw six deaths, a record high for the state.

Thursday’s deaths were three women. Today, three men lost their lives.

Among the deceased is a 63-year-old man with a history of diabetes. He worked in Quintana Roo and lived with three people who have no symptoms.

A 60-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes also died. He, too, lived with three people, none of whom have symptoms.

A third man, 38, lived with five people; one has symptoms.

All contacts are in isolation and are being strictly monitored by health sector personnel, the Health Ministry reported in their daily briefing.

From the beginning of the crisis in March, doctors in Yucatan have treated 273 COVID-19 patients and 137 have recovered. Another 73 are recovering at home in quarantine while 40 are in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal announced a new lab to expedite coronavirus testing. Some 88 patients today were still waiting to see if their symptoms correspond to COVID-19, or come from another illness such as the flu.

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