14 in Yucatan die from COVID as infections approach 7,500
COVID-19 killed 14 people in Yucatan in the past 24 hours, the lowest number of daily fatalities in 17 days.
Health authorities also announced 117 new infections, bringing the accumulated total to 7,475, of whom 78% have recovered. Recoveries outnumbered new cases by 55 on Monday.
But hospitalizations increased by eight, meaning 444 beds in Merida are occupied by coronavirus patients, further straining Yucatan’s medical system. The other 352 current patients are under quarantine at home, with minor symptoms.
Of the new infections, 66 were in Mérida, seven in Buctzotz, six in Umán, five in Valladolid and Motul, four in Tekax, three in Ticul and another three from outside either the state or country. Two new cases were found in Espita, Temozón, Kanasín and Tizimín; and one case each was found in Baca, Bokobá, Dzidzantún, Progreso, Seyé, Sudzal, Teabo, Tixkokob, Uayma and Yaxkukul.
Since the crisis began, Merida has registered 4,163 positive cases: 1,196 east of the city, 1,054 in the north, 846 in the west, 656 in the south and 411 in the center of the city, which is defined by Circuito Colonias. Since only symptomatic people are tested, the true number of infections is thought to be many times higher.
Monday’s deaths included 11 men and three women ranging in age from 53 to 87 and with various diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney failure. Since April, 831 people with COVID-19 have perished in Yucatan.
The age range of positive cases ranges from one month to 98 years.
Nationwide
Mexico’s health department reported 5,172 new confirmed infections, bringing the country’s total to almost 350,000 as of Monday.
Confirmed daily death reports fell to 301 for a total of almost 39,500.
The continued high rate of transmission has caused some tourist areas to walk back previous re-openings and crackdown on mask rules. On the Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo re-imposed limits on hotel occupancy while across the country, the Baja California resort of La Paz closed beaches again.
In San Miguel de Allende, two Mexican tourists who refused to put on masks were detained, held for 12 hours and fined the equivalent of about US$67. Their mugshots appeared on numerous news sites.
Yucatán Magazine has the inside scoop on living here. Sign up to get our top headlines delivered to your inbox every week.