9th patient in Yucatan dies from coronavirus, and 9 more test positive

Photo: Diario de Yucatan

Yucatan’s ninth fatality in under two weeks, and nine new coronavirus cases, were announced today at the state’s daily health ministry briefing.

That brings to 120 the number of COVID-19 cases that Yucatan has detected in its borders. Many more are possibly infected but have gone unnoticed by a doctor.

The latest to die was a 74-year-old woman with a history of high blood pressure. Patients with pre-existing conditions are more likely to succumb to the coronavirus, doctors say.

The woman lived with a person who is reportedly exhibits no COVID-19 symptoms, but is under quarantine as a precaution.

Of the patients who have tested positive since coronavirus was first detected in Yucatan a month ago, 68 have recovered. Another 24 patients are in stable condition and isolated in their homes, and 20 more — including a woman who
is listed in Canada’s official numbers — are in more serious condition and require further hospitalization.

{ Related: See past stories on the coronavirus response }

A COVID-19 hotline is at 800-YUCATÁN (800-982-2826) for residents worried they or a loved one are infected. Press 9 for an English-speaking agent. A free chat with a bot via WhatsApp is available at the number 999-200-8489 in Spanish and 999-140-6622 in the Mayan language.

Mother’s Day goal

Mexico overall has officially recorded 5,014 COVID-19 cases and 332 deaths as of April 13. Again, the real-life number is likely much higher since testing hasn’t been widespread.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Saturday that Mexico ranked among the 10 countries with the fewest COVID-19 cases and commended the population for practicing social distancing. The next day he expressed hopes the country could lift its self-isolatIon protocol by May 10 – Mother’s Day in Mexico, when large family gatherings are common.

In response to the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic, AMLO offers austerity and a promise to not raise taxes or take on new debt.

His aid package includes the equivalent of US$1 billion for loans to households and small businesses, more social spending and pushing forward pension payments.

AMLO has resisted ordering a complete quarantine, saying it would hurt the roughly 55% of the population working off the books and lacking social benefits. He has also resisted bailing out businesses, worrying the benefits would head to the wrong people; he also refused to defer or cut tax payments, saying government has to pay for social programs.

Although the country lost 346,000 formal-sector jobs between March 13 and April 6, and has no system of unemployment insurance, López Obrador has said families in Mexico will look after each other.

With information from USA Today.

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