in the last three days, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has risen from 80 to 90 to 101, the Yucatan Health Secretariat said Sunday.
Another 39 new cases were reported and a 74-year-old Izamal man died, the state’s 69th fatality, authorities also said. He had diabetes and hypertension, and lived alone.
Sunday was one of the few days when only a single fatality was registered; as many as six have died in a single day in Yucatan.
After some 24-hour-periods when hospitalizations fell — from 78 to 67 at one point, and from 86 to 82 on another day — more recently a growing number of coronavirus patients are in serious enough condition to be admitted to one of few hospitals in Merida that treat COVID-19. It is not known how many of those have required ventilators.
If the trend continues and hospitals reach capacity, makeshift medical centers are standing by at the Siglo XXI convention center in Merida, and in temporary buildings behind the Valladolid general hospital.
Sixteen of the new patients live in Mérida, three are from Valladolid, two each are from Chocholá, Kanasín, Maxcanú and Temozón, and one each reside in Dzitás, Espita, Homún, Hunucmá, Izamal, Kopomá, Panabá, Tekax, Tetis, Tinum and Xocchel, in addition one from outside the area.
This brings to 837 the number of confirmed cases in Yucatan since the crisis began. Active cases today total 309. Twenty-five patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, which includes the 459 who have been given a clear bill of health since the first infections were found in mid-March. The number of patients home in stable condition increased by two to reach 208.
Phase 3 of the health contingency continues, signaling a high rate of infection. The quarantine is scheduled to last at least until May 30.
