Coronavirus infections exceed 9,000 and hospitalizations rise again

Yucatan state health officials set up mobile testing clinics in Ciudad Caucel and Juan Pablo II to help monitor the spread of coronavirus. Photo: Courtesy.

Yucatan’s coronavirus infection count blew past the 9,000 mark with 202 new cases confirmed Tuesday, bringing the accumulated total to 9,083. Another 32 died and 187 recovered in the last 24 hours.

Additionally, hospitalizations rose for the first time in two days when 12 new admissions were registered, health officials said in Tuesday’s briefing on social media.

Since the epidemic began in March, the highly contagious disease in Yucatan has killed 1,664 people, 603 in July alone.

Merida led in infections with 134 cases, followed by Ticul with 12, seven in Kanasín, six in Hunucmá, five in Celestún, four in Tekax and Valladolid, three in Progreso, Río Lagartos, Tecoh and Umán; two in Chapab and Oxkutzcab, and 1 case in Acanceh, Buctzotz, Conkal, Izamal, Motul, Seyé, Tekit, Temozón, Teya, Tinum, Uayma and Yaxkukul. Two from outside the state or country also perished.

Deaths included 21 men and 11 women whose ages ranged from 36 to 85. Some presented comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney failure

Of the new fatalities, 12 were from Mérida, two from Umán, Hoctún and Chemax, and one from abroad. Baca, Chankom, Espita, Halachó, Hunucmá, Maxcanú, Motul, Opichén, Progreso, Ticul, Uayma, Ucú and Valladolid.

Current patients include 360 recovering at home and 510 under hospital care.

Around 5,000 people watch the briefing on Facebook Live every evening. Comments range from respectful to frivolous. Dozens each evening complain when the briefing doesn’t feature Dra. Patricia Muños Miranda, head of the Program Against Respiratory Diseases, who hasn’t been seen on camera in over a week.

Some viewers apparently feel more comforted when the state health official is on camera. “Dra Paty, donde estaaaaaaa?” wrote one commenter while one of her colleagues read off the night’s numbers.

Read More