Yucatan reported 81 new coronavirus infections Saturday, ending four days of steady increases that peaked at 183. It was only the third time since Aug. 12 that daily new cases were under 100.
Daily cases averaged 129 for the past seven days, down from 144 the week before.
Eight people battling COVID-19 died in the past 24 hours, health officials also said. Daily fatalities averaged 12 this week, compared to 18.5 the week before.
While the statistics remain grim, some hopeful trends emerged. The day’s recoveries outnumbered new cases by 25.
And hospitalizations continued a steady decline at 261, eight fewer than Friday. September began with 352 in the hospital. Most current patients, 876 as of 6 p.m. Saturday, are recovering at home and are in stable condition.
The most recent infections included 46 in Merida, five in Progreso and Ticul, four in Chemax and Tinum, three in Oxkutzcab; two in Kanasín, Peto, Temozón and Tizimín; and one Acanceh, Espita, Tekax, Tixkokob, Umán and Valladolid.
Fatalities included five men and three women ranging in age from 41 to 79. Some of them suffered from hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease and heart disease.
Half were from Merida while two came from Panabá. A resident in Izamal and Tizimín also perished.
Since April, 2,179 people in Yucatan have died while fighting coronavirus. Infections total 16,619 with an 80% recovery rate.
