The tenth person in Yucatan to die in the coronavirus pandemic is a 50-year-old man, health officials said Wednesday. Sixteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported.
The man had pre-existing conditions including unspecified chronic degenerative diseases and obesity, said the Yucatan Health Ministry.
Unlike most states, Yucatan does not break down infection statistics by municipality, so we do not know where if the new cases are clustered in one spot, or spread out among inhabitants of a state with a population of 2 million.
Since the crisis began, 133 residents tested positive for coronavirus, nearly three times the total reported 15 days ago. Another 166 patients in Yucatan are awaiting results. Doctors ruled out 616 cases that resembled COVID-19, but were possibly flu.
Of the confirmed cases, 80 have recovered, while 23 are stable, isolated, constantly monitored by SSY medical personnel as they present mild symptoms.
The number of patients in Yucatan whose conditions merit hospitalization rose by three since Sunday, jumping to 21, counting a Yucatecan patient diagnosed in Canada. It is unknown how many are on ventilators.
The age range of the active coronavirus cases runs from 10 to 78 years.
Anyone just arriving in Yucatan from elsewhere is asked to self-isolate fo 14 days. Officials also asked citizens to avoid spreading false and sensational news reports and rumors, heeding only official and trusted sources.
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.
{ Related: See past stories on the coronavirus response }
Across Mexico, 74 deaths were reported Wednesday, nearly double any other day’s fatalities, bringing the total to 406. Mexico’s first COVID-19 patient died March 18, barely a month ago.
Another 385 new cases were reported, bringing Mexico’s total to 5,399 since the crisis began. Of those, 2,868 patients are still under care.
Nearly 84% of coronavirus patients eventually recover, according to government figures.
