200% Increase of Covid-19 Infections Expected at the Border

NOGALES, SONORA, MX – With the arrival of the two most critical weeks of Covid-19 infectious disease transmission, local authorities estimate that infections may increase by 200% if preventive measures are not strengthened.

Cuauhtémoc Martínez Siraitare, regional coordinator of the Board of Public Safety and Community Protection in Sonora, indicated that the feared 200% increase in contagions is already a reality in Nogales, Sonora.

But, if the community doesn’t adopt serious measures like to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, the spread could grow an additional 200%.

He asks the community to avoid going out to visit their families on May 10, when Mother’s Day is celebrated in Mexico.

He asks the community to postpone all activities that are traditional to Mother’s day celebrated in Mexico, including cemetery visits, serenades, and gatherings.

Amongst the measures promoted in Nogales to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is the reinforcement of Plan DNIII. Plan DNIII warrants the installation of preventive health filters operated by the National Guard and the Mexican Army to prevent unnecessary travel within the city.

In addition to the Municipal Civil Protection area, command patrols will be installed in the vicinity of public hospitals with the help of the military authorities. These command patrols will prevent outbreaks of violence in the event of massive arrivals of people desperate for medical care.

Until Tuesday noon, there are 31 Covid-19 infected people documented, as well as four deaths in Nogales, Sonora. The percentage of positive cases in comparison with the tests applied is 11.9%.