At MID CityBeat we are updating information daily about the protocols, latest statistics and updates from the government of Yucatan. We think it is exceedingly important to have access to reliable information in English during this time to ease our minds and keep each other safe. All our information comes from official sources. We follow the Government of Yucatan and Government of Mexico sites as well as we are in constant contact with Dr. Fani Rubio from Merida Health Travel who is working in both public and private hospitals in the Covid19 ward.
WE ARE UPDATING THIS ARTICLE EVERY DAY AS NEW INFORMATION COMES OUT
We are also posting at 9am in our MID CityBeat Facebook page all the updates. Please also check our Facebook and Instagram for updates and for what is happening in Yucatan
🚨 MID CityBeat latest Health Update Friday, August 7th
🚨 HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID19 ARE STILL AT AN ALARMINGLY HIGH RATE. WED AUGUST 5th SAW ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. ALL PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE AT CAPACITY; PUBLIC HOSPITALS ALMOST AT CAPACITY; SIGLO XXI ALMOST FULL AND A SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL STAFF
🚨 This is a very critical situation because the hospital system and medical professionals are at capacity and are overwhelmed. Please be sure to be very vigilant, say home as much as possible
🚨 IF YOU ARE HIGH RISK OR MODERATELY HIGH RISK: be very careful when going out and if you can, stay home until there is more space at the hospitals should you need to use them.
NEW: After August 13th, the traffic light system report, which is now given by the state of Yucatan every Thursday, will be given every 15 days. They are doing this in order to coordinate with the Federal Government’s traffic light system update.
🚨 State Government maintains Yucatan is in ORANGE
🚨 Federal Government maintains Yucatan is in RED.
Orange means that we are in the first wave of reopening and that businesses are open at restricted capacity. Red means we are in lockdown again and only essential businesses are open.
PLEASE continue to wear your masks over your mouth and nose, keep at least 2 meters distance from everyone including your friends, wash and sanitize your hands. Let’s keep everyone as safe as possible
🚨 Results from Thursday August 6, 2020
248 new cases confirmed (increasing)
368 more suspected cases (increasing)
33 deaths (2 less than the day before)
686 hospitalizations (54 more than the day before there are also many in hospital waiting on results)
25, 894 suspected cases in Yucatan (3,662 are sentinel surveillance)
🚨 Friday August 7th Yucatan State Officials: Light System Color ORANGE
WAVE 1 of the Economic Reopening Continues with the restrictions outlined below.
Percentage of hospital beds in use in the intensive unit with Covid19 and non Covid19 patients: from 57.1% to 48.7% DECREASING
Percentage of hospital beds in use in total Covid19 and non Covid19 patients from 53.6% last week decreased to 54.1% this week INCREASING
Admissions to hospital: increased from 11.8% last week to -5.4.8% this week DECREASING
Rate of infections: –decreased from 1.23% last week to 1.39% this week INCREASING
Positive tests: decreased from 49.5% last week to 51.4% INCREASING
🚨 We continue to be in the most critical part of the pandemic:
🚨 Private hospitals are full they are not accepting new patients, public hospitals are almost full and the temporary hospital at Siglo XXI is filling up.
🚨 All medical staff are working at full capacity. There is no more medical staff available, all are working full time. 24 doctors and nurses from IMSS federal Mexico City came to last week to reinforce staff.
🚨 Zones of Merida most affected since the beginning of the pandemic:
Zona Norte (North) 1469 (39 more than the day before)
Zona Oriente (East) 1642 (29 more than the day before)
Zona Centro 618 (10 more than the day before)
Zona Sur (South) 995 (2 more than the day before)
Zona Poniente (West) 1326 (9 more than day before)
🚨 3 zone with the most active confirmed cases of Covid19 in the last 14 days (as of July 30th) in Merida:
1-Ciudad Caucel
2-Juan Pablo II
3-Centro
🚨 Latest from the government as of 6pm Thursday, August 6th
Current Covid19 status in Yucatán
🦠 11, 170 confirmed cases of COVID19 (248 more than the day before) in Yucatán and the age range is 1 month -98 years old.
🦠 6180 in Merida (increased by 128 from the day before), 192 in Progreso (increased 5 from the day before), 125 are from other countries or other states in Mexico (increased by 4 from the day before)
🦠498 (4 more the day before) cases are mild they are in their houses being monitored by the State Health officials
🦠686 (54 more than the day before) cases are hospitalized in serious condition and are in isolation. There are patients that are hospitalized that are waiting for the test results
🦠8646 (increased by 157 from the day before) have recovered and exhibit no symptoms and are no longer sick or contagious.
🦠 Unfortunately, there have now been 1340 deaths due to Covid19 in Yucatan.
33 deaths yesterday:
15 men and 18 women ages 40-92 main pre-existing conditions were: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, asthma, kidney disease, lung disease, smoker and heart disease
The State Government is setting up itinerant testing modules to detect the virus in the colonias and towns that have been most affected. This is not a permanent testing center and they will moving to various parts of the states as the days continue. https://www.facebook.com/285058928236909/posts/3275852319157540/?d=n.
🚨 Because of the increasing cases and the overwhelmed and inundated hospital system, Governor Mauricio Vila has announced strict measures to decrease social interaction.
NEWEST PROTOCOLS
Governor Mauricio Vila announced July 14th at 10pm new measures to the Covid19 contingency plan.
-TRAFFIC CURFEW: No traffic will be allowed to circulate between the hours of 10:30pm to 5am in all of Yucatan (except for along the coast). Basically a curfew.
-TRAFFIC CURFEW: Along the coast of Yucatan, including all beach towns, no traffic allowed to circulate from 9pm-5am.
-All non-essential businesses are to close at 6pm Monday to Friday. Closed on Weekends
-Restaurants can open until 10pm Monday to Friday. Weekend delivery only
-For essential businesses they must take into consideration the traffic curfew so that all their employees can be home before the curfew time (see above)
-All ports will be closed and all recreational boats are ordered back to the docks. All water vehicles with a motor are prohibited EXCEPT for commercial fishermen.
-Those who are at the beach must use a mask on all beaches.
-Ley Seca or Prohibition no alcohol sales in all of Yucatan.
-Parks and green areas—except for children’s parks–will open for individuals to walk and use. Playgrounds, zoo, Animaya and Centenario will remain closed.
-Sports clubs can open but only individual sports and only outside, open areas. Indoor or groups sports continue to be banned.
-Businesses with an area of less than 150 square meters will be allowed to let customers come into the store, but only 1 customer is allowed for every 10 meters squared in salable areas.
-The public beaches will remain closed. Only vehicular traffic will be permitted in Progreso until 9pm. You will not be allowed to walk around on the malecon or touristic part of Progreso or at the beach.
REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVD19
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.
Step 1: Call your doctor or the State Health Number
Or Merida Health Travel (999 342 0036)
EME Red Hospitalaria (927 9200) so you can explain your symptoms. Your medical provider will tell you if you have the symptoms of Covid19. If you do they will help you call or you should call the Yucatan State Secretariat of Health at 800 Yucatan (982 2826)
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE COVID19?
If you have Covid 19 and your symptoms are manageable you will be quarantined at home and closely monitored by medical professionals from the Yucatan Secretariat of Health for 14 days.
If you have Covid19 and require hospitalization, your doctor or the medical professional that goes to your house will determine that you need to be transferred to one of the 3 Hospitals of the Secretaria de Salud (Secretariat of Health), ISSSTE (Institute for the Security and Social Services for Workers) or IMSS (Institute of Social Security) located in Merida, Yucatan or you can choose to go to a private hospital. However as of July 9th all private hospitals are at capacity.
THE STATISTIC THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IN ORDER TO DECIDE IF WE SHOULD CLOSE THE ECONOMY AGAIN IS: THE NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS AVAILABLE.
Thousands of Yucatecans have no choice but to get back to work; however those who are most vulnerable to this virus should remain home as much as possible. People must take personal responsibility for their hygiene if they are going to leave the house. These are our recommendations:
- Wash your hands several times per day.
- Remember that masks are obligatory
- Maintain a safe distance
- Do not have fiesta or small to large gatherings of people
- If you have symptoms stay home and immediately call 800 Yucatan
UNDERSTANDING THE WAVE REOPENING SYSTEM:
Mauricio Vila Announced How the State will Open up BUT has NOT announced official dates yet for Wave 1, 2 or 3
WAVE 1
SOCIAL DISTANCE: 1 person for every 5 square meters
ALL NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES CAN OPEN ONLY MONDAY-FRIDAY
Businesses that will be allowed open:
Corporations, Service Professionals, Media, Wholesale Commerce, Manufacturing, Real Estate and Rental Services
Temporary Lodging: Only guests who are staying for work reasons and 10% occupancy of the hotel.
Restaurants: Reservations only and no waiting 25% occupancy
Retail business: Less than 150 square foot in size, only sales at the door or window, More than 150 square feet restricted access
Health and Beauty salons 25% occupancy by appointment only
WAVE 2
SOCIAL DISTANCE: 1 person for every 4 square meters
Businesses that will be allowed open:
Corporations, Service Professionals, Media, Wholesale Commerce, Manufacturing, Real Estate and Rental Services
Temporary Lodging: Only guests who are staying for work or business reasons and 15% occupancy of the hotel.
Restaurants: Reservations only and no waiting 50% occupancy
Retail business: Less than 150 square foot in size, only sales at the door, More than 150 square feet restricted access
Health and Beauty salons 50% occupancy by appointment only
WAVE 3
1 person for every 3 square meters
Businesses that will be allowed open:
Education Centers, bars, entertainment and cultural centers, shopping malls, religious activities, corporations, service professionals, media, wholesale commerce, manufacturing, real estate and rental services
Temporary Lodging: first tourists and 25% occupancy of the hotel.
Restaurants: Reservations only and no waiting 75% occupancy
Retail business: all stores can sell from inside the store
Health and Beauty salons 75% occupancy by appointment only
MANY RESTAURANTS HAVE OPENED AT 25% CAPACITY EVERYDAY
Restaurants can open now at 25% capacity. The government is holding them to strict measure of hygiene and they will be heavily monitored by the Health Department.
- All employees are using masks and face shields
- All people who enter must sanitize their hands and wear masks
- At the table the guests can TAKE OFF their masks to enjoy their meal.
- If the guest needs to get up from the table to go to the bathroom etc. They must put their mask back on.
For a list of our favorite restaurants that are now open go here:
https://www.facebook.com/545574605784031/posts/1271190649889086/?d=n
PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY HOME AND USE HYGIENIC MEASURES
We want to continue thanking all the medical staff who are doing all they can to help those infected by Covid19. They are true heroes during this time.
KEEP IN MIND: ONLY 10% of suspected cases with symptoms of Covid19 are being tested nationally. UP TO 20% are being tested in Yucatan. That is the reason they continue in Yucatan to give us the suspected number of cases.
Order in, groceries, medications and all supplies. Here is an article with many delivery services:
Also we have started a new Facebook page where we can all share our favorite delivery services and businesses. Here we can encourage people to support local and give people real recommendations for delivery services.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1072444179778365/
TO DONATE TO RELIEF FUNDS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH GO HERE:
YUCATAN GIVING OUTREACH
Continue to do outstanding work in the community and are providing food and medical supplies to high risk populations in Merida and surrounding areas as well as some hospitals.
BANCO DE ALIMENTOS DE MERIDA A-C- BAMXMERIDA
Food bank in Merida. This is part of a national food bank who has more than 55 food Banks nationally. Each month they benefit more than 11,000 people in Merida and you can imagine especially during these times, their recipients have been very hard hit. You can now make a canned and bagged food drop off at Escargot Rustico in Centro is you would like to make a food donation any day 9am-12pm.
For more information you can go here:
https://www.facebook.com/bamxmerida/
For any further information you can contact us here.