A Canadian snowbird living in Progreso was among six to die of coronavirus complications, Yucatan health authorities said.
Monday’s briefing listed six fatalities in a 24-hour period, the third time Yucatan has seen as many deaths in one day. Nineteen new infections were detected.
The Canadian, 81, had diabetes and a history of contact with another COVID-19 patient.
The identity of the expat in Yucatan to succumb to the virus was made apparent today on social media. Well-wishers came forward to comfort the family of Morgan Sharp, 81, a retired financial advisor and active musician who divided his time between Progreso and Uxbridge, Ontario, with his wife Diane Roblin-Lee.
He had been in serious condition for at least a month, Facebook posts from friends indicate.
A 35-year-old Merida man with a history of hypertension and obesity also perished, as did a 73-year-old Sanahcat man with hypertension and chronic kidney failure; a 69-year-old Merida woman with a brain tumor and a history of contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, a 55-year-old Kunché woman with diabetes and obesity and a 77-year-old Umán man with hypertension and chronic kidney failure.
Yucatan has recorded 67 deaths and 856 confirmed cases since the coronavirus crisis began.
Of those, 501 have recovered — 42 in one day — and 176 patients are stable and at home. A new high of 104 are under hospital care, three more than Sunday.
Hospital protest
Relatives of kidney dialysis patients staged a protest outside the Issste Regional Hospital in Merida’s Pensiones neighborhood to demand that their family members not be mixed with patients with COVID-19.
They charged that the hospital does not have protocols to avoid more infections, and patients are sharing the same spaces and machines.
Protestors said the hospital director was dismissive of their complaints.
The hospital is now being protected by National Guard personnel.
Helping survivors with costs
Starting Wednesday morning, the Yucatan state government covers administrative costs up to 365 pesos for anyone who dies from COVID-19. Death certificates and other bureaucratic fees are covered.
Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal gave a speech in which he warned that the situation will get worse before it gets better. He did not indicate whether the ban on alcohol sales, which would be listed under current legislation, will be extended.
He also did not address the six deaths connected to bootleg alcohol consumption which occurred after legal sales of beer, wine, and liquor were suspended.
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