MEXICO | Mexico surpassed one million confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, after recording 5,860 new infections in 24 hours, the government said.
• Read also: All developments in the COVID-19 pandemic
“[Un total de] 1,003,253 people have obtained a positive result ”in screening tests, announced at a press conference Ricardo Cortes, of the General Directorate of Health Promotion.
The death toll recorded in the last 24 hours stands at 635, bringing the overall death toll to 98,259 coronavirus deaths in the country, the health ministry official detailed.
With 128.8 million inhabitants, Mexico remains fourth among the most bereaved countries, behind the United States, Brazil and India, according to AFP’s count based on official figures.
“The epidemic is very active […]. We have probably not yet experienced the worst, ”Alejandro Macias, a former national leader in the fight against the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009, told AFP.
The first official case of COVID in Mexico dates back to February 28. Since then, the progress of the epidemic has exceeded the forecasts of the health authorities.
The capital has seen an increase in the number of daily infections since mid-October and remains the epicenter of the pandemic in Mexico, with more than 177,000 people infected and 16,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19.
The mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced on Friday the closure of bars and canteens for 15 days.
Restaurants, cinemas and gymnasiums have also been required to close earlier than usual, due to the acceleration of infections and hospitalizations seen last week.
The councilor also said that the number of tests would be increased to 10,000 per day.