Mexican state eyes closing US border as COVID-19 cases rise in Arizona

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Commuters line up to cross to the United States from Mexico (Photo by GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images)

MEXICO CITY - Mexico’s coronavirus outbreak rose by a record 6,741 confirmed cases and 679 deaths Thursday, putting the country’s toll of 29,189 COVID-19 deaths higher than Spain’s, though the milestone was overshadowed by the resurgence in the United States.

Reacting to a spike in virus cases reported in Arizona, the top health official in the neighboring Mexican state of Sonora is asking Mexico’s federal government to temporarily close the border to non-essential visits from the U.S.

“No more crossings from the United States into Mexico for visitors who do not have essential activities,” Sonora state Health Secretary Enrique Clausen said Wednesday. “They should only be allowed for work or business.” He said he was asking only for entry into Sonora to be suspended.

The United States and Mexico previously agreed to limiting non-essential border crossings into the U.S. during the pandemic, but Mexico has not moved to block entry into its territory and it seemed unlikely the Foreign Relations Department would grant Clausen’s request. The agency did announce it would screen incoming visitors from the United States over the July 4th weekend, checking temperatures and asking about symptoms as a preventative measure.

Several towns in Sonora are popular with U.S. visitors because they offer lower-cost health, vision and dental services. Puerto Peñasco, a resort also known as Rocky Point, is also popular with visitors from Arizona.

The Mexican state has only about one-tenth as many confirmed cases as Arizona — 8,976 as compared to 87,425 — but the two states are more comparable in COVID-19 deaths — Sonora with 909 and Arizona with 1,757.

Mexico’s rising case numbers probably hide a much larger number of infections and deaths, because Mexico in general does very little testing.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell was asked Thursday about a Washington Post story in which he was quoted as saying about three times as many people died in Mexico City from March through May than in previous years.

“I recognize that the number of people who have died from COVID-19 could be much higher here — concretely, the comment was three times as many as what we present here (at daily briefings) every night. I have said that same thing on a number of occasions,” Lopez-Gatell said.

On Thursday, Gov. Francisco Cabeza de Vaca of Tamaulipas, another border state, announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus, the latest in a string of Mexican state governors and federal officials who have been infected.

MAP: Worldwide interactive Coronavirus case data

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FULL COVERAGE: fox10phoenix.com/coronavirus

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): How it spreads, symptoms, prevention, treatment, FAQ

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html (In Spanish/En Español)

Arizona COVID-19 Response: Public resources, FAQ, webinars

https://www.azdhs.gov/coronavirus

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/es/covid-19/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home (In Spanish/En Español)

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