Chihuahua Governor Corral Steps Up

Shuts Down Much of the State Tentatively Until April 20

Yesterday Governor Javier Corral (click here for facebook video) announced the suspension of "all public and private activity" as a means of combatting the coronavirus crisis.  All theaters, malls, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, museums, sports events, conventions and private gatherings will close down, and he said heavy fines will be levied on those who violate the rules. He asked citizens to adopt an older person who might be especially vulnerable.  He reiterated that Chihuahua is still in phase I, which means grocery stores, supermarkets, and other food providers will continue to be opened, but with protocols of safe distancing.  He said that businesses that continue to function should use only the personnel absolutely necessary and promote work from home.

He also asserted Chihuahua has enough doctors and nurses to handle to pandemic, as well as hospital beds, respirators, ventilators, and testing capabilities, although "more will be asked for."  Citizens of the state should stay in their homes, go out as little as possible, and families should shop at supermarkets using only one member per family.  Those needing medical assistance should go alone or at most with one other person.  He said only if Chihuahuenses adhere to these measures will massive contagion be prevented.  He assured the public the state will keep informing about the condition of coronavirus in the state.

Note:  This is the strongest statement of current coronavirus policy yet from a governor in the surrounding states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Chihuahua and Sonora.  No other governor in these states has taken such strong measures designed to slow the progress of the contagion.  And he appears to be among the first state leaders to suggest the concept of "adopting" an older, more vulnerable adult to assist through what are likely to be hard times.  In New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham has implemented strong policies, with enforcement, of social distancing, but has also emphasized the importance of doing widespread testing as a means of understanding the extent of the spread of the virus and determining when the spike in Albuquerque and other places in the state will take place.

Governor Corral did not address how many persons have been tested for coronavirus in the state, or exactly how the number of estimated cases in the state will be calculated, or what the state is doing to increase the number of ICU units in the state or the number of ventilators.  Reports in Diario suggest there will be a drastic shortage of these in Juárez, should the number of cases begin to surge, as it appears likely to do.  To my knowledge the number of persons tested in the state so far has not been made public.  News reports last week asserted the state had received capabilities of testing 400 persons.  New Mexico has tested just under 6000 persons so far, according to this morning's update at the website of the NM Dept of Health (click here), with 83 positive cases.