Active cases of Covid-19 in Jalisco rose from 779 to 1,264 in June - a jump of 62 percent, the Jalisco Health Department (SSJ) reported this week. Meanwhile, hospitalizations grew by 17 percent last month.
The figures are in keeping with national trends, which saw infections rise by 22 percent in the week ending July 4. On Wednesday, July, 7, 8,507 new confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported in Mexico - the highest daily figure since February 24.
Governor Enrique Alfaro warned that Covid infections are likely to increase as the more aggressive Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus starts to predominate in the state.
The Jalisco Health Secretariat (SSJ) revealed this week that the first confirmed case of the Delta variant in Jalisco was that of a 33-year-old man, originally from Nagpur, India, who arrived in Guadalajara on April 18. The traveler was seen by a private doctor, who confirmed the Covid-19 diagnosis through an antigen test, the SSJ said. Although the patient experienced a cough, fever, chills and a headache, he did not require hospitalization.
According to the SSJ, the Jalisco’s Public Health Laboratory (LESP) processed the patient’s sample and sent it to the Institute for Epidemiological Diagnosis (INDRE), the federal laboratory in Mexico City that confirmed the presence of the Delta variant.
“The risk is not over,” declared Alfaro, noting many people are still awaiting their anti-Covid shots. “More than half of the population still has a very high level of risk,” he warned. “For people between 50 and 60 years of age, we have barely reached 50 percent,” the governor said.
University of Guadalajara infectologist Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez said the majority of new infections are people aged between 20 and 40 years of age who have not been vaccinated.
Jalisco Health Secretary Fernando Petersen warned Jalisco will probably experience a “third wave” of the pandemic before the end of this month. Others, including public health specialist Carlos Alonso Reynoso, say the third wave is already here. “We still do not know how big it will be, but if we let our guard down and do not give importance to the Delta variant, it could be significant,” he told the Notisistema news agency.
Despite the bleaker outlook, Alfaro and his health cabinet won’t enforce new restrictive measures, but will step up surveillance of the protocols in place at bars and night clubs frequented by young people that he says are the major sources of new infections. As of this weekend, he said, establishments found in breach of the regulations will face steep fines or be slapped with permanent closure orders.
Bars and clubs are limited to 60 percent of their regular capacity, tables must be placed at least two meters apart and only four people are permitted at each table. However, they can still remain open until 4 a.m., while restaurants have a 1 a.m. curfew.
Alfaro said that despite the spike in cases,the economy cannot be shut down again and that he is relying on the “individual responsibility” of citizens to follow protocols and get through this latest stage of the pandemic.