Efforts to deal with Covid-19 in Puerto Vallarta and prevent its spread continue by municipal, state, and federal authorities and in the different economic sectors of the municipality.
During the 5th Municipal Health Roundtable, interim municipal president Jorge Antonio Quintero Alvarado gave an account of the actions that have been undertaken in recent weeks, in a preventive way and as a way of raising awareness, as well as the evolution of this disease.
The interim mayor highlighted the important teamwork that has been achieved through these tables, which in turn allow feedback and attention to those points of opportunity to continue taking care of the health and well-being of the people of Vallarta. He added that in the face of the pandemic, the delicate situation in which we are currently living, it is necessary to redouble our efforts and add the participation of all citizens to move forward.
In this framework, Quintero Alvarado detailed the preventive works that have been implemented from July 9 to August 4, by the different dependencies of the city council. Highlighted were the issuance of recommendations to the population and the delivery of face masks with a total of 51,500 actions by Civil Protection and Firefighters and Citizen Security; the installation of sanitary filters in which citizens and visitors are invited to follow health measures, and the sanitization of public spaces such as government offices, public squares, truck stops, markets, the tourist strip, and others.
In terms of inspection and surveillance of commercial establishments for compliance with health protocols, in this period 12 closing acts, 9 closing warnings and 250 warnings for compliance with the protocols have been drawn up. Through the Directorate of Tourism and Economic Development, 4,200 businesses and 290 hotels have been visited to invite them to adopt the necessary measures against this disease.
The municipal president also reported that 967 tests were applied to municipal administration personnel, to detect possible infections among workers and cut the chain of infections, prioritizing administrative personnel who serve citizens and operational personnel. He explained that the application was carried out randomly from July 27 to August 2 and 55 infections that have been isolated were detected.
He also stressed that work is already underway on the proposal that will be presented to the State Health Board for the reopening of clubs and bars in the municipality.
When publicizing the panorama that this municipality is experiencing on the subject of Covid-19, Jaime Álvarez Zayas, director of the VIII Health Region, indicated that in the last 6 weeks, there has been a considerable increase in positive cases. As of June 24, there were 7,861 accumulated cases registered, and by August 4 this number nearly doubled to 14,381 cases. He also presented a monthly comparison that as of July 4 there were 8,197 cases registered, and in one month the contagion curve rose significantly.
Regarding the Regional Hospital, Álvarez Zayas specified that it works with 85% of hospital reconversion for the care of Covid-19, and the remaining percentage for the care of other diseases and medical services.
In hospital occupancy, as of this Wednesday, August 4, this hospital registered 98% occupancy in the Intensive Care Unit and 92% in general beds, and it has the authorization of the Community Development Center of Ixtapa, where they will refer only those patients who have already overcome the disease and are under observation prior to being discharged.
The director of Beach Tourism in Jalisco, Susana Rodríguez Mejía, announced that they are already working on the support program for workers in bars and clubs, announced by the state government, so that they are currently in the reception of the registers of each business. It is expected that next week the platform will be open so that workers can directly receive this economic support.