Juárez deaths increase by 24, cases rise to 841 as virus curve doubles

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- Chihuahua state health authorities on Friday reported that the confirmed cases of Covid-19 rose by 36 in Juárez, and 24 new deaths occurred.

The death toll now rises to 196 in Juárez and the total number of infections is up to 841.

Chihuahua Gov. Javier Corral said the virus curve in Juárez is already doubling and he hoped a descent of the epidemic curve will begin soon.

Juárez accounted for all but one of the new deaths to occur over the past day in Chihuahua state, officials said. The state death tally was 249 and total cases were 1,338.

The governor also made a new call for residents across the state to stay home this weekend as the virus' peak is reached in the region.

“This is not the time yet, nor the occasion to relax the measures for safeguarding at home. We need people to help us in this final stretch, in this last pull that we are going to do," he said.

He added, "We have to keep staying home. Economic activity is not yet open. We are preparing the reopening."

Across all of Mexico, the caseload from the virus totaled 59,567 on Friday with 6,510 deaths to date.