Virus cases slow in Juárez after deadly weekend; fund created to help hospitals

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- After a weekend that saw 17 coronavirus deaths and over 200 new cases, the city of Juárez reported just seven additional infections on Monday with no new fatalities.

All of Chihuahua state was on high alert Monday due to increased virus spread in the region, with 2,949 cases and 478 deaths to date. In Juárez, the tally stood at 1,855 cases and 388 deaths.

Amid the alert, the El Paso Community Foundation has created a new fund to help two Juárez hospitals combat the pandemic.

The El Paso entity is partnering with the Fundación del Empresariado Chihuahuense, A.C. (FECHAC) in Juárez and Desarrollo Económico de Ciudad Juárez, A.C. (DEAC).

They will create the El Paso-Juárez Unidos Fund to provide much-needed personal protective equipment to the Hospital General de Ciudad Juárez and the Hospital General Regional No. 66.

“This is an important binational effort in ensuring better safety for all of us,” said Mario Porras, director of bi-national affairs for the El Paso Community Foundation. “Slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Juárez hospitals will ultimately help slow things down for El Paso, too.”