Mexico reports 947 more virus deaths – 9 in Juarez – for 2nd highest daily toll

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexico confirmed 947 more coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, with nine of those occurring in the city of Juarez and 14 in Chihuahua state, in what was the country’s second-highest daily toll since the pandemic began.

The highest daily toll in the nation came June 3 with 1,092 deaths.

The Health Department said the country has seen a total of 24,324 deaths so far, while Juarez has seen 469 deaths – which is the bulk of the 594 deaths to date in Chihuahua state.

The number of confirmed cases nationwide rose by 5,437. The case load has increased by about 5,000 each day in the last two weeks, and the total now stands at 186,847.

Health officials reported 18 new and 2,092 total cases in Juarez, with 32 new and 4,068 total infections in the entire state of Chihuahua.

The numbers are clearly an under-count, given Mexico’s very low rate of testing.

Mexican officials have repeatedly predicted the peak of the pandemic had been reached, or would do so soon, only to be proved wrong.

The Health Department’s epidemiology director, José Luis Alomía, used almost comically couched language Wednesday, saying the country is on “a slight tendency that may insinuate a descent” in infections.

Because the case load continues so high, authorities have had to delay some planned re-openings in parts of Mexico.