A 73-year-old New York tourist became the second victim of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Puerto Rico, while positive cases of the disease on the island increased from 24 to 31, confirmed Monday the Health Department.
According to the agency, the man who died last night in a metropolitan area hospital was on vacation in Puerto Rico with his wife.
The patient began to present symptoms while on the island, for which he was admitted to the isolation room of the hospital institution where he died.
It was reported that the man had recently undergone the coronavirus test and tested positive.
A government press release explained that the man died “after various complications in his clinical picture.”
Given this, the director of the task force on the coronavirus, Dr. Segundo Rodríguez Quilichini, urged citizens to stay at home and respect the curfew that today entered its ninth day.
“We join the sentence that seizes the relatives of this second person who died, due to the coronavirus and who came to the Island in March from the United States. This situation reminds us of the seriousness of this matter and why we are asking citizens to stay at home, “said the doctor.
The increase in positive cases
Meanwhile, Health detailed that the increase in the number of infections on the island corresponds to eight new positive cases that were reported between yesterday and today. Six of the tests were performed at the Public Health Laboratory and two at the Veterans Hospital.
“The cases of the Department of Health correspond to two men, one 43 years old from the metropolitan region and the other 88 from the Mayagüez region, as well as four women. Two of them 30 and 31 years old, respectively, from the metropolitan region, in addition to a 76-year-old woman from the Caguas region and another 58-year-old from the Ponce region, “the agency explained.
241 tests have been carried out in the Health laboratory, of which 188 have been negative and 18 positive. Another 35 were reported to be pending results.
Meanwhile, the cases of the Veterans Hospital are two men, 49 and 26 years old, respectively. In this hospital institution, 13 of the 31 positive cases in Puerto Rico have been reported.
The interim secretary of Health, Concepción Quiñones de Longo, described the situation that the island is going through as “serious” and stressed that citizens must continue taking preventive measures.
“This is an extremely serious matter in which we must assume individual responsibility for the collective good. Stay at home, wash your hands constantly, clean surfaces and maintain social distance, especially if you are sick, isolate yourself for 14 days, “said the official.
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