Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Wednesday, April 22

 



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4/21-Dr Gatell just announced that Mexico has entered Phase 3 of the Covid-19 epidemic. "We are in the stage of rapid ascent involving a large number of infections and hospitalizations. To have the least possible, we must maintain the National Campaign of Healthy Distance--Stay at Home."
Cancun is among the cities with the highest rates of transmission and Q Roo has one of the top four incidence rates. The lone case in Isla Mujeres has recovered, although this isn't reflected in the state statistics yet.

"We cannot relax the measures of the Healthy Distance Campaign; We are not moving out of the COVID-19 epidemic, nor even in the phase of case reduction.. We are in the stage of maximum speed of ascent and that is why we ask you to Stay At Home~QuédateEnCasa"--Dr Gatell, 4/20

As of 7pm Sunday, Mexico reported 8772 cases and 712 deaths. (You may recall that Dr. Gatell said the Sentinel Model estimated about 8 cases for every one that is reported, because many are untested for various reasons, including mildness of symptoms.) There were 2965 active cases, which are those whose symptoms began in the last 14 days. The map represents the INCIDENCE of confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with the national incidence at 2.32. Quintana Roo is among the four states with the highest incidence rates.
 With 712 deaths in 8772 reported cases, that is one in 12. Cancun's rate of 361 reported cases with 32 deaths is one in 11.


4/20 Since yesterday (4/19), Cancun added 32 more cases, for a total of 261 positives. Ten days ago it had less than half that many, at 114 cases (a 129% increase). Statewide, cases also more than doubled since the 10th, from 163 to 361, an increase of 122%. There have been 32 deaths among the 361 positives, which is one in 11.
On April 20th, Quintana Roo reports 361 positives with 32 deaths,
144 under study and 540 negatives. There are 151 in social isolation, 104 hospitalized and 74 recuperated. They are located:
Benito Juarez (Cancun)-261 with 16 deaths & 48 recuperated,
Solidaridad (PDC)-61 with 10 deaths & 22 recuperated,
Cozumel-15 with 1 death & 1 recuperated,
OPB (Chetumal)-10 with 3 deaths & 1 recuperated,
Tulum-6 with 2 deaths,
Filipe C Puerto-2
Jose M Morelos-2 with 1 recuperated
Bacalar-1 who recuperated
The other municipalities each have 1 case. Our hospital director has reported that the one case in Isla Mujeres has recuperated, but this isn't reflected on the state report yet.



4/21 Three more deaths & a dozen more cases in Cancun since yesterday. The death rate statewide is 1 in 10.
The state reports 374 positives with 38 deaths, 92 under study, and 105 recuperated. They are located:
Benito Juarez (Cancun)-273 with 19 deaths & 66 recuperated.
Solidaridad (PDC)-63 with 11 deaths & 30 recuperated
Cozumel-15 with 1 death & 5 recuperated
OPD (Chetumal)-10 with 3 deaths & 1 recuperated
Tulum-6 with 2 deaths & 1 recuperated
Jose M Morelos-2 with 1 death & 1 recuperated
Filipe C Puerto-2 with 1 death
The other municipalities report one case each. In Bacalar the lone case has recuperated (and in Isla Mujeres, but it's not on the state report yet).


Now there's a "SaniTunel" for ferry passengers as they arrive (in addition to a temperature check), which sprays chemicals for three seconds on surfaces including hair, clothing, and backpacks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This is considered an effective technique to control the spread of the virus, however, City authorities emphasize that cooperating with staying at home reduces the risk of contagion of this virus and is most important to prevent its spread. (On the side it says it is natural, organic, with citrus extracts)


The Isla Mujeres Diabetes Clinic is seeking donations to provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for the medical personnel who care for Isla Mujeres residents. We're working in coordination with Isla's liaison for Covid-19 prevention, Dra Xhanat Mora, & hoping to raise $5000 to provide 100 kits, which will be split between the Community Hospital on the island and the General Hospital on the mainland, where islanders are treated who are seriously ill or injured.
Our Paypal address is isladiabetesclinic@gmail.com 
      If more than $5k is collected, PPE kits will be supplied to Isla's first responders, Red Cross personnel, firefighters, and police.
The photos show our Hospital Director (homemade mask) receiving donations from a legislator recently.



PSA--Chedraui has senior shopping hours 8a-10a. Yesterday, a resident over 60 posted that he was turned away when he wanted to shop during other hours, and advised to come back then. This has apparently happened to others & indicates those are the only hours for seniors to shop. Non-senior residents can begin shopping at 10:01am. I believe Chedraui closes at 9p.


Ministry of Finance blocks CFE from increasing electrical rates for 180,000 families in Quintana Roo
SIPSE reports that a document dated March 30th with the signature of the Secretary of the Treasury, Arturo Herrera Gutierrez, prohibits the Federal Electrical Commission from reclassifying users into the DAC (High Consumption) rate, which can increase electrical bills by up to 300 percent. The document is valid until seven days after the end of the current health contingency.
The CFE reported that residential usage from February 1 to March 29 in Q Roo increased by an average of 250 percent. There were 183,250 households who consumed more than 850 kWh per month in the municipalities of Othón P. Blanco, Bacalar, José María Morelos, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum and Lázaro Cárdenas, and more than 1000 kWh monthly for the rest of the municipalities. If this document had not been approved, these families would run the risk of entering the DAC, at a minimum cost of 8000 pesos bimonthly in the southern and central regions of the state, and 6000 in the northern zone, which would be a serious blow to family budgets. LINK  


Beautiful aerial shot....Thanks Alexandra Veronica Casalotti!

From the City (Ayuntamiento
 de Isla Mujeres)

There is an infographic about Healthy Distancing (1.5 meters) 

Random checkpoints and other measures continue in Isla Mujeres during Phase 3 & another door-to-door delivery of food is coming    LINK  

  After the start of Phase 3 in Mexico, strong containment measures continue in Isla Mujeres, which include random checkpoints, mandatory face masks, and redoubled efforts to encourage the population to stay at home. In this municipality, most of these prevention measures had already been implemented, and are being reinforced since they are, without a doubt, the mechanism to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said the Mayor. 
   The Mayor also said that, in coordination with the state government, another distribution of food aid will be provided to families in the municipality in upcoming days.
    The Mayor said that prevention actions are going to carry on in the municipality to curb coronavirus and he thanked people for using face masks when they leave their homes to carry out an essential activity, noting that this is the social consciousness that is needed to decrease the risks of this disease.
   He emphasized that it is essential to stay at home in social isolation, since the more you avoid going out, the faster the health contingency will end and the economy of the municipality can be reactivated.  He concluded by saying, "No measure is superfluous, it is important not to go out and follow health and hygiene recommendations such as frequently washing your hands with soap and water and maintaining healthy distance, which is the best way to stop the spread. Let's keep doing our part and soon we will move forward.”





>>More door-to-door food aid from state
>>Phase 3-Restaurant takeaway & delivery allowed
>>Cooperation & compliance is appreciated with measures to mitigate Covid-19 & limit mobility

VIDEO of Mayor whose message is in the article above about mandatory face masks & upcoming food deliver & need to stay inside except for essential reasons, and the importance of compliance for the more vulnerable members of the community...to only go out for groceries or to the pharmacy for medications, employing measures of precaution. He notes that delivery and takeaway services for food continue.

VIDEO of the Governor with updates for the week.


The state of Quintana Roo delivered 126 bags of groceries and 126 propane coupons to officers with the Isla Mujeres municipal police department, to support the economies of their families and in recognition of their great work during this Covid-19 contingency. The official representing the state Chief of Police asked the population to also take care of personnel with the Police, Health Department, and Civil Protection by staying at home and avoiding exposure or spreading of the virus. "If you take care of each other, you take care of us too".





April 20--On the mainland part of the municipality, firefighters with the municipal Department of Civil Protection extinguished three forest fires that affected a total of ~300 hectares (741 acres/1.2 sq mi) in different areas of the municipality. Over seven days of hard work, they used about 350,000 liters of water to extinguish the fires in the area of Francisco May. Two were located north of the village, adjacent with the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas, and the third was at the border with the municipality of Puerto Morelos.
    They are currently monitoring two more fires, one from the neighboring municipality of Puerto Morelos and the other in Rancho Viejo. 


There is a notice that the procedure prior to the military credential procedure for those born in 2001 & 2002 has been suspended until further notice.


TVisla Mujeres    

LINK Article about the Governor's tax stimuli with subsidies and extensions

4-21--Peso takes a hit as Mexico enters Phase 3
Today began with peso losing 19 centavos, listed at 24.3241 to a dollar. LINK 

April 20--Mexico entered Phase 3 with a call to reinforce Healthy Distancing, with increased measures continuing until May 30 LINK  

The iconic Xcaret Park Night Show will be shared on their YouTube channel on April 26 LINK

Information provided by federal governmental officials about credits that will be granted for small businesses with 5 to 50 employees LINK  

Afternoon, April 20--"Isla Mujeres respects the quarantine. Here is the reason why the island is still protected from Covid-19."~~Isla Mujeres at this moment~~

VIDEO  The caption says: Now more than ever, Isla Mujeres breathes tranquility; we Islanders are hard-working people and we are sure that we will move forward. ~Stay At Home-Quedate en Casa~Isla Mujeres.

After the declaration that Mexico had entered Phase 3 of the coronavirus epidemic, the head of the federal Ministry of Education (SEP), Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, reported that children will return to school on June 1 at the latest, and will complete the school year on July 17th.  He noted that the "Learn At Home" program does not replace school or teachers, but allows the children to continue learning.

The Mayor said that delivery and takeaway services for food continue on Isla Mujeres, with all the prevention measures against Covid-19.

Downtown residents have complained of low water pressure for the past week, without resolution by Aguakan yet. 

From  Por Esto :

Por Esto claims that now in Phase 3, a new measure is being implemented that only one person may be in/on a vehicle & that if two people are on a motorcycle at a checkpoint, one of them will be asked to get off. (I have not observed this at the checkpoint down the street from us, and I have not seen this published by the City authorities.). Previously  this restriction was only in force from 11a to 4p and 8p to 10p. LINK   

There are complaints and concerns among residents because the CFE (Federal Electrical Commission) is only offering a 15 day extension on bills, and then plans to cut service for nonpayment, despite the fact that many residents are unemployed in the midst of the health contingency, and lack the resources to pay their bills in full. It is noted that commercial clients are only given a week to pay their bills before cutting their service, although many have not been operating for about a month. LINK  

The labor complaint against Rolandis restaurant concerning non-payment of 25 workers on the 15th has been resolved, following a demonstration and negotiations, with payment of minimum wages to all the workers for the previous two week pay period. The restaurant also made a firm commitment to keep all workers on, who are tentatively scheduled to return to work on May 25th.
     The workers won't be paid during these next three fortnights (2 week pay-periods), and didn't receive full pay for the last fortnight in March, since the restaurant closed its doors on March 23rd, due to the health contingency.
  The head of the CROC labor union, Roman Maldonado, said there has not been cases of other companies breaching the agreements made with workers at the beginning of this health contingency in March. LINK 

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Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. We provide a list of links & direction to over 20 eateries within ten minutes walk, including Mango Cafe,  Mike's Pizza, Brisas, Rosa Sirena, Coco Jaguar, Manolitos, La Chatita, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui & the local craft brewery.  Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores.
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Full moon rising over the Caribbean 
 At Sunset--April 7  6:54p (sets 7:04p)
April 8     7:59  
April 9     9:04
 April 10   10:08
April 11    11:11

 Sunset  7:02-7:12pm (beginning vs end of month)
Sunrise  6:40--6:17am
Painting by Pamela Haase at MVC

LYRID METEOR SHOWER 
     This year, the nearly new crescent moon won't interfere, and you may see as many as 18 meteors per hour, at the peak. Occasionally, this shower produces 'fireballs' (exceptionally bright meteors) and about a quarter of Lyrid meteors leave persistent trails of ionized gas that glow for a few seconds. 
       The "shooting stars" will be more frequent in the pre-dawn hours, when the radiant point is highest in the sky. Look over the Caribbean, toward the northeastern horizon, but don't worry if you don't identify the radiant point (near the star Vega)--they can be seen in all parts of the night sky. (The radiant point is where they appear to originate.)

    Watch in the pre-dawn hours of April 20, 21 & 22 (Mon-Wed).  They'll peak in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, April 22. There may be some early on Thursday. You can also see three planets in the pre-dawn sky--Jupiter, Saturn & Mars, in the southeast. 
    There are records of this shower that go back some 2700 years, when the Chinese are said to have observed the Lyrid meteors "falling like rain" in 687 BC. The Lyrids are known for their occasional "outbursts", and observers have seen around 100 per hour in the US (1982), Japan (1945), and Greece (1922), with no predictions for this occurring this year.  
   The meteors are the debris of a comet (Thatcher) that takes 415 years to orbit the sun. They burn up in our atmosphere, about 60 miles up, while the star Vega is just a reference point and unconnected--it's trillions of times farther away. 


 HERE is an interactive sky map showing the position of the radiant (where the meteors appear to originate) in the sky above Isla Mujeres throughout the night & predawn. (Scroll forward to 10p+ when the radiant & Vega begin rising here.) You can change the date & location.

The Events section will resume when there are public events scheduled.

Sources for Weather Information:
LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin  (Spanish)
LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish)
 LINK to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service
 LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

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