Isla Mujeres News & Events Thursday, September 23

 SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS MONTH'S EVENTS SCHEDULE!

~Please visit our sponsors~

MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach on FB

or at www.mvcisla.com

email: info@mvcisla.com

 Sites we host:
Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook 

Isla Mujeres News & Events Group & Isla Mujeres Together-Granito de Arena
 

Isla Mujeres History on Facebook & Website  

Our Northern Zone remains in the Yellow status next week, Mon. Sept. 27 thru Sun. Oct. 3, as does the rest of the state. It is very good news that the Daily Number of Cases and the Average Number of New Cases are both in Green. We remain in Yellow because the Hospital Occupancy is in the Yellow status, but those statistics are good with overall occupancy at 12%, and a low level of 6% for ventilator bed occupancy.

Our Zone's Contagion Rate has increased slightly to 0.83 from 0.81 last week and 0.80 the week before, but this still indicates an overall decline in the curve. A month ago, our Contagion Rate dropped below 1, meaning each person was infecting less than one other person.

Once again, the graphs show a decrease in all the municipalities of our Zone except one. In this case, it's Puerto Morelos, who are the least populous of the Northern Zone, so despite their 186% increase, they are experiencing an average of than one case daily. Significantly, Cancun (Benito Juarez) has continued its steep decline and daily cases have finally dropped to fifty. This is below both previous peaks and a fraction of this summer's high of around 240 cases daily.

Ultramar's new schedule began Monday (#1) & Jetway's started Tuesday (#2 & #3).

~~~~~~~~~~~ Jetway

Thursday afternoon....

ENCOURAGING C-19 STATISTICS

    Our Northern Zone's Growth Rate of Cases is at 0.2, which is a huge improvement from 0.93 a month ago.

     One month ago, Isla Mujeres reported a total of 421 cases with 40 deaths and there were 11 active cases. Since then, 10 more cases have been reported, unfortunately with three more deaths, and there are currently two active cases.

      A month ago, our Zone's Contagion Rate dropped from 1.12 to 0.98, which meant each infected person was infecting less than one other person and the curve finally began to decline. It was 0.80 and 0.81 the past two weeks & will be updated tonight.

      Our Zone's status is strongly affected by the number of cases reported in Cancun, which were exceeding 200 daily a month ago, after reaching nearly 250 per day this summer. Cancun's cases have been in a steep decline, dropping to around 75 daily, which still exceeds its previous peaks, which were nearly 60 per day.

      Isla Mujeres hit its peak in the summer of 2020, when reported cases of C-19 exceeded 3 per day. This year's peak hit 2.5 this summer but was mostly around 2 daily and dropped below 1 at last week's update.

      Vaccine administration resumes next week in Isla Mujeres when the 18-29 year-olds will receive their second dose of Astra Zeneca. There have been 20,528 doses administered in our municipality and more than 1.6 million in the state. In the 2020 census, the population of our municipality was 22,686 and the state population was 1.86 million.

      Things are also looking better in the rest of Mexico, with the majority of the country in Yellow status and four Green states. The last graphic is the previous map from Sept. 6-19, for comparison.

The state semaforo will be updated tonight for next week, when our Zone is likely to remain in Yellow, which allows 60% capacity at restaurants & hotels. Masks remain mandatory & holidays continue to be celebrated virtually, without public gatherings.

 

The Yellow area represents a Tropical Wave that is expected to move off the west coast of Africa by the end of the weekend. Thereafter, conditions are expected to be conductive for gradual development as the system moves west at 10-15 mph. Tropical Depression #18 isn't tracking our way & is expected to intensify to Hurricane status on Saturday.

Being encircled today & tomorrow on the extended forecast indicates a potential for rain, and the day is off to a sunny start. The first "Norte" cold front of the season is over the Gulf, interacting with a low pressure system. (Our rain potential is caused by a low pressure area interacting with the Caribbean Sea's humid air.)

Sept. 21, Tuesday:    There are more than 20,000 tons of accumulated trash at the Transfer Facility, and 50-60 tons of uncollected trash in the streets, according to the municipal Director of Public Services, Pedro Canché. He said only one collection truck is working, plus a pick-up style truck, due to the emergency. He said they have been unable to transfer trash to the mainland landfill for two weeks due to mechanical problems with the transfer semi-truck, and it is unknown when it will resume working.

Mr.Canché said the backhoe tractor that moves the garbage as it arrives at the Transfer Facility has been repaired, after it was damaged a few days ago.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 21: The Mayor-elect of Isla Mujeres, Atenea Gómez Ricalde, will take the oath of office in nine days, at 4pm on Thursday, Sept. 30th. She said she will not be complicit in anything or with anyone, and complained about the previous Mayor, who is now serving as a federal legislator. She said all irregular documentation will be turned over to authorities, and there will be no cover-ups when the new administration begins.

       Ms. Gómez Ricalde said that unfortunately there is a 'health emergency' in Isla Mujeres, to which the media cannot be oblivious. She said the previous administration is leaving a devastated, dirty island, overflowing in garbage and sunk in insecurities. She said she represents a desire for something different and the hope that many islanders have. She pledged not to fail them and to be a government that cares for the people. (She was interviewed at the Mayor of Cancun's annual "Informe")

Adults 18-29 years old can receive their second doses of Astra Zeneca Monday Sept. 27 thru Thursday Sept. 30th at the Bicentennial Dome in colonia La Gloria, 8a-6p. It says "Second doses only". Bring the record of your first dose, your vaccination document with QR code, CURP, official ID, and utility bill. Wear face masks, maintain social distance and use disinfectant gel.

Sunday, Sept. 19 Today is National Civil Protection Day when we commemorate the victims of the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes, as well as the courage and solidarity of each and every Mexican who volunteered, which yielded the creation of the National Civil Protection System.

    The municipal Director of Civil Protection & the Firefighters, Merced Ortiz, says: "In Isla Mujeres, from the trenches, day by day, we put forth our best to watch over the island population."

Sept. 17, Friday, from last Thursday's update: All of the municipalities of the Northern Zone reported decreases in C-19 cases, except Puerto Morelos. Our Zone's Contagion Rate increased slightly from 0.80 to 0.81. When this statistic is below one, it indicates that each infected person is infecting less than one other person, and the curve is in decline. Both Zones remain in Yellow status thru Sept. 26th and the Governor reminded residents not to drop their guard.

As of Sept. 16th, Isla Mujeres has reported a total of 431 cases since the start of the pandemic with 43 deaths and 380 recovered. The Geoportal has data for Sept. 14 reporting one active case in colonia Canotal and one in colonia Ampliacion La Gloria. The total number of vaccines administered in our municipality remains at 20,846 and the number administered in the state has surpassed 1.6 million.

A 184 YEAR-OLD TALE ABOUT ISLA MUJERES & THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

A decade before the island was settled by refugees from a regional civil war, it was "claimed" by the Texas Navy, along with the islands of Contoy & Cozumel.

   Mexico was a young nation of fifteen years when the upstart Republic of Texas claimed its independence, starting a war between the two in 1836. Texas President Houston was unable to control his Navy of four ships, who sailed off to the Yucatan without his permission, capturing enemy ships and claiming territory. By July 1837, the fleet was reduced to two ships, who agreed to meet-up at Isla Mujeres, and claimed it for Texas. The island was uninhabited except for seasonal fishermen who camped in shacks.

   The Texans anchored the "Invincible" and "Brutus" offshore, whose crews spent three days traveling to the isle and the mainland in small boats, replenishing their water supplies. They also "collected" a large number of turtles, emptying the pens without paying the fishermen. Turtles were in great demand on ships because they could be kept alive for long periods as a source of fresh meat.

  The foreign Navy sailed south to Cozumel, claiming possession in a ceremony that included a 23-gun salute. They wrote enthusiastic reports about the island's deep harbor, healthy trade winds, good soil, and abundant supply of water and trees. One of the captains described it as "one of the most desirable places in all the circle of my travels", adding, "I am convinced that the island will be one of the greatest acquisitions to our beloved country that the Admiral aloft could ever have bestowed on us". Translation: "Cozumel is one of the best things God, aka 'The Admiral Aloft', gave The Republic of Texas" (!)

They raised their flag above the island, and Captain Boylan reported that the residents of the island welcomed them and swore allegiance to their cause. They sailed north past Isla Mujeres to Isla Contoy, where they found domestic animals & evidence that there had been people in the huts recently. They also found several pens of turtles, which they took.

They sailed to Cabo Catoche, looking for Boca Iglesia, but they didn't find anyone, so they took some clay images, noting they had seen similar images at the Mayan temple on Isla Mujeres. They continued up the coast, engaging with Mexican ships and cavalry, and burning two villages. After capturing six boats, they sailed back to Texas, where their luck ran out when they encountered superior Mexican ships and ran aground, putting an end to the First Texas Navy. Needless to say, nothing came of their "claiming" the Mexican islands.

   This blog is brought to you by....

MaraVilla Caribe   Bed & Beach    Four rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with  kitchenettes & fast WIFI. In the upscale neighborhood of  Bachilleres, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate.  Quiet & Private.   

Free amenities include hammocks, portable beach chairs, beach towels, washer & dryer, loungers, shared bikes, BBQ grill, and safes.  Panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Large sliding doors open to a patio & the white sand backyard-beach, overlooking the Caribbean sea.  Downtown is  ~ a mile away; we're on all four bus routes or  flag a $3 taxi. Off street parking. In the quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres,  sleep to the sounds of the sea..  $275/$325/$425 wk   $40/50/$65nt  Monthly Discounts

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, 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.

 ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Public events have been suspended due to C-19, mostly. Some holidays have featured online competitions and events. 

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

LINK to US National Hurricane Center