What is the death toll in Chihuahua from Coronavirus?

DISAGREEMENT ON FIGURES

By Morgan Smith

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356 deaths in Juárez. 437 deaths in the state of Chihuahua. El Diario, June 12, 2020.

“There are 1,525 deaths from the virus in Juárez.” Pastor José Antonio Galván. June 9, 2020. He is the founder and director of Visión en Acción, a mental asylum with 120 patients on the west side of Juárez. Both he and his wife are recovering from the coronavirus.

Who to believe?

“The situation here in Ciudad Juárez is not good. Many do not wear masks and people hang out together without distance.” Sister Betty from the Tabor House Ministry in Juárez.

“There are many precautions.” Aurora Ramos, citizen of Juárez.

Who to believe?

The story is different in Palomas seventy miles to the west.

“I have not heard of any cases in Palomas,” says Ivonne Romero, the owner of the Pink Store. Juan Rascon from Border Partners agrees. Pat Noble, one of the founders of La Casa de Amor Para Niños visited Palomas on June 12 and adds that, “They don’t know of any cases here but we did not see anyone wearing masks.”

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (better known as AMLO) has consistently downplayed the impact of the virus. He’s kissed babies, waded into crowds and ignored the use of a mask. A recent New York Times article focused mainly on Mexico City, indicated that the federal government there had only reported about 700 deaths whereas officials in Mexico City had tabulated more than 2,500.

This dramatic under reporting has led residents to believe that the coronavirus is not a serious threat and that “social distancing” is not important. In terms of the economy business leaders have begged him to initiate a program of aid for the more than 1 million Mexicans who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and he has refused.

How had this affected those US-based organizations that do so much to provide aid along the border? Here is how they are reacting.

Missions Ministries from Colorado has been heavily involved in the “colonias” on the west edge of Juárez since 1992, building houses and maintaining a medical clinic and two libraries. Susy Pineda with the staff in Mexico reports that “While food, masks, gloves are needed, Missions Ministries is not able to take items across the border at this time.”

She adds that, “Even those who are sick are fearful of going to the hospital as there was a shortage of medical staff even before the pandemic.”

Jane Fuller, the Director of Siguiendo los Pasos de Jesús (Following the Footsteps of Jesus), a program that has built more than 500 homes on the west edge of Juárez reports that there are no masks and no social distancing in her area. She cannot cross because she is considered non-essential.

Patricia De Dios from Juárez says that most of the factories are closed but that workers are receiving half pay or being fired.

For those who are trying to maintain their programs, this is a confusing and dangerous period. Even though their president is failing them, they continue to maintain their programs for those in need. I wish them well.

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