Health

Mexico Reaches 1 Million Virus Cases, Nears 100,000 Deaths

Published

5 years ago

November 15, 2020

A healthcare worker collects a sample to test for the new coronavirus inside a mobile diagnostic tent, in the Coyoacan district of Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Mexico City announced Friday it will order bars closed for two weeks after the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 rose to levels not seen since August. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico on Saturday topped 1 million registered coronavirus cases and nearly 100,000 test-confirmed deaths, though officials agree the number is probably much higher.

How did Mexico get here? By marching resolutely, even defiantly, against many internationally accepted practices in pandemic management, from face mask wearing, to lockdowns, testing and contact tracing.

What is more, officials in Mexico claim science is on their side. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell says any wider testing would be “a waste of time, effort and money.” Face masks, López-Gatell says, “are an auxiliary measure to prevent spreading the virus. They do not protect us, but they are useful for protecting other people.”

President Andres Manuel López Obrador almost never wears a mask, and López-Gatell only occasionally does.

Except science does not appear to be on their side. International experts have recommended mass testing, and say face masks protect both the wearer and other people.

“They say there is no evidence. No, excuse me, there is evidence,” said former health secretary Dr. José Narro. “In May, we already began to have empirical evidence and well-documented scientific studies began to appear stressing the importance of face masks and the need for testing.”

“What I can say is the (government) strategy did not have the necessary flexibility to adjust to the increasing amount of knowledge” about the disease, Narro said.

In part that has been a hallmark of López Obrador’s administration: never back down, never change course, and if challenged, double down.

His main promise to Mexicans is that there would be enough hospital beds for everyone who needs one, and his government has largely fulfilled that basic promise — even if Mexicans are so afraid of those hospitals they often wait until the last moment to go for treatment, at which point, doctors say, it’s often too late. That fear was not unfounded; early in the pandemic, three-quarters of patients intubated and put on ventilators in Mexico’s largest hospital network died.

That resistance was what Mexico City human resources manager Lorena Salas felt when her 76-year-old father, Jaime Salas Osuna, began to show signs of what could be COVID-19.

“The idea was mainly to stay at home, no? Thinking of going to the hospital was not an option, we were terrified that there he would surely be infected,” said Salas.

Instead, she sped down to the resort city of Acapulco, where her father lived, and when she arrived, she found him thin, sweating and confused.

“At that moment the delivery service arrived with the oxygen meter, and his oxygen saturation was 77,” she recalled. (A normal reading is 93 to 98). “At that moment I felt like a bucket of cold water had fallen on me. We just looked at each other. I said ’Dad, do you have COVID?”

Salas drove him to Mexico City; he didn’t want to be intubated, but doctors explained they had to. He underwent two operations, two intubations and struggled for 13 days before he died on Oct. 20.

To its credit, that is one of the few areas where the government’s public message has changed: where officials once urged people with the disease to stay home as long as possible, they now advise those over 60 or with risk factors like diabetes or obesity to seek treatment immediately.

But on most other points, the insistence that the rest of the world is wrong and Mexico’s approach is right appears to have taken a toll in lives.

Late Saturday, Mexican Director General of Health Promotion Ricardo Cortés Alcalá announced that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had reached 1,003,253, with at least 98,259 deaths from COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began, Mexico has managed to administer only about 2.5 million tests to its citizens; only seriously ill people get tested in Mexico. Testing only 1.9% of the population since the pandemic began has made it hard, if not impossible, to effectively trace contacts, catch outbreaks early or identify asymptomatic cases.

Even in Mexico City, one of the few places that has paid lip-service to trying to identify cases before they get to a hospital, the efforts have been incredibly weak.

To be fair, few countries have managed to do contact tracing well; Mexico, with fewer financial resources and where half the population is poor, self-employed or working off the books, there was little chance of strict control or surveillance.

Mexico City has tried an alternative approach, which is to identify neighborhoods where clusters of cases have occurred, and give them special attention. Lurid yellow warning posters reading “Caution! You are entering an area of high infection” now dot the city. Special kiosks are set up in such neighborhoods to provide some tests, and a few health workers have gone door-to-door looking for cases. But that is rare.

For doctors on the front lines, the official response has been at times frustrating.

Dr. Arturo Galindo, head of the infectious disease program at the National Medical Sciences and Nutrition Institute, one of Mexico’s leading public hospitals, has seen his intensive care unit fill up to 100% capacity in recent weeks as Mexicans relaxed and began holding more get-togethers. The hospital is now sending critical COVID-19 cases to other treatment centers.

“I have had arguments on the street when I say “hey, put your face mask on,” and people argue with me, citing the argument ‘well, the president doesn’t,’ and that is their only argument,” Galindo said. “It wouldn’t be bad if he (López Obrador) set an example.”

Speaking for himself, not his hospital, Galindo also voices support for more testing, and senses there are signs of a new-found willingness to consider the idea — not the least because of the advent of rapid, cheap new antigen tests.

But while he says some things are improving — people are now getting to hospitals sooner, thus improving their chances — some recent developments make him worry.

Except for a few states, nobody in Mexico has even attempted to enforce a lockdown, or mask-wearing. The closest thing most local authorities have done has been to force some workplaces to shut down, and fine or close businesses that allow too many customers inside at once. Beyond that — travel, mask wearing, parties, weddings — there is very little enforcement. And as the pandemic stretched into its tenth month, people began to let their guard down.

That has led to super-spreader events like an Oct. 3 wedding of a soap opera actor and the daughter of a local businessman in the northern border city of Mexicali. Authorities in Mexico say more than 100 people are believed to have been infected by the coronavirus at the wedding, which about 300 people attended.

There have been instances of outright rebellion. On Oct. 25, a couple of hundred young people gathered for an illegal concert in an empty lot on the outskirts of the city of Toluca, just west of Mexico City. On videos of the event, the lead singer of one band can be heard telling asking the crowd, “Honestly, who doesn’t give a damn about the pandemic? Whoever doesn’t give a damn about coronavirus, raise your beer!” Dozens raised their cups.

Salas, whose father died and who herself was infected, said people have to abandon conspiracy theories and the strange belief it won’t happen to them.

“I see a lot of apathy, a lot of people being irresponsible, not giving a damn or not believing the disease is real. People still think it is something invented by the government.” Salas said. “It is something that people have to realize does exist, it is real.”

Galindo said those on the front lines are shocked when they look at social media. “They have this sense of frustration seeing photos of parties, meetings,” Galindo said. “They have been locked up for six months, fighting, going without sleep or without eating, and then they see that, and it’s shocking.”

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Health

Buccaneers to Honor Cancer Survivors at Sunday’s Crucial Catch Game, Donating $40K to Research

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2024

Willie David

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – On Sunday, September 29, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium in a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be the Buccaneers’ Crucial Catch event, supporting the NFL’s campaign to fight cancer and emphasizing the importance of early detection.

The Buccaneers will continue their tradition of giving back, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation set to donate $40,000 to cancer research, raising their total contributions to over $550,000 in the last 13 years. Funds will benefit key cancer organizations including AdventHealth West Florida Foundation, Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, and more.

Throughout the game, fans, players, and partners will “Raise the Flags” for loved ones affected by cancer. Fans will receive a custom mini-poster to show their support. At halftime, cancer survivors Bianca Muniz and Elana Gilbert will take the stage for an emotional performance honoring those impacted by cancer.

Official Crucial Catch merchandise will be available, with all proceeds supporting the American Cancer Society’s mission to provide screenings to underserved communities.

Health

AdventHealth awards $1.4 million to 6 nonprofits addressing urgent workforce needs in Central Florida

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2024

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. — AdventHealth is distributing nearly $1.4 million over the next three years to the 2024 recipients of its Community Impact Grants, giving six Central Florida nonprofits the chance to bolster their missions and help bring prosperity and wholeness to the community by training the workforce of tomorrow.

This year’s Community Impact Grants are focused on one of Central Florida’s top community health concerns, addressing critical workforce development needs in the health care, construction, hospitality and tourism industries, by funding programs that will provide job training, internship and apprenticeship opportunities and education assistance. Workforce development was selected as the priority for this year’s grants based on input from residents in the triannual Community Health Needs Assessment, building on investments made in 2023 that focused on mental health.

“At AdventHealth, we talk a lot about whole-person care, and we also realize that a person’s health is determined by so much more than just the health care setting,” said JB Boonstra, executive director of Community Advocacy for AdventHealth. “We know that employment is one of the most significant social determinants of health and a key part of that is earning a living wage. This year’s spotlight on workforce development speaks directly to that.”

The median income for a household in the Orlando area is about $43,000, the Department of Labor reports — not even close to the wage needed to live in Florida for a family of four, which is about $66,300, according to the United Way’s ALICE report.

“Almost half the people who go to work every day don’t make enough money to pay the bills, and one of the biggest challenges we see here in Central Florida in terms of workforce development is access to career opportunities,” said Marc Stanakis, president and CEO of Jobs Partnership, one of this year’s grant recipients. “For a lot of people in our community, they just don’t know what’s available or what types of jobs they can pursue that would allow them to get on a career path toward economic mobility. For organizations like ours, it’s really exciting to see the change that happens by simply opening the door of opportunity for someone.”

The 2024 grant recipients:

CareerSource Central Florida’s Community Health Champions program aims to create a career pipeline into the health care industry. Whatever roadblocks residents are facing, including language barriers, transportation challenges or unreliable Internet access for applying to jobs, CareerSource Central Florida offers a variety of vocational training and internship opportunities to overcome them. CSCF is upskilling health care workers who are culturally competent, empathetic and equipped to connect with the diverse populations they serve, making health care more accessible and impactful. Training goes beyond job skills, focusing on understanding and addressing the unique needs of community members.
The Sharing Center’s ProjectRISE, which, in addition to the organization’s food pantry, homeless resource center and thrift store, aims to address poverty and assist residents in accessing higher-paying jobs. Funding for ProjectRISE will allow 360 residents to enroll in a four-week comprehensive workforce development program focused on building emotional intelligence, soft skills and job-acquisition skills.
employU’s vocational rehabilitation program serves residents with mental and physical disabilities as part of the organization’s mission to create inclusive workplaces. Acting as a one-stop shop for career development and employment resources, employU provides employment training, paid work experience, job placement and job retention support. The organization will use the grant to fund new initiatives to help individuals access community resources and prepare for employment through workshops on financial literacy, social media safety and workplace readiness. It will also fund a program manager position to reach more residents and ultimately help them achieve financial independence.
Home Builders Institute BuildStrong Academy of Orlando is a tuition-free program delivering industry-recognized skills to train a new generation of home builders looking to break into the construction industry. The Academy offers career-focused education through hands-on learning, classroom instruction and real-life experience. Students train with skilled trades instructors who guide them through HBI’s nationally and industry recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training curriculum and receive job placement assistance upon graduation, helping build a pipeline of residential and commercial construction workers.
iBuild Central Florida’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program is an innovative approach in attracting more people to jobs in the telecommunications construction industry, which is currently facing mass shortages nationwide. Based at Osceola Technical College, the program targets students enrolled in English language-acquisition and GED classes, 80% of whom live below the federal poverty line.
Jobs Partnership’s Stepping Up program equips residents who are unemployed or working low-wage jobs, combining soft skills training, career navigation and vocational training scholarships. Since its founding in 1999, the organization has served more than 3,300 people, empowering them to change their professional trajectories and developing a career pipeline into the health care industry. Last year, 79% of participants got a new job or started vocational training after completing the program.

Among the organizations that received grants, two are focused on bolstering the construction workforce. Central Florida’s lack of construction workers has contributed to a lack of affordable and attainable housing, with median home prices reaching $440,000, according to the Orlando Regional Realtors Association. And as the state wrangles with a shortfall of nearly 436,000 rental units, renters — who make up a third of the region’s population — have also watched rents skyrocket, hitting $1,600 a month for a one-bedroom unit.

“Virtually every industry is experiencing labor shortages, but the construction industry is significantly undersupplied,” said Emily Price, senior vice president of development and partnerships engagement for the Home Builders Institute. “The construction industry needs approximately 732,000 new workers each year to meet demand.”

Recognizing that employment and access to housing go hand in hand, Crystal Davidson, vice president of iBuild Central Florida, said creating a pipeline into the construction industry addresses multiple challenges. “They’ll be in a career field in the construction industry where they won’t want for a job for at least the next 25 years,” Davidson said, “because there is such a skills trade shortage across the United States, but especially in Florida.”

For more than 115 years, AdventHealth has called Central Florida home, and as a not-for-profit organization, has the privileged duty to invest financial resources into the community. In 2023 alone, AdventHealth contributed nearly $1.3 billion in community investments in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and South Lake counties, allowing more residents to access the medical care they need and deserve and supporting local nonprofit organizations.

“Investing in our community is a responsibility that AdventHealth treats very seriously and passionately, because we’ve seen the transformation that happens with these dollars,” said Tricia Edris, chief innovation and partnerships officer for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division. “AdventHealth is proud to bring these six organizations together to now tackle issues around workforce development. It’s too big a problem for just one of us to solve. We must come together as a community.”

Health

Officials Celebrate Milestone at AdventHealth Minneola Topping-Out Ceremony

Published

2 years ago

September 6, 2024

FNN NEWS

MINNEOLA, Fla. (FNN) – AdventHealth Minneola marked a major construction milestone today as leaders, physicians, elected officials, and community members gathered for the hospital’s topping-out ceremony. The new facility has reached its full height of four stories, with attendees signing a commemorative structural beam.

“AdventHealth is honored to be Minneola’s partner in health. I’m thrilled to bring this world-class healthcare facility to South Lake County,” said Kay Barnett, CEO of AdventHealth Minneola.

Located on Hancock Road near Florida’s Turnpike, the 204,000-square-foot hospital will feature an emergency department, operating suites, heart catheterization labs, 80 private inpatient rooms, and more. It is expected to bring around 500 jobs to the community.

“Providing care close to home is central to our mission,” said Dr. Miles Bennett, Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Winter Garden and Clermont.

The facility is set to open in late 2025.