VIEW LARGER Sonoran leaders meet to discuss the coronavirus pandemic on April 28, 2020.
Sonora's strict stay-at-home orders seem to be working, Gov. Claudia Pavlovich said Tuesday, congratulating state residents and authorities on successfully flattening the curve. The state has 51% fewer confirmed coronavirus cases than the 531 cases experts expected to see in Sonora by April 22, she said.
But while the number of cases in Sonora has yet to reach its peak, some Sonorans are already growing restless under the tight restrictions.
Last week, Hermosillo Mayor Célida López chastised hundreds of people for breaking the state's guidelines while crowding outside a store to buy beer. And police reported an uptick in citations failure to stay at home, with 1,006 fines last week, and nearly 150 parties over the weekend — one with a live band and more than 50 guests.
However, state authorities don't have plans to ease up on restrictions yet.
"When we get past May 20, that will mean success," David Anaya Cooley, Sonora's security secretary, said Tuesday.
The number of coronavirus cases and deaths continues to rise in Sonora, including among front-line workers. This week, deaths resulting from coronavirus infection included a doctor and his wife, as well as a state police officer.
As of Wednesday, there were 267 confirmed cases and 31 deaths in Sonora. The state has only conducted 1,253 tests.
The state implemented measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus on March 16 after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Sonora, and then further restricted movement on April 12.
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