/ Modified may 5, 2020 2:19 p.m.

COVID-19 cases increase among Sonoran frontline workers

More than a third of Sonora's confirmed cases are health care workers.

gerardo alvarez VIEW LARGER Sonoran Health Department spokesman Gerardo Álvarez.
Secretaría de Salud Sonora

Sonoran health officials confirmed Monday that an additional 15 medical workers had tested positive for the coronavirus. In total, 124 of Sonora’s 364 confirmed cases of COVID-19 are health care workers — about 34%.

"Even workers who are not in direct contact with patients are being infected because there aren't adequate protocols," said Sonora Health Department spokesman Gerardo Alvarez said during a press conference Monday.

So far, 45 doctors, 49 nurses, three lab technicians, a dentist and 26 health sector employees without direct patient contact have tested positive for the coronavirus in Sonora, he said.

Public security personnel who interact frequently with citizens are also seeing high numbers of infections.

“Three coronavirus outbreaks have been identified among public security and military members in Sonora, where some of their close family members have also been infected," Sonora Health Secretary Enrique Clausen said.

More than two dozen confirmed coronavirus cases among police and military in Sonora and many more have been quarantined to prevent the continued spread of the virus. And health officials are also investigating another possible outbreak at a military checkpoint in Querobabi, on Mexico's Highway 15 between Nogales and Hermosillo, Alvarez said.

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