TIJUANA, Baja California, Mexico (Border Report) — The Secretary of Health in Baja California is reporting that more than 400 workers in the state’s maquiladora industry have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Of the people who have tested positive, 306 have been hospitalized. Most of the cases have been reported in Tijuana, a city that is said to have about 1,000 maquiladoras.
So far, 83 people who worked in these plants have died from COVID-19. The 45 to 49 age group is the one affected by the virus the most.
In recent weeks, many maquiladoras have rushed to restart operations without permission from the state.
ROGUE MAQUILADORAS OPENING WITHOUT PERMISSION
State officials had warned this could lead to more infections and further the spread of the virus. It’s not clear how many of the infected workers are employed at plants that recently began operating again.
The state’s Secretary of Health, Alonso Perez, is reporting a slight decrease in the daily number of Coronavirus cases in Tijuana, but warned it’s not time for people to roam the streets without protection.
“It’s not time to lift sanitary measures in place now,” said Perez.