Coronavirus Mexico Update: Sixth Case Confirmed As Concerns Are Raised After Cruise Ship Passenger Died Of Coronavirus Infection

Despite travel bans imposed by governments across the globe, the novel coronavirus continues to spread with numerous countries reporting new confirmed cases of infection. For instance, Mexico just reported its sixth coronavirus case, a man who recently traveled to Italy.

On Friday, March 6, Mexican authorities confirmed that a 71 year-old-man is infected with coronavirus, U.S. News reported. The patient traveled to northern Italy recently.

According to Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell, the man came back to Mexico in “grave condition.” The patient, who is also hypertensive, is now in the hospital and his condition has stabilized.

The minister also confirmed that two of the patient’s family members were tested to check for coronavirus infection. The results of the testing are not yet available at the moment.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised when it was learned that some of the passengers and members of the crew of the Grand Princess cruise ship were infected with the COVID-19. The ship visited Cabo and three other Mexican Pacific ports from February 11 to 21.

L.A. Times reported that a 75-year-old passenger from California was infected even before boarding the ship on February 11. The passenger was reportedly sick for several days while onboard the ship before disembarking on February 21 at the end of the cruise. The infected passenger later died because of the infection.

The cruise’s medical officer Dr. Grant Tarling said that the man, who came from Placer Country, only consulted with the doctor on February 20, a day before the end of the trip. However, the doctor also confirmed that the man already exhibited symptoms on February 13.

This means that the man was already sick when the ship docked in Puerto Vallarta on February 16. The ship also visited Manzanillo on the same day and Mazatlan on February 17. The ship later anchored in Cabo, San Lucas on February 19.

However, Placer County health officials challenged Tarling’s claim by saying that the patient “likely contracted the disease during international travel to Mexico,” implying that he might have contracted the virus while on the ship or during a visit to the shore. However, it is not known if he went ashore in any of the ports the ship visited.

“Passengers really penetrate the port towns,” said Ter Soloman, who was one of the passengers of the cruise to Mexico along with his wife. “For example, in Mazatlan, tours take them to the central market, cathedral and historic theater.”

Mexican authorities say that there are no indications that any passenger of the Grand Princess might have contracted or spread the virus during their visit. While the country already has six confirmed cases, all patients got the virus during recent visits to Italy.