Sonora’s top health official has tested positive for the coronavirus. Secretary Enrique Clausen, who has served as the face of his state’s response to the pandemic, made the announcement Thursday evening.
“Even though I’m feeling well, I have to follow the protocols and isolate myself,” he said during his nightly update.
From isolation, he’ll continue to coordinate the state’s response to the outbreak. In a tweet, Sonoran Gov. Claudia Pavlovich said that she would also be isolating and getting tested because she had been in recent contact with Clausen.
The secretary’s diagnosis comes amid sharp rises in cases and deaths in Sonora. Thursday evening, an additional 41 deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 950. Total confirmed cases are fast approaching 10,000.
“I’ve always said that COVID is a cruel and ruthless enemy,” Clausen said from isolation.
