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Health epidemic has authorities rethinking safe shelters during hurricane season

Riviera Maya, Q.R. –The current health epidemic in Quintana Roo is forcing civil protection authorities to rethink strategies to protect citizens with the start of hurricane season. Civil Protection coordinator Adrián Martínez says that among these strategies is the need to increase the number of shelters to maintain healthy distance in the event the facilities are used.

He says according to the National Water Commission (Conagua), the 2020 hurricane season could see between 15 and 19 storms. Given this situation, he anticipated the possibility that the number of shelters needed could exceed the 836 that were available last season. The increase in need, he says, will be to ensure a healthy distance, allowing the separation of beds and mattresses, which means fewer people inside each shelter.

He noted that security measures will also include the installation of sanitary filters in all shelters and the provision of additional spaces to attend to people who have symptoms or are suspected of carrying the coronavirus to prevent spreading.