Honduran leader is improving
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Doctors at Honduras’ Military Hospital said Wednesday that President Juan Orlando Hernández was improving after being placed on oxygen a day earlier.
Hernández tested positive for COVID-19 last week and a day later was hospitalized with pneumonia.
In a statement Wednesday, his medical team said that on Tuesday his pneumonia appeared to be worsening with greater inflammation in his lungs and falling oxygen levels. A decision was made to give him oxygen.
Doctors said Hernández’s exam Wednesday showed improvement. He did not have a fever or difficulty breathing, and the inflammation in his lungs had decreased.
Hernández’s wife, Ana García de Hernández, had also tested positive. Doctors said she continued following medical advice at home.
Honduras has reported nearly 14,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections and more than 400 deaths.
Infections have been increasing since the government started the partial reopening of the economy June 8. Infections have more than doubled since then.
In other developments:
Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei said Wednesday that most of the 240 workers in the country’s National Laboratory have tested positive for COVID-19. The president told the government’s TGW Radio that despite the infections the lab continues processing COVID-19 tests. He characterized it as a “crisis.”
Croatia on Wednesday announced border restrictions for the citizens of several other Balkan countries after a spike in cases of the coronavirus and an outbreak at an exhibition tennis tournament organized by top-ranked Novak Djokovic. Officials said people coming from Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia will have to self-isolate for 14 days upon coming to Croatia.
The Dutch government has announced a significant relaxation of the country’s coronavirus lockdown, allowing high schools to reopen and sports to resume with fans in stadiums — if they stick to social distancing rules and don’t chant.
Authorities in Germany’s most populous state faced criticism Wednesday over their handling of a major coronavirus outbreak at a slaughterhouse that triggered a regional lockdown and saw residents barred from visiting other parts of the country.
India reported a record-breaking one-day increase of nearly 16,000 cases. Mexico and Iraq hit new highs as well.
Turkey isn’t considering tightening its lockdown restrictions even though the number of daily coronavirus infections registered since they were eased is “higher than anticipated,” the health minister said Wednesday.
China on Wednesday reported 12 cases nationwide, down from 22 the day before.