Mexico now at No. 3 in world for COVID-19 deaths

After reporting 688 deaths for the latest 24-hour period, the country’s death toll rose to 46,688.

People walk near Zocalo Square, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in Mexico City, Mexico July 31, 2020.

Mexico has become the country with the third most COVID-19 deaths in the world, behind the United States and Brazil.

Mexican health officials said Friday there were 688 deaths for the latest 24-hour reporting period, pushing the country’s total to 46,688.

That put Mexico just ahead of the United Kingdom, which has 46,119, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University. Mexico’s population is double that of Britain.

The health officials also said Mexico now has had more than 424,000 confirmed coronavirus cases during the pandemic.

Also on Friday, nine state governors from opposition parties criticised what they call the federal government’s confusing messages on measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.