Mexico nears 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 as cases surge after holidays

Employees of the Rios funeral home move the body of a person, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), into the facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2022. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is likely to surpass 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 this week - the fifth highest death toll worldwide - as infections rise after the holiday season, fueled by the Omicron coronavirus variant and largely unrestricted tourism.

Infections have more than doubled to 20,000 during the last week when many U.S. tourists visited Mexico. Eleven of Mexico's 32 states decided not to resume in-person school classes this week with cases climbing fast.