MEXICO CITY —- Health authorities in Mexico say the coronavirus pandemic has been declining for at least three weeks in 26 of the country’s 32 states.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell, Mexico’s point man for the coronavirus pandemic, said in a press conference Sunday the downward trend was seen in most of the country and that there has also been a decrease in mortality, similar to what has occurred in Europe despite outbreaks on that continent.

However, Mexico remains the fourth country with the most deaths from COVID-19, with at least 73,493 killed, behind only the United States, Brazil and India.

López-Gatell also said national hospital occupancy remains below 40 percent but added that they expect an increase in the month of October due to both the coronavirus and because it is flu season.

Mexico already has more than 697,000 officially confirmed infected.