As cases surge in the state, hundreds of stores in the historic city center of the Sonoran capital Hermosillo are set to reopen.

Those shops had to implement a number of safety measures to be able to reopen, including hand sanitizer at entrances, signage to maintain proper distancing and mandatory face masks.

“We really need to start generating income to avoid having to close permanently,” said Ruben Lopez, head of the local merchants union.

Several dozen union members already have. Lopez is confident the safety measures will keep workers and shoppers safe, but the reopening will come a few days after a new record number of confirmed cases was set.

Based on recent data and population estimates, Sonora has more confirmed COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents than Arizona.