Hidalgo County reported its first child day among the 20 residents who died Friday from COVID-19.
The child, a girl from Pharr, is named between the ages of 0 and 19 because the county refused to disclose more details with indications of state and federal privacy laws.
“The death of this child confirms that children – and no age group – are not immune to the devastating effects of this deadly virus,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in a news release. “It is necessary for all of us to work together to prevent the further spread of this disease. This death strikes at home the reality that COVID-19 does not spare even the youngest members of our community. ”
The province also reported 531 new positive cases, bringing its total number to 21,806 and its active cases to 5,003.
There are also 530 people currently hospitalized due to the disease, while 223 of them are being treated in an intensive care unit.
Starr County on Friday reported 38 more positive cases of the coronavirus for a total of 2,729 for the county. Of these, 1,664 are active cases.
Among the newly confirmed, most – 32 of them – are under 50 years old.
Two of them are only a year old – one is a girl from Rio Grande City and the other is a girl from Roma.
There are also a 3-year-old, a 4-year-old, two 5-year-olds, an 8-year-old, a 9-year-old, two 10-year-olds, three 11-year-olds, and five 12-year-olds.
The oldest among them is a 66-year-old woman from Rio Grande City.
Friday’s issues follow one of the worst reports in a single day in the province on Thursday when 111 people tested positive for COVID-19.
That report included a 5-month-old boy from Roma and a 6-month-old boy from Rio Grande City.
So far, the province has reported a total of 22 deaths related to the disease, while another 51 have been submitted in confirmation by the state.
Willacy County reported an additional 17 COVID-19 cases for a total of 751 confirmed.
Four of the new cases are from children under 10.
“Our officials and staff continue to work very closely with our neighboring counties and state Department of Health Services,” Willacy County Judge Aurelio “Keter” Guerra said in a news release. “The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will conduct case investigations into this, and any positive COVID-19 cases that arise and ensure proper isolation and 14-day quarantine are strictly followed.”
Guerra admitted that DSHS will ensure family members remain isolated and quarantined and that the family has supplies needed to stay home and follow protocol.
“This is just another reminder that this virus is in our neighborhood and with more tests being done, the more likely it will be to get another positive case,” Guerra said. “With this knowledge, citizens are encouraged to continue to stay at home, take social distances and wash their hands regularly and wear face masks, cover / block the coughs and coughs.”
