In addition to breaking the 3,000 mark of COVID-19 total positive cases on Sunday, Hidalgo County also reported that a Weslaco man in his 30s died of complications related to the virus, county judge Richard F. Cortez said. in a press release.
With 402 individuals reported over the weekend, the total number of cases for Hidalgo County increased to 3,294. All 402 cases were previously reported as positive, and the county’s death toll is now 32.
“I am very distressed with today’s growing number and, in particular, with the report of another death,” Judge Cortez said in the statement. “My condolences go out to this man’s friends and family. Our increase in numbers has become an issue and I have taken steps to reduce infection rates by limiting social and mass gatherings, and requiring facial covers within covered spaces and buildings. Ultimately, however, we must protect ourselves. “
The new cases come from the cities of Alamo, Alton, Donna, Edinburg, Hidalgo, McAllen, Mercedes, Mission, Pharr, San Juan, and Weslaco. The cities of 24 people were not disclosed and the cities of 23 cases are unknown.
The ages of the new cases range from babies to people in their 80s. In addition to not disclosing the ages of new positive cases on Sunday, Hidalgo County has begun not to disclose the gender or ages of certain cases. In some cases, the gender of the individual is marked as “U”.
On Sunday, a total of 244 people were hospitalized with complications from the virus, and 19 of those cases were treated in intensive care units.
Over the weekend, 129 people were released from isolation; County officials say this means the person has had no symptoms for 10 days, including three days without fever.
Exceeding the 1,000 mark, the total number of individuals released from isolation is 1,072.
As of now, the county has administered 40,350 tests, with 34,227 negative results and 2,829 pending results.
Of the total known cases, only 2,190 cases remain active.
In Starr County, 46 people were reported to test positive for COVID-19, county health authority Dr. José Vásquez said Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to 598.
Of the total, 471 remain active with the exception of 124 individuals who were reported to have recovered.
With two deaths pending, the death toll from Starr County remains three.
Officials from the McAllen Independent School District also confirmed that an employee tested positive for the coronavirus in a press release on Sunday.
As a precaution, the district and the Hidalgo County Health Department have identified and contacted district employees, who had minimal contact with the positive case, and recommended isolating for two weeks.
“Also out of caution and transparency,” the press release said, the district informed the public that the positive person has a minimal chance of contact at the outdoor community feeding site, McAllen ISD Grab and Go. The site was open June 15-18 at 4119 N. 12th St.
According to the district publication, the positive employee was never in contact with employees or families. In addition to all personal protective equipment, the district emphasized that everyone wore masks and adhered to social distancing.
The district reiterated that employees who prepare and serve meals wear masks and shields, in addition to adhering to physical distance of at least 6 feet.
According to the statement, the temperature of all employees was verified at the beginning of all sessions. Authorities said each test was negative.
Also announced Sunday, the state of Texas, in response to an emergency request by Cortez, will send nurses from other parts of the state to support staff at at least one hospital in the county.
“We have been monitoring our hospital capacity and have concluded that medical workers who work tirelessly in our community may need additional help,” Cortez said in a press release on Sunday. “Therefore, late Friday I asked the Governor and the State Emergency Management Operation for help in providing additional medical personnel. This is welcome relief at a time when the number of people needing hospital care continues to rise. ”
With the details of the support still in discussion, the county has yet to name the hospital receiving the support, but according to the press release, all area hospitals are working together to secure the support.
Currently, epidemiologists in Hidalgo County are compiling and processing positive cases and will report back later to show the results over the weekend.
In addition to Sunday’s announcement, the Hidalgo County Office of Emergency Management issued a county-wide alert via mobile devices, urging residents to stay home.
The alert said: “ATTENTION: The COVID-19 virus continues to spread throughout Hidalgo County. Please stay home. Protect yourself and others. If it is necessary to leave the house, use a suitable face covering and avoid meetings with people outside your home. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE. STOP THE SPREAD. A message from the Hidalgo County Office of Emergency Management.“
Similar alerts have been issued in Cameron and Willacy counties.
