Hidalgo County health officials announced 25 more COVID-19-related deaths Friday, and Cameron County reported another 17.
Another 431 Hidalgo County residents also tested positive for the disease, bringing the province’s total virus to 19,534.
“I send my deepest condolences to the families of the 25 people for the loss of their loved one,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in a news release Friday.
Cortez said following the home-care order he issued last month has helped slow the spread of COVID-19.
“With the newly expanded emergency response that went into effect yesterday, I urge the public to continue to practice the recommendations of our medical experts by continuing to shelter, wear a mask and practice good hygiene,” added Cortez.
Another 535 people were released on isolation on Friday, meaning they are 10 days asymptomatic, including three days without a fever. However, there are still 4,499 active cases in Hidalgo County.
There are currently 692 people hospitalized with complications of the virus, and 246 are being treated in intensive care units.
Neighboring Cameron County reported 17 additional deaths Friday, bringing the death toll there to 358.
An additional 425 others were confirmed Friday, the total number of reported COVID-19 cases there increases to 16,290.
Cameron County officials also announced another 402 people had recovered, bringing the total number there to 6,416.
In Starr County, health officials announced 73 new cases Friday, bringing the total number of cases there to 2,478.
No new virus-related deaths were confirmed Friday, leaving the death toll at 22. However, the province suspects 51 other deaths were caused by the disease, although those deaths have not been confirmed by the state.
The youngest person to be infected was a 9-month-old girl from Roma. All other cases varied between that age and 82.
It is unclear if any of the new cases are part of a mass testing effort by the Office of Sherr’s Sheriff’s Office, which announced Thursday that it had tested 61 employees and 89 residents on Monday.
Results came back positive on Thursday for four people, including two staff members and two residents, the sheriff’s office announced via Facebook post.
A total of four staff members were infected, officials said, and five residents – out of a population of 94 – remained positive. Two were released on Thursday from solitary confinement.
