Tropical storm Hanna heads to Corpus Christi, a coronavirus hot spot

Corpus Christi, already beset by a spike in COVID-19 cases, now faces the dangers of Tropical Storm Hanna. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for a section of the Texas coast from Baffin Bay to Sargent, an area that includes Corpus Christi Bay, Copany Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Matagorda Bay.

The National Weather Service issued a “life-threatening storm surge” warning for areas including Corpus Christi, Rockport and Port Lavaca. Seeking to help, Governor Greg Abbott sent emergency resources to the Coastal Bend region and the Rio Grande Valley, where The governor is simultaneously sending more than 1,000 medical personnel to help combat the new coronavirus, which has devastated South Texas.

The city already They closed a car coronavirus test site in Corpus Christi until at least Tuesday, authorities said.

“Don’t forget to know,” said Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb, “We are also fighting the coronavirus.”

It was a clear reminder for a region that has been a coronavirus hot spot, adding more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases during each of the first two weeks of July. At least 2% of the population was infected, or one in 50 people. Now the region is preparing for a storm amid a pandemic.

The virus did not always spread so quickly in Nueces County, which reported fewer than 100 cases and three deaths before the Texas home stay order expired on April 30. But people spent the summer gathering at beaches and restaurants in the popular beachfront community, and now the county has seen an increase in cases.

Last Friday, Nueces County Medical Examiner Adel Shaker was surprised to learn that a baby under 6 months old had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and died shortly thereafter.

Storms are nothing new to the Coastal Bend region. McComb said some They have helped the community grow closer. Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales agreed and said the region is ready for this storm.

“I join Mayor McComb in saying that there is no doubt that we have tremendous experience when it comes to these types of storms,” ​​Canales said. “Where the coronavirus may have caught us by surprise, a hurricane does not. We know what to do. We know how to help. “

McComb highlighted the reality of the coronavirus when warning residents living in flood-prone neighborhoods about the possibility of evacuation.

“Take several masks with you because you could be there for a couple of days if you are in a flood area,” McComb said. “We don’t want to expose anyone during this storm. … Even when you’re at home, I recommend wearing a mask if you’re in overcrowded conditions. “

Correction: Due to editing errors, the name of the tropical storm was misspelled in an earlier version of this story, and the name of the National Hurricane Center was incorrect.