EDINBURGH – Hidalgo County reported 248 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, another maximum was set in a single day, and two additional deaths from virus-related complications.
Cameron County reported 111 new cases Tuesday and the coronavirus-related death of a 21-year-old Indian Lake woman, the youngest coronavirus fatality in the Rio Grande Valley so far.
The Texas State Department of Health Services also confirmed 21 new cases of COVID-19 in Willacy County on Tuesday, bringing the total there to 114.
This brought the count of new cases in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday to 380.
Tuesday was also the second day in a row that Hidalgo County announced its largest increase in cases.
The new fatalities, a man in his 40s and a woman in their 70s from Mission, had underlying medical conditions and the total death toll reached 25.
“Another day brings two more tragic deaths from some of our neighbors,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez wrote in a statement. “My heart goes out to the family and friends of these people. We must listen to warnings from medical experts to stop these deaths. Stay home, stay away from people. These are simple solutions to protect not only you but your loved ones. “
The new cases bring the county’s total to 2,130, of which 1,344 are still active.
Just over 60% of new cases are under the age of 40. Of the 248 people on the list, 16.53% are under 20 years old, 21.37% are over 20 years old, 22.18% are over 30 years old, 16.13% are over 40 years old, 12.5% are over 50 years, 4.03% are 60 and 7.26% are 70 years or older.
Edinburg saw the largest increase in the cases of the municipalities on the list with 51, about a fifth of them. McAllen and Pharr saw the next highest jumps in cases, 36 and 35 respectively.
Women represent 56.15% of new cases, 43.85% of them are men. The gender for four of the cases was not identified.
Golden Grape Entertainment, the company that owns and manages HEB Park, announced Tuesday that an employee there had tested positive for COVID-19 and the facility has been temporarily closed for deep cleaning.
Weslaco ISD confirmed in a statement that a Weslaco East High School employee had also tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
“Employees and parents of students who were in direct contact with the person during the Summer Strength and Conditioning Program have been informed. If you have not received any communication from Weslaco East High School, your student was not in direct contact; therefore, it is not at high risk of exposure, ”said a statement from the district.
The Texas Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed the fifth case of the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, a teacher and youth development coach whose test was confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
So far, no youth at the facility has tested positive, according to a TJJD statement.
According to a company statement, the employee last worked at the facility on June 15, and fewer than 10 employees who were in prolonged contact with the person have been notified.
