EDINBURG, Texas – Health experts have been predicting that when the number of coronavirus cases increase, the number of hospitalizations will increase.
And when the number of hospitalizations increase, the number of deaths will increase.
This has been borne out with the latest figures for Hidalgo County.
Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez announced Monday that 16 people after they tested positive for COVID-19. That is a record-high for a single day in the county.
That brings the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities in the county to 75.
Cortez said another 102 people learned that they had tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of known cases to 5,447.
Cortez also confirmed that area hospitals are continuing to operate at near capacity.
“These are startling numbers, coming at a time when our medical system is working round-the-clock to protect our neighbors,” Cortez said.
“The least we can do is help these medical professionals out by exercising caution and avoiding people so we can slow the spread of this disease. My deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of all those who have died.”
Of the 16 people that died, one was a female in her 30s from Edinburg, one was a male in his 50s from Mission, one as a male in his 60s from McAllen, one was a male in his 60s from Edinburg, and one was a female in her 60s from Pharr.
Two females and two males in their 70s from Mission also died. So did a female in her 70s from McAllen, a female in her 70s from Pharr, a male in his 70s from Alamo, and a male in his 70s from Donna.
Cortez said there are now a total of 602 people in area hospitals being treated for complications of the virus; 167 of those are being treated in intensive care units. There are currently 2,975 net active cases and 1,057 test results are pending. A total of 563 people were released from isolation on Monday meaning that they have been symptom-free for 10 days, including three days without a fever.
Meanwhile, Cameron County health officials received confirmation of an additional COVID-19 related death of a Cameron County resident. The individual was an 80-year old female resident of The Rio at Fox Hollow and had been previously reported as a case. This raises the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Cameron County to 68.
Cameron County has also received confirmation of an additional 101 case reports of COVID-19.
In Texas, 25,000 additional COVID-19 cases have been reported in the last two days. That is a 14 percent increase. In one week, Texas added 31 percent new COVD cases. During the last week, the increase in cases in Nueces County has shot up 88 percent and Hidalgo County 47 percent.
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