Alejandra Yañez | THE RIDER
In a news conference earlier today, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. reported an additional 302 COVID-19 cases, raising the total number to 17,618.
In the last week, the number of cases in the county increased by 1,753 and deaths by 66. An additional 10 deaths were reported today, bringing the death toll to 407.
The breakdown of cases by city in Cameron County is as follows:
–Brownsville, 166;
–Harlingen, 56;
–La Feria, 7;
–Laguna Vista, 1;
–Los Fresnos, 14;
–Los Indios, 2;
–Olmito, 2;
–Port Isabel, 1;
–Primera, 1;
–Rio Hondo, 2;
–San Benito, 45; and
–Santa Rosa, 5.
Dr. James Castillo, the health authority for Cameron County, compared the county’s rate of infection to New York City at the beginning of the pandemic. In March, 3% of New York City’s population was infected and in Cameron County 4% of the population has been infected.
“To put it in a national perspective, we’ve gotten hit harder than New York, potentially,” Castillo said in today’s Facebook live news conference. “But, in New York they shut down fully. … And, here we are in the middle of this pandemic affecting our community, and we’re not shut down. We’re open and that’s why you see us so concerned for our residents here. Everybody now knows somebody who’s lost a loved one. It didn’t have to be that way. Other countries showed us that it didn’t have to be that way.”
In the last week, the county has steadily reported about 300 cases per day. However, this is still a “tremendous rate of infection,” he said.
With the Labor Day holiday approaching, Castillo encouraged the public to stay home.
“We don’t have the best track record with holidays,” he said.
On a positive note, Cameron County has reported 9,834 total cases recovered and, according to Castillo, the end of the first wave is coming soon.
Esmeralda Guajardo, the health administrator for Cameron County, said her team takes great pride in data integrity and does its best to provide accurate numbers. She reminded the public that the backlog is over and urges people to not become complacent because of the recent decrease in cases.
“Just because numbers have stabilized at 300 or 300-plus should not be cause for anybody to let their guard down or [think] that we’ve gotten past this,” Treviño said.
He informed the public of bed occupancy in local hospitals, with beds dedicated to COVID-19 ICU patients at 97% occupancy and non-ICU COVID-19 beds at about 84%.
“Wear your mask, stay home, social distance and do what you can to help us save lives,” Treviño said.
On Monday, the judge also signed an extension on the Third Amended Emergency Management order, including facial coverings, limitations on gatherings, shelter-in-place, curfew and beach access closures. This order is effective through Sept. 9, unless extended or modified by Treviño.
On Aug. 10, he ordered a delay in in-person, face-to-face public and private school instruction until Sept. 28.
Between Aug. 18 and 22, another test site will be available to the public at the Harlingen Sports Complex, 3139 Wilson Rd. The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and testing will be available until the daily limit of 125 is reached. No appointment is required.
Numbers to call in regard to COVID-19 include: Cameron County Public Health, (956) 247-3650; Cameron County Emergency Management Department, (956) 547-7000; and UTRGV Testing, (833) 877-4863. For help with depression or anxiety that is related to the coronavirus, call the Texas Health and Human Services COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at (833) 986-1919.
