Cameron County Public Health issued a news release Thursday night to confirm the first travel-related COVID-19 case in the county.
The individual who tested positive is a 21-year-old male from Rancho Viejo who traveled to Ireland and Spain between March 5 and 12, according to the news release.
He visited Valley Baptist Medical Center on March 18 with symptoms of a fever and cough. The department of Public Health received the confirmation the next day.
“Cameron County Public Health has implemented their COVID-19 action plan and is conducting the epidemiological investigation to identify others who may have been exposed and test the individuals showing signs and symptoms,” the news release stated.
Earlier Thursday, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. held a news conference to address travel-related COVID-19 cases and other updates.
Treviño said the county issued a news release Wednesday about two confirmed cases of travel-related COVID-19 vacationers.
The release stated that the couple, who were vacationing on South Padre Island, left for a wedding in Idaho, where they came into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, returned to SPI and then left and were diagnosed in Michigan.
Treviño said they are a married couple, male and female, both age 67.
Cameron County Public Health was notified of this on March 17 and began an investigation regarding the couple.
“At this point, the latest information we have is that the male is recovering and the female is in critical but stable condition,” Treviño said during the news conference, held in the Dancy Building. “We have been in contact and working with South Padre Island authorities, including the property owner and management facilities. Management has been disinfecting the property and implementing preventative measures once they were advised of the situation.”
Staff at the condominium and clinic staff have been contacted and none are showing symptoms of COVID-19, according to Treviño.
The county has obtained a list of owners and individuals who stayed on the property after March 2 and have contacted the majority. None have shown symptoms of the virus.
“These measures that we’ve ordered, that we’re taking, that we’re implementing and will continue to do so are mainly done, not to make life easier, but to protect life,” Treviño said.
He said the county will implement additional and stricter measures.
“Later today, I have a phone conference and meeting set up later with elected leaders throughout the county where we will be implementing and ordering that all restaurants and bars close in-room dining and only be available for takeout, drive-through, curbside delivery,” the county judge said.
Before the case of the 21-year-old man was confirmed, 12 individuals in the county had been tested for the virus. Eight received negative results and four were pending. There are 57 individuals under self-quarantine, with 17 having already completed the 14 days and 45 still being monitored.
Treviño said that, to date, there are no plans to close any ports of entry in Cameron County but that could change.
“We are also considering and more than likely will be implementing a curfew probably starting [Friday] evening,” he said.
The curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Operating hours for county court-at-law, justice of the peace and district courts remain the same but Treviño said the county sent directives to all department heads to go to either half, skeleton crews or split shifts. He said by Monday, if not sooner, they will be closing, or limiting to 10 people at a time, operations on that basis.
In an email attached to a public announcement March 13 regarding jury cancellation, judges, clerks and court staff were provided guidance on operations, such as delaying or remotely appearing in non-essential in-person proceedings until at least April 1.
“Essential proceedings include, but are not limited to, criminal magistration proceedings, CPS removal hearings, temporary restraining orders/temporary injunctions, juvenile detention hearings, family violence protective orders and certain mental health proceedings,” according to the email.
According to a Facebook post from Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez Wednesday, the 77 Flea Market will be closed this weekend for the first time since 1981.
