Alejandra Yañez | THE RIDER
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported on Wednesday that 22% of residents in Cameron County have been fully vaccinated as adult eligibility opens.
DSHS also reported 40% of the Cameron County population has at least received the first dosage of the vaccine.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. announced Tuesday on Facebook that the county has allocated first-dose Moderna vaccines to area hospitals, second-dose vaccines to municipalities and first- and second-dose vaccines to primary health care doctors’ offices and pharmacies.
Treviño posted, “First-dose Moderna Vaccines have been allocated to our area hospitals such as Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville, Valley Baptist Medical Center Harlingen, Valley Regional Medical Center Brownsville, and Harlingen Medical Center! Please contact or visit their website for vaccine registration and more information. … Updates will be provided as new allocations are confirmed. Thank you Cameron County!”
In other coronavirus news, Cameron County Public Health has reported an additional 41 positive COVID-19 laboratory reports, raising the total number of cases to 38,584 as of this Wednesday morning..
Currently, there are 1,180 active COVID-19 cases in Cameron.
The county also received confirmation of an additional two COVID-19-related deaths, raising the death toll to 1,577.
Additionally, 76 individuals have recovered from the virus, raising the total to 35,834.
Cameron County is the second-most infectious area in the Rio Grande Valley, with Hidalgo County leading at 2,031 active cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Starr County follows with 186 total active cases reported as of Wednesday. Willacy County has reported 49 active cases.
Kenedy County currently has two active cases, and Brooks County has eight.
According to the Texas DSHS website, Cameron and Hidalgo counties are hot spots in the Valley.
With Holy Week festivities in full swing, the Cameron County judge’s office posted a public service announcement video via Facebook on Monday featuring Esmeralda Guajardo, the health administrator for Cameron County.
“As Spring Break is approaching, and other holidays, such as Easter, we recommend that people still maintain the rules of social distancing, and if you are going to be among other people, make it your close family members,” Guajardo said. “Keep it within your bubble. This is the only way that this is going to help us.”
She said people must be extra careful when going out during these celebrations because “you don’t know where [these people have] been or their history in terms of COVID-19.”
Guajardo reminded the public to continue wearing masks regardless of whether or not they are optional in particular establishments.
In an interview with The Rider, she was asked if she believes the trend in cases would increase or decrease in the next couple of weeks.
“It’s one of those things where it’s hard to predict,” Guajardo replied. “But, historically, numbers have always been based on events, such as holidays and events, such as the Super Bowl and Easter and Spring Break.”
Residents eligible to receive the vaccine may access the DSHS Texas vaccine availability map to register.
