In a press conference earlier today, Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez confirmed a total of eight positive COVID-19 cases and issued a shelter-at-home order, which becomes effective 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Cortez said during the press conference that four of the positive COVID-19 individuals live in McAllen, two in Mission, one in Alamo and one in Edinburg. He also said that those individuals have not needed to be hospitalized and are at home isolated trying to recover from the virus.
“There’s investigation ongoing to make sure that all the people that have been in contact with them are properly traced and looked at and alerted,” said Cortez. “Precautions will be taken.”
A total of 180 people have been tested in Hidalgo County with results showing eight positive, 110 negative. Sixty-two tests are still pending.
The shelter-at-home order will remain in effect until April 10, but “Judge Cortez has the authority to lift the order any time.”
“Hopefully we will not need to extend it, but we will if we have to,” he said.
The emergency order states that all individuals currently living within Hidalgo County are ordered to shelter-at-home in their residence. However, people may leave their homes for essential activities, to provide or perform essential governmental functions, or to operate essential businesses.
Each of the 22 municipalities in the county will be responsible for enforcing the shelter-at-home order, Cortez said.
According to a Hidalgo County news release, medical experts have advised Cortez “that the spread of the virus could increase exponentially without drastic action to keep people at home.”
“I make this extraordinary move convinced that it is the right path for the safety of the residents of Hidalgo County,” Cortez stated in the news release. “I know this will cause hardship, but I am convinced this will save lives.”
