Texas Public Radio is updating information on COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley here. You can find the latest news from TPR in San Antonio here. Other NPR stations that are part of The Texas Newsroom are also live-blogging, including Houston Public Media, KERA in Dallas and KUT in Austin.
The statewide coronavirus hotline is 2-1-1. CDC guidelines on what you need to know and what to do if you are sick with COVID-19 can be found here in English and Spanish, and embedded at the end of this live blog.
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Here's what we know...
Data visualizations are maintained and published by journalist Ronnie Garza on the website https://www.rgvcovid19info.com. Hover over the graph to view updated values
Monday, May 4
8 p.m. – Cameron County finds 11 new cases of COVID-19
Cameron County Public Health confirmed 11 additional cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday.
Five of the new reports are from Brownsville and four are from Harlingen, including the group's oldest case: an 88-year-old male linked to a previous case. Also reported: a case of community transmission in a 65-year-old female from San Benito and the group's youngest case: a 29-year-old female from Los Fresnos who contracted the disease through travel.
According to county officials, 204 of 443 positive cases reported have already recovered. Cameron County leads the Rio Grande Valley in the total number of positive cases, including 18 fatalities. As of Monday evening, there have been 819 known cases of COVID-19 in the four Valley-area counties.
7:30 p.m. – Hidalgo County confirms one death, 12 additional cases
Judge Richard F. Cortez announced Monday that a 50-year-old male from Edinburg with underlying health conditions is the county's seventh fatality after testing positive for COVID-19.
Twelve more have tested positive on Monday while seven individuals were "released from isolation," according to Hidalgo County. The new cases are residents of Alamo, Pharr, Edinburg, Donna and Weslaco. The youngest is a male in his 20s from Alamo and the oldest reported is a female in her 70s from Weslaco.
There are now 143 active cases and 203 reported recoveries, as the county approaches the 5,000-mark for the number of tests administered.
4:30 p.m. – Starr County announces tenth case of COVID-19
A male in his mid-20s from Roma, Texas is newest positive case of COVID-19 reported out of Starr County, officials confirmed on Monday.
The patient is currently quarantined and one of three active cases in Starr County. Seven individuals who tested positive weeks prior have recovered according to the county.
12 p.m. – 795 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Valley, mobile testing available to the community
The Texas Department of Emergency Management will be conducting free mobile testing for COVID-19 on Monday for residents of the Rio Grande Valley.
Testing is available by appointment only after the registering online at txcovidtest.org or calling 512-883-2400 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Monday's testing site is Diaz Villareal Elementary School at 5543 N. La Homa Road in Mission. Those tested will be screened for symptoms for COVID-19 including fever and chills, cough, headaches, nasal congestion and loss of taste/smell.
The Texas Department of Health and Human services will continue to conduct mobile testing operations in the coming weeks. Click here for more information.
As of Monday morning, the four Valley-area counties have reported the following counts:
- 341 cases, 6 deaths in Hidalgo County
- 432 cases, 18 deaths in Cameron County
- 13 cases, 1 death in Willacy County
- 9 cases in Starr County
Community Helpline Numbers
Statewide COVID-19 Resources
- 2-1-1 (option 6)
Cameron County
- 956-247-3650 (24/7)
Hidalgo County
- 956-292-7765 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Willacy and Starr Counties
- 956-421-5505
CDC Guidelines in English and Spanish
