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
Tuesday, May 5
9 p.m. – Cameron County reports 11 additional cases of COVID-19
Cameron County Public Health confirmed 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of positive cases reported in the county to 454.
About 36 percent of the county's cases are from clusters connected to two nursing homes in Harlingen, which have led to 17 out of 18 deaths reported in Cameron County.
The number of positive cases associated with the Windsor Atrium nursing home has risen by six residents, including a 91-year-old and a 98-year-old, both female. The facility is now linked to positive cases in 31 employees and 45 residents. The Veranda Nursing Home is connected to 91 positive cases: 32 employees and 59 residents.
Two cases of community transmission were also reported on Tuesday in a 26-year-old female from Brownsville and a 20-year-old male from San Benito.
According to county data, about 47 percent of those who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have now recovered.
7 p.m. – Hidalgo County found no new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, 12 released from isolation
As Hidalgo County crosses the 5,000-mark for COVID-19 tests taken, officials report zero additional cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.
There have been 353 reports of positive cases since a 24-year-old McAllen woman tested positive for the virus on March 21. Since then, 215 people have recovered according to county data, including 12 individuals who were "released from isolation" today.
Seven Hidalgo County residents with underlying medical conditions have died after testing positive for the disease. The most recent fatality reported was a 50-year-old man from Edinburg on Monday, March 4.
Thirteen patients remain in Hidalgo County hospitals with three currently in intensive care.
5 p.m. – More details on latest positive case in Starr County
A new case of COVID-19 reported yesterday from Roma, Texas is considered to be Starr County's first known incident of community spread, according to county health authority Jose Vasquez.
The man in his mid-20s was diagnosed through a mobile testing site at the Roma Community Center and it is not clear how he contracted COVID-19. The man is one of three active cases in the community and currently quarantined at home.
On Tuesday, The Monitor reported that local government in Rio Grande City took precautions by sending "several City employees" home to self-isolate and wait for testing after tracing down a connection with the patient from Roma.
"Late yesterday, we found out an RGC employee had contact with a coworker of the Roma resident who tested positive for COVID-19,” Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal said in a statement.
Although there has been no direct contact between City employees and those who have tested positive, Mayor Villarreal says the City is planning for widespread testing of staff.
12 p.m. – 819 confirmed cases, 26 deaths connected to COVID-19 in the Valley
As of Tuesday morning, the four Valley-area counties have reported the following counts:
- 353 cases, 7 deaths in Hidalgo County
- 443 cases, 18 deaths in Cameron County
- 13 cases, 1 death in Willacy County
- 10 cases in Starr County
| Find previous COVID-19 blogs here |
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
