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...
Wednesday, May 13
9:45 p.m. – 25 new positive cases in Cameron County
Cameron County Public Health confirmed 25 additional cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 569 in the county. Cameron County leads the Valley in the number of reported COVID-19 deaths and cases, which has now reached 1,007.
Wednesday's new reports include 19 cases from Brownsville, three from San Benito, one case of community transmission in a 54-year-old female from Palm Valley and a 42-year-old male from Los Fresnos linked to a previous case.
The youngest reports from Wednesday's group are from Brownsville: a 15-year-old female and a 16-year-old male, both linked to previous cases. The oldest patient reported is a 90-year-old male from Brownsville linked to a previous case.
The majority of deaths in Cameron County are connected to case clusters in area nursing homes, which account for 33 percent of the positive cases reported. The county confirmed Wednesday that another facility, Spanish Meadows of Brownsville, found five positive cases in residents and negative test results for the majority of its staff.
According to county data, 33 individuals who previously tested positive have recently "recovered," taking the number of recovered cases to 330 as of Wednesday.
7 p.m. – Hidalgo County confirms 2 COVID-19 related deaths, six more people test positive
Hidalgo County officials announced Wednesday that a male in his 50s from Edinburg and a female in her 70s from Palmview have died after testing positive for COVID-19. There are now 10 known deaths in Hidalgo County directly connected with the disease.
Officials also confirmed six new cases of COVID-19, including two males from Weslaco in their 20s, a male in his 40s, a male in his 60s from Edinburg and two individuals in their 70s.
Three previously positive cases were also released from isolation on Wednesday. According to county data, there are currently 235 recovered cases and 164 active cases of COVID-19 out the 409 positive cases reported in Hidalgo County since March.
2 p.m. – Travel-related case found in Roma, Texas family
Starr County confirmed an additional case of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The man's case is considered to be travel-related as "the patient recently returned from a trip to Midland and Odessa, Texas." He is the sixth positive case connected a family in Roma, the latest cluster of known active cases in Starr County.
According to the county, seven cases previously confirmed in March and April have now recovered from the disease. There are currently eight active cases of COVID-19 in Starr County.
11 a.m. – Watch Cameron County press conference here.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. issued updates regarding COVID-19 Wednesday morning.
8 a.m. – 975 confirmed cases, 34 deaths connected to COVID-19 in the Valley
As of Wednesday morning, the four Valley-area counties have reported the following counts:
- 403 cases, 8 deaths in Hidalgo County
- 544 cases, 25 deaths in Cameron County
- 14 cases, 1 death in Willacy County
- 14 cases in Starr County
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.
| 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
