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.
TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. If you value our commitment to the highest standards of responsible journalism and are able to do so, please consider making your gift of support today.
Thursday, May 28
Here's what we know...
8:15 p.m. – Cameron County confirms 2 deaths, 12 new cases and 16 recoveries
Cameron County Public Health confirmed that two Brownsville residents, a 90-year-old female and a 62-year-old male, have died after testing positive for COVID-19. There are now 35 known COVID-related deaths in Cameron County.
A dozen new cases and 16 recoveries were also announced on Thursday, taking the total number of recovered individuals to 538 out of 743 known positive cases.
All of Thursday's reports are residents of Brownsville with the exception of a 45-year-old female from Harlingen considered to be a case of community transmission. The youngest of the new cases is a 5-month-old girl linked to a previous case and the oldest is a case of community transmission in an 80-year-old male.Six of Thursday's reports are linked a previous cases and the other six are considered to be community transmission cases.
7:30 p.m. – Eleven new cases and 30 recent recoveries in Hidalgo County
There are now 548 known cases of COVID-19 in Hidalgo County, 195 of which are currently active. Thirty recent recoveries and 11 new cases were confirmed by county officials on Thursday.
The new cases range between 20s and 60s in age. Seven out of 11 of the reports are male and four are female. The group includes cases from Mission, McAllen, Edinburg, Alton, and one case of a female in her 20s with an "undisclosed" city of residence.
There are now 16 COVID-positive patients receiving treatment in Hidalgo County hospitals, including three who remain in intensive care. Currently, 3,000 pending tests are still being processed for Hidalgo County.
5:30 p.m. – Nine new cases in Starr County this week
Starr County confirmed that there are now 33 cases of COVID-19 found in Starr County residents after six new cases were announced on Thursday.
This is the highest number of cases reported in one day from Starr County so far. Three new cases were also confirmed earlier this week on Wednesday, May 27.
Thursday's group ranges between the ages of 21 and 81 years old. Three are residents of Rio Grande City, two are from Roma and one positive case was found in a 48-year-old man from La Grulla.
2 p.m. – Over 1,300 confirmed cases, 44 deaths connected to COVID-19 in the Valley
As of Wednesday morning, the four Valley-area counties have reported the following counts:
- 537 cases, 10 deaths in Hidalgo County
- 731 cases, 33 deaths in Cameron County
- 14 cases, 1 death in Willacy County
- 27 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
