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RGV COVID-19 Live Blog: Over 1,200 Reported Cases In Rio Grande Valley

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 NPRstations that are part of The Texas Newsroom are also live-blogging, including Houston Public MediaKERA 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.
 

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 25

6 p.m.   Seven additional cases of COVID-19 announced in Hidalgo County on Memorial Day

The number of known positive cases of COVID-19 in Hidalgo County has reached the 500-mark. On Monday, county officials announced seven new cases, taking the total number of positive tests up to 504. 

The new reports are residents of Pharr, Mission, San Juan and Alamo. Five out of seven cases are in their 20s or younger. The oldest of the group is a Mission man who is older than the age of 70, according to county data. 

There are 14 patients in Hidalgo County hospitals receiving treatment for COVID-19, including three individuals in intensive care.

Out of the 504 positive cases reported, 211 are active and 283 have recovered. Ten people have died due to complications from COVID-19 in Hidalgo County since March. 

Sunday, May 24

7 p.m.   15 new cases of COVID-19 in Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County is nearing 500 known cases of COVID-19 after 15 new cases were confirmed on Sunday.

The new reports are residents of McAllen, Welsaco, Edinburg, San Juan, Mecedes and Mission. The City of Pharr accounts for a third of Sunday's group at 5 confirmed cases. 

There are 204 active cases of COVID-19 in the community and 283 recoveries, according to county officials. Ten Hidalgo County residents have died after testing positive for the diseases. 

Saturday, May 23

6 p.m.   New COVID-19 death and 12 new cases reported in Cameron County

Cameron County Public Health confirmed the death of an 86-year-old female resident of the Veranda Nursing home on Saturday. This is the eleventh death for the facility, which is connected to 93 positive cases of COVID-19. There are now 33 deaths related to the disease in Cameron County.

Twelve new cases and 18 recoveries were reported on Saturday. Nine of the new reports are residents of Brownsville, two are from Harlingen and one case is confirmed from San Benito. Seven of Saturday's cases are below the age of 30. The oldest case of the group is a case of community transmission in a 61-year-old female from Brownsville.

At 698, the number of confirmed cases is almost at the threshold of 700 known infections. Two-thirds of the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 have now recovered according to county data.

Friday, May 22

9 p.m. – A total of 686 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Cameron County

Cameron County Public Health announced 15 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 recoveries on Friday. There are now 686 recorded cases, 455 of which have recovered according to the county. 

 
Friday's reports included 13 residents from Brownsville, plus a 70-year-old male linked to a previous case from Los Fresnos and a travel-related case in a 75-year-old male from San Benito. The youngest case reported is a 20-year-old female and the oldest is a 91-year-old male. Both are from Brownsville and linked to previous cases. 
 
Since March, 32 residents have died from complications related to COVID-19 in-county. As of Friday evening, there are 1,206 reported cases in the Rio Grande Valley, with Cameron County leading in the number of confirmed cases and deaths.

8 p.m. – Ten new cases confirmed in Hidalgo County

There are now 189 active cases of COVID-19 after ten new people tested positive, Hidalgo County officials shared on Friday.

The new reports include residents of Pharr, San Juan, Mission, Donna, Edinburg and Weslaco. All of Friday's reports are in the 30s or younger, with the exception of one case: a male in his 40s from Pharr. 

Seven people were recently released from isolation, taking the total number of recovered cases up to 283. Out of over 8,000 tests administered in Hidalgo County, about 6 percent – 482 individuals – have tested positive since March.

4 p.m. – New case confirmed in Starr County, testing available over the weekend

A new case of COVID-19 is confirmed in Starr County, taking the total number of recorded cases to 24, The Monitor reports.

The 39-year-old man from Escobares is a family member of a previously reported case and was tested at a private facility. There are now 10 active cases in the community, according to Starr County Health Authority Dr. Jose Vazquez. 

There are new mobile testing sites available in Starr County over Memorial Day weekend. For the latest information and testing requirements, visit txcovid19test.org or call 512-883-2400.

An interactive map of testing sites in Texas is accessible here.

2 p.m. – 1,180 confirmed cases, 43 deaths connected to COVID-19 in the Valley

As of Friday morning, the four Valley-area counties have reported the following counts: 

  • 472 cases, 10 deaths in Hidalgo County
  • 671 cases, 32 deaths in Cameron County
  • 15 cases, 1 death in Willacy County
  • 22 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

  

Jan Ross Piedad Sakian is TPR’s News Operations Producer. In this role, she develops strategy on collaborative and digital initiatives for the station. Since 2016, Jan Ross has served in a coordinating capacity for TPR’s state and national partners, including The Texas Newsroom.
Reynaldo Leaños Jr. can be reached at reynaldo@tpr.org and on Twitter at @ReynaldoLeanos