Hidalgo County reported 654 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 18 additional deaths tied to the virus.
Of the new cases, 387 are reported as confirmed, 264 as probable and three as suspected.
That brings the total number of cases in the county to 62,249, of which 42,693 are reported as confirmed, 18,625 as probable and 931 as suspected.
Half of Wednesday’s deaths were older than 70 and half were younger, ranging from their 30s to 60s.
Mostly Edinburg and McAllen residents, fatalities also included people from Alamo, Donna, Mercedes, Mission and San Juan.
Of the 18, eight were women and 10 were men.
There are 440 people with COVID-19 in Hidalgo County hospitals as of Wednesday with 154 in intensive care units. The county also reported that 556 have been released from isolation, for a total of 57,777.
Cameron County reported COVID-19 numbers as well Wednesday, adding 108 more confirmed cases to their total along with eleven new deaths tied to the virus.
Those figures raise the total number for cases there to 28,112 and the total number of deaths to 1,296.
Vaccination efforts against the virus continue Valleywide.
Hidalgo County announced two clinics Wednesday to be help later in the week, one in Mission and one in Pharr. Space in both of those clinics filled up shortly after registration opened.
The Mission clinic, that city’s first, is a partnership between the city, the county, Mission CISD and Sharyland ISD.
“We are proud to be able to provide over 50 district employees in support of this important community initiative,” Carol G. Perez, Mission CISD superintendent, wrote. “Getting as many people vaccinated against COVID-19 as quickly as possible will help save lives and brings our community that much closer to being able to resume more normal activities. We are honored to be able to work with our community partners anytime, but now more than ever.”
That clinic was specifically geared to vaccinate elderly, more vulnerable residents.
“Sharyland ISD is ecstatic to partner with the City of Mission, Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner’s Office, and Mission CISD in such a great endeavor that will help keep our community safe, especially our most vulnerable, our elderly residents,” Sharyland ISD Superintendent Maria Vidaurri wrote in a release. “COVID-19 has caused heartache to our region, but together we have persevered. I commend and thank all the workers that have helped organize this event, and the staff that will be administering the vaccines.”
