Gov. Greg Abbott announced the deployment of more than 2,500 medical personnel to hospitals throughout the state to assist in the ongoing battle against COVID-19.
According to a new release, the Texas Department of State Health Services will be deploying out-of-state medical personnel, which will be fully funded by the state through September 30.
The news comes as Hidalgo County reported seven COVID-19 related deaths and 349 new cases of the virus Wednesday morning.
The deaths include a man over the age of 70 from Alamo, a woman in her 40s and a man over 70 from Donna, as well as a man in his 60s from Mission, a man in his 40s from San Juan and a man in his 50s, and a woman over 70 from Weslaco.
The county’s COVID-19 death toll is now at 2,974.
The county’s 349 new cases include 163 that are confirmed and 186 probable. There have been a total of 102,225 positive cases in Hidalgo County, including 64,124 confirmed cases, 35,832 probable and 2,269 suspected.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 380 people in county hospitals with the virus, and there were 98 people in intensive care units.
An additional 441 people were released from isolation, raising that total to 95,485. There are 3,766 net active cases in the county.
Hidalgo County has administered a total of 577,215 COVID-19 tests, and 474,187 of those tests had negative results.
Cameron County reported two COVID-19 related deaths and 100 new cases of the virus Wednesday.
Wednesday’s deaths include a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s, both from Los Fresnos. The two deaths raised the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 1,728.
The county’s 100 new cases include 15 people from unaccompanied minor shelters and detention centers in Los Fresnos. Cameron County now has a total of 46,193 confirmed cases.
The county also reported that an additional 178 people recovered from the virus, raising that total to 42,142.
As of Wednesday, 70.27% of the county’s population ages 12-years and older have been fully vaccinated, and 84.36% of that demographic have received at least one dose. In addition, 82.44% of the county’s population ages 65-years and older have been fully vaccinated, and 90.94% have received at least one dose.