Hidalgo County reported 20 COVID-related deaths Thursday, marking the highest number of fatalities of the week so far.
In contrast, the county reported 11 deaths related to the virus on Monday and Tuesday, followed by 15 deaths on Wednesday.
The 20 deaths reported Thursday included two Edinburg men in their 30s, four people in their 40s, one Mercedes woman in her 50s, five people in their 60s and eight 70 or older; increasing the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 3,082.
Hidalgo County also reported 444 people tested positive for the virus Thursday, a notable increase from Wednesday’s 315 cases.
Previously, it appeared the county was reporting a decrease in positive cases as officials reported 768 positive cases on Tuesday. To note, the county reported 219 cases at the beginning of the week.
Of the 444 cases reported by the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department on Thursday, 97 were confirmed, 347 probable and none were suspected.
The majority of cases reported Thursday were led by children between the ages of 0 and 11, with a total of 98 cases. Youth younger than 19 but older than 12 and adults in their 30s were the next age groups, each with 74 cases. Young adults in their 20s trailed behind with 67 cases.
Of the positive cases reported Thursday, Hidalgo County noted 29 were students and seven were school staff. Hidalgo County does not include in their COVID statistics whether people who test positive for the virus are vaccinated.
The county’s case tally is 106,968, of which 65,695 were confirmed, 39,002 probable and 2,271 suspected, with 3,374 cases reported active.
Additionally, the county reported 458 people were released from isolation Thursday, raising that total to 100,512 — surpassing the 100,000 mark.
As of Thursday, a total of 605,936 COVID-19 tests had been administered in Hidalgo County, with 498,072 results returning negative.
In Cameron County, officials reported a total of 241 positive COVID-19 cases Thursday and four deaths related to the virus, according to a county news release.
The youngest among the deaths reported Thursday was a Brownsville man in his 20s. Others included a Harlingen woman in her 70s and two Brownsville people, both 90 or older.
Cameron County’s COVID-19 death toll is now at 1,763.
Of the 241 cases reported Thursday, Cameron County officials noted 77 were from facilities housing unaccompanied minors, such as shelters and detention centers.
The majority of cases reported from facilities were tied between youth younger than 19, but older than 10 and young adults in their 20s — each with 25 cases. Adults in their 30s trailed behind with 18 cases. Others included three children nine or younger, five adults in their 40s and one adult in their 50s.
The remaining 241 cases reported in Cameron County outside the facilities were led by youth younger than 19, but older than 10, with 35 cases. Adults in their 30s and 40s were the next age group with 28 cases each. Young adults in their 20s trailed behind with 27 cases.
Others included 19 children nine or younger, 11 adults in their 50s, nine adults in their 60s, 5 adults in their 70s and two adults in their 80s.
As of Thursday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Cameron County is 48,776.
Additionally, the county also reported 184 individuals recovered from the virus on Thursday, increasing that total to 44,219.
As for Cameron County’s vaccination efforts, officials said 73.30 percent of their 12 and older population are fully vaccinated, with 88.64 percent receiving at least one dose.
The county also reported that 83.51 percent of their 65 and older population are fully vaccinated, with 92.04 percent receiving at least one dose.
MORE INFORMATION:
Hidalgo County uses the case status definitions provided by the Texas Department of State Health Service’s 2020 Epi Case Criteria Guide:
>> Confirmed cases are those who tested positive through a molecular or PCR (oral or nasal swabs) test that looks for the presence of the virus’s genetic material;
>> Probable cases are those who meet presumptive laboratory evidence through detection of COVID-19 by antigen test in a respiratory specimen;
>> Suspect cases are those who meet supported laboratory evidence through detection of specific antibodies in serum, plasma, whole body and no prior history of being confirmed or probable case.
