Throughout the entire Rio Grande Valley, there were 159 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of last Tuesday, Jan. 3, continuing the upward trend of COVID hospitalizations here.
The patients — 123 adults, including 26 adults in the ICU, and 10 children — were hospitalized throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley trauma service area which includes Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties.
The total number of people hospitalized on Tuesday reflected a 47% jump from just a week prior when there were 108 people hospitalized with COVID on Dec. 27.
Since COVID hospitalizations began rising in late November, they have increased by more than 300%.
More recently, 109 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday just in Hidalgo County.
Those patients included 88 adults and 21 children. Of those patients, 18 adults and one child were in intensive care units.
Hidalgo and Cameron counties reported 11 additional COVID-related deaths this past week.
In Hidalgo County, ten people died due to COVID-related complications, the county reported last week.
The deceased individuals included an Edinburg man over 70 years old; a McAllen woman over 70; two Mission men over 70; and a Mission man in his 60s. Among them were also two men from undisclosed locations — one in his 60s and one over 70 years old.
Their deaths raised the total number of COVID-related deaths in Hidalgo County to 4,062, according to a news release issued by the county. None of them were up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cameron County health officials reported one COVID-related death last week. The individual was a Brownsville woman over 90 years old who was not fully vaccinated.
Her death raised the county’s total number of COVID fatalities to 2,317.
The two counties together reported more than 3,000 new cases last week.
Hidalgo County reported 2,382 new cases including 1,152 confirmed cases and 1,230 probable cases.
Meanwhile, Cameron County officials reported 825 new cases including 370 confirmed, 445 probable and 10 self-reported cases.
