Cases, deaths and hospitalizations continue a steady climb in Hidalgo County as officials on Thursday released new data that shows the uptick in these areas — this as the year in COVID-19 case activity comes to a close.
A county health department news release issued Thursday morning announced 697 new cases of the disease, ending the year’s tally of infections at 51,662.
Of the new batch, 269 have been confirmed, while 417 are probable and 11 are suspected. The county’s entire case breakdown for 2020 shows 35,773 confirmed, 15,051 probable and 838 suspected.
There were also nine new deaths recorded in the county as of Thursday, with the 2020 coronavirus death toll settled at 2,201.
Women in their 50s, 60s and 70s from McAllen, Mission, Pharr, San Juan and an undisclosed location are among the nine who’ve died, as well as men in their 60s and 70s from Donna, Mission and another undisclosed location.
Continuing an alarming spike in hospitalizations, the county confirmed 334 patients with COVID-19 in area hospitals. Through this week, hospitalizations increased from 282, which were reported Monday morning.
There are also 115 patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units. Additionally, county health officials confirmed 698 people have been released from isolation.
Of the 308,806 tests administered in 2020, 256,662 were negative. There are currently 1,964 active cases in the county.
In neighboring Cameron County, an emergency order was issued Thursday afternoon that renders a curfew effective Friday through Jan. 15.
Much like Hidalgo County’s curfew on the youth, Cameron County’s order prohibits residents 17 years old and younger from being outside their residence between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. “unless accompanied by a parent or guardian and engaging in essential travel.”
Cameron County’s curfew, however, differs from Hidalgo County’s in that it also applies to all residents between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. “unless seeking emergency assistance or engaged in essential travel,” according to a news release.
The order also includes limitations on social gatherings, restricting gatherings of more than 10 persons who are not members of a single family. Their city’s mayor or county judge can, however, authorize exceptions.
These measures, the 10th amended emergency management order in Cameron County, have been implemented as COVID-19 activity in the county continues to increase.
In the release, the county points to current hospital capacity being “severely limited” and the rate of infections rising “significantly” as healthcare workers at county hospitals “are severely overtaxed.”
Case data in Cameron County was not reported as of press time Thursday. However, there were 29,525 cases of COVID-19 in the county as of Wednesday with the death toll there at 1,183.
Starr and Willacy counties’ daily figures were also unavailable as of press time Thursday.
