EDINBURG — Hidalgo County reported 248 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, another single-day high being set, and two additional deaths from complications related to the virus.
Cameron County reported 111 new cases Tuesday and the coronavirus-related death of a 21-year-old woman from Indian Lake, the Rio Grande Valley’s youngest coronavirus fatality so far.
The Texas Department of State Health Services also confirmed 21 new cases of COVID-19 in Willacy County on Tuesday, bringing the total there to 114.
This brought the tally for new cases in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday to 380.
Tuesday was also the second consecutive day Hidalgo County announced its highest case increase.
The new fatalities, a man in his 40s and a woman in her 70s from Mission, both had underlying medical conditions and brought the overall death toll here to 25.
“Another day brings two more tragic deaths of some of our neighbors,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez wrote in a release. “My heart goes out to these people’s family and friends. We must listen to the warnings of medical experts to stop these deaths. Stay home, stay away from people. These are simple solutions to protect not only yourself but your loved ones.”
The new cases bring the total for the county to 2,130, of which 1,344 are still active.
A little over 60% of the new cases are under 40. Of the 248 people on the list, 16.53% are under 20, 21.37% are in their 20s, 22.18% are in their 30s, 16.13% are in their 40s, 12.5% are in their 50s, 4.03% are in their 60s and 7.26% are listed as being 70 or older.
Edinburg saw the largest increase in cases from the municipalities on the list at 51, about a fifth of them. McAllen and Pharr saw the next highest jumps in cases, 36 and 35 respectively.
Women account for 56.15% of the new cases, 43.85% of them are men. Gender for four of the cases was not identified.
Golden Grape Entertainment, the company that owns and operates H-E-B Park, announced Tuesday that an employee there had tested positive for COVID-19 and the facility has been temporarily closed for deep cleaning.
Weslaco ISD confirmed in a statement that a Weslaco East High School employee had tested positive for the virus Tuesday as well.
“Employees and parents of students who were in direct contact with the individual during the Summer Strength and Conditioning Program have been informed. If you have not received any communication from Weslaco East High School, your student was not in direct contact; and therefore, not at high-risk of exposure,” a statement from the district read.
The Texas Juvenile Justice department confirmed Evins Regional Juvenile Center’s fifth case, a teacher and a youth development coach whose test was confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
So far no youth at the facility have tested positive, a release from TJJD says.
According to a release from the company, the employee last worked at the facility on June 15, and less than 10 employees who were in prolonged contact with the person have been notified.
