Fifth COVID-19-related death in Cameron County

Updated 7:27 p.m. April 17, 2020:

Cameron County Public Health reported the fifth COVID-19-related death in a news release tonight.

The case involved a 77-year-old male from Los Fresnos.

It is the first COVID-19-related death of a community transmission case, according to a news release posted shortly after 7 tonight on the department’s Facebook page. 

The news release also confirmed nine additional positive cases in the county:

–a 6-year-old female from Brownsville, linked to a previous case;

–a 41-year-old female from Brownsville, linked to a previous case;

–a 62-year-old male from Brownsville, linked to a previous case;

–a 24-year-old female from Brownsville, which was a community transfer;

–a 19-year-old male from Brownsville, which was travel-related;

–an 86-year-old female from Harlingen, linked to a previous case;

–a 65-year-old male from Harlingen, linked to a previous case;

–a 4-year-old female from Los Fresnos, linked to a previous case; and

–a 60-year-old female from San Benito, linked to a previous case.

Original story:

A news release posted Thursday by Cameron County Public Health confirmed the fourth COVID-19 related death in the county. 

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said the death involved an 82-year-old female who was residing at the Veranda Nursing Home in Harlingen. 

As of earlier today, 599 tests have been completed in the county with 270 positive results, 293 negative and 96 cases cleared. 

There are 341 individuals under monitoring, with 155 who have already completed the two weeks and 186 still being monitored. 

The breakdown of the 96 cleared cases by municipality include:

–Brownsville, 51;

–Harlingen, 17;

–La Feria, 1;

–Los Fresnos, 10;

–Rancho Viejo, 4;

–Rio Hondo, 2;

–San Benito, 9; and

–Santa Rosa, 2.

At the Veranda Nursing Home, 21 employees and 50 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 including the fourth death and two others previously reported. Thirty-seven employees and 24 residents have tested negative. 

Windsor Atrium currently has 20 employees and 17 residents who have tested positive for the virus including one previously reported death. Five employees and three residents have tested negative. 

There are several clusters of the virus, according to the county judge. 

These clusters include the two nursing homes with 108 cases, individuals and their immediate family contacts with 63, non-immediate family contacts with 30 and 69 individual cases. 

The breakdown of the total number of cases by municipality include:

–Brownsville, 87;

–Harlingen, 114;

–San Benito, 20;

–Los Fresnos, 15;

–Santa Rosa, 8;

–Rancho Viejo, 4;

–Port Isabel, 3;

–Rio Hondo, 12;

–La Feria, 6; and 

–Laguna Vista, 1.

Treviño said after a conference call and meeting with other county judges in the Rio Grande Valley, the county will extend the shelter-in-place order until May 4. 

He said if there is a change based on Gov. Greg Abbott’s news conference later today about his plans for the state, the county will address it before Tuesday. 

The shelter-in-place order remains in effect and those violating it will be cited, according to the county judge. 

Treviño addressed the use of masks while exercising. 

People out in public must wear a mask, however, if a person is exercising they do not have to wear it but must keep it with them in case they come into contact with anyone else. 

He also said the county is reviewing restrictions to see what businesses can be allowed to begin operating again. 

“As a summary, we’re continuing the shelter-in-place until May the fourth apt to any change from the governor,” Treviño said. “We’ll be establishing a task force to review, along with the health professionals, the information to see what businesses we can slowly reopen.”