Hidalgo County COVID-19 cases surpass 1,300; 2 more fatalities

Two more people in Hidalgo County have died from COVID-19 related complications Wednesday as the county reported 92 more cases of the disease.

The total number of COVID-19 related fatalities in the county has now climbed to 19 people and the total number of known positive cases have risen to 1,347, the county announced in a news release.

“These numbers are dismaying,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said. “Losing two more people from our community shows how dangerous this disease can be. My prayers are with the family and friends of these two people.”

The deaths involved a man in his 30s from Weslaco and a man in his 50s from Mission. Both cases involved underlying medical conditions.

The new cases come from the cities of Hidalgo, Mission, Weslaco, Pharr, Edinburg. Alamo, McAllen, Alton and five came from undisclosed cases. Their ages range from 0 to 70s+.

The new cases were reported the same day Judge Cortez signed an order for all business to begin requiring face masks by Friday at midnight to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A total of 84 people are now hospitalized  in area hospitals with complications from the virus and 10 of those cases are being treated in intensive care units. 16 more people were released from isolation on Wednesday after showing no symptoms for 10 days, including three days without a fever.

There are currently 733 net active cases and 999 test results are pending out of a total 28,469 tests that have been administered.