Hidalgo County implements new orders, reports 1,320 new COVID-19 cases

Hidalgo County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are ordered to remain at home under a 14-day quarantine period.

The county order was announced after a Sunday virtual press conference from the county announcing that over 1,000 new cases already been reported in Hidalgo County this weekend due to the disease.

The county revealed the final count in a Sunday evening news release that announced  1,320 people tested positive for the virus and 17 COVID-19 related deaths over the last two days.

According to Health officials, 1,072 out of the 1,320 new positive cases are from testing done at military sites and federal testing from Bert Ogden Arena, the release stated.

“I send my deepest condolences to the families of these 17 individuals for the loss of their loved one,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said. “On Monday, I will be issuing new emergency Shelter at Home orders, which I strongly hope everyone will voluntarily follow so that we can slow the spread of COVID-19.”

With the 1,320 new cases, the county has a total of 12,263 known cases out of 73,841 administered tests with 1,057 pending results.

The new county COVID-19 death count stands at 284.

262 people were released from isolation Sunday bringing the total amount of  released patients to 5,158 after showing no symptoms for 10 days, including three days without a fever.  There are currently 6,821 net active cases of the disease and 933 people hospitalized with complications from the virus with 235 of those cases being treated in intensive care units.

Local hotels will begin taking convalescent COVID-19 patients at the end of the week, officials announced.

According to the county order, those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or live in a household with an individual who has tested positive for the disease are not permitted to leave their home without approval from the Department of State Health Services or Hidalgo County Health and Human Services.

No visitors are allowed unless approved by the state and county health officials.

These residents are also asked to monitor themselves for symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pains or vomiting and report them immediately to the county health and human services department by calling (956) 292-7765 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Failure to comply may result in criminal prosecution, according to the county.