Maverick County COVID-19 Cases Grows to 12
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo announced at a joint press conference with Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes held on April 16, 2020 that the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin, Texas notified the County that a 12th person had tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total to 12 people.
Judge Saucedo stated that a total of 312 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Maverick County with 12 testing positive, 271 negative, 29 awaiting results, and four have recovered.
Saucedo advised all Maverick County residents to obey and comply with the Disaster Declaration Public Health Emergency Orders due to COVID-19 by Maverick County Commissioners Court and their restrictions such as stay at home, wear face covering (face mask) in public, practice social distancing, limit gatherings to 10 or less people, juvenile curfew, go out for only essential travel or business, and follow all CDC guidelines like washing your hands, use hand sanitizers, and others.
Saucedo also announced that Maverick County will be opening a centralized COVID-19 testing center next week together with Maverick County Hospital District and the City of Eagle Pass. Details about this centralized COVID-19 testing center are forthcoming, added Saucedo.
Area counties report increased COVID-19 cases. As of April 16, 2020, Val Verde County (Del Rio) reports 12 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, Webb County (Laredo) has 245 cases with 11 deaths, El Paso County (El Paso) has 451 cases with deaths, Uvalde County (Uvalde) has six cases, Dimmit County (Carrizo Springs) has one case, and Zavala County (Crystal City) has one case.
As of April 16, 2020, the State of Texas has a total of 16,455 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with 393 deaths, 1,459 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 191 counties out of 254 counties have positive COVID-19 cases, 3,677 people have recovered, and 158,547 people have been tested. With a population of 28 Million, Texas has a very low testing percentage among its population with only .00566 percent, less than one percent.
Governor Greg Abbott has been criticized for his lack of leadership and Texas’ low testing rate regarding COVID-19. Less testing means the lower the numbers of people afflicted by the lethal COVID-19 in the state.
Texas cities and counties have taken leadership initiatives in combatting the deadly COVID-19 such as Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, and others. More testing is definitely needed by all communities and the state of Texas in order to assess the impact of the COVID-19, the extent of community spread, how to prevent and treat the virus, and when to reopen the economy and society.
