Maverick County to Open Centralized COVID-19 Testing Center
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes announced at their joint press conference on April 16, 2020 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that local governmental entities are working closely with the Maverick County Hospital District in opening a centralized COVID-19 Testing Center in Eagle Pass, Texas to serve residents and increase the number of tests done within the community.
County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that the centralized COVID-19 Testing Center is expected to open next week according to discussions with Maverick County Hospital District Chief Executive Officer Alma Martinez.
Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes stated that increased testing of people is needed in Maverick County so that local governmental entities and Local Health Authority Dr. Victoriano Valdez can determine the level of community spread of COVID-19 and to be able to make decisions on when to reopen the community from the Declaration of Disaster Public Health Emergency Orders, including the Stay at Home, Face Coverings (face mask), closure of non-essential businesses, juvenile curfew, and public schools.
A lack of testing for COVID-19 in both Eagle Pass and the United States has affected public governmental entities, public health experts, and scientists from determining the impact of the deadly virus, its characteristics, how to develop a vaccine for it, and when to reopen communities.
Judge Saucedo noted that as of April 16, 2020, a total of only 312 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Maverick County with a total of 12 people testing positive, 271 negative, 29 are awaiting test results, and four have recovered. Maverick County has an estimated population of 60,000. The percentage of Maverick County residents tested for COVID-19 is very low and minuscule at .0052 percent-less than one percent of its population.
Mayor Sifuentes stated that details of the centralized COVID-19 testing center will be announced shortly as soon as all the fine points are worked out by the local governmental entities.
