Maverick County COVID-19 Death Toll Rises to 19 with Three More Reported and 114 Confirmed Positive Cases, Bringing Total to 1,283 Cases
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Maverick County mourns the loss of three more citizens who succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 virus over the weekend of July 17-19, 2020 while another two more deaths are being investigated to determine if they too passed away from COVID-19, announced Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo at a press conference held on Monday, July 20, 2020.
Saucedo also stated a total of 114 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Maverick County by the Texas Department of State Health Services on July 20 with 46 people hospitalized at the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, a decrease from last week’s 61 hospitalized patients. Saucedo noted that of the 46 hospitalized people, a total of 13 people who are positive are in the Intensive Care Unit with all of them on ventilators, another 21 positive people on the Medical Floor with another three people pending test results, and another five people positive are in the Emergency Room and another four people pending test results. A total of 16 people are on ventilators at the local hospital, added Saucedo.
Saucedo stated a total of 9,297 people in Maverick County have had a COVID-19 test administered with 1,283 positive results, 7,329 negative results, 685 pending results, 688 active cases, 576 recovered, 46 hospitalized, 19 fatalities, and the positivity rate jumped to 14.9 percent as of July 20, 2020.
Saucedo highlighted that Maverick County received a total of 21 nurses and medics from the United States Navy Rural Rapid Response Team to assist Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center treat the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the community and another 11 nurses from the State of Texas Division of Emergency Management Region 8 are already at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center since last week, totaling 32 medical professionals to assist with the COVID-19 infections in Maverick County.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday, July 19, 2020, that the United States Department of Defense sent five U.S. Navy medical teams to four cities in South and Southwest Texas to help combat the spread of COVID-19, including Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Rio Grande City, and Harlingen. These U.S. Navy teams consist of medical and support professionals which are being deployed to help meet medical needs in hospitals throughout the state.
Abbott stated “the support from our federal partners is crucial in our work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities throughout Texas.” Abbott added that “I am grateful for this ongoing partnership with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy, and the State of Texas will continue to utilize every resource available to protect public health and keep Texans in every community safe.”
Saucedo acknowledged the assistance of Governor Abbott, State Representative Poncho Nevarez, and Congressman Will Hurd in obtaining the U.S. Navy medical team to assist Maverick County.
Maverick County like the state of Texas is experiencing exponential growth of COVID-19 infections, deaths, and hospitalized people since Memorial Day weekend in late May 2020, but particularly the past month.
A month ago, Maverick County reported 223 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with one person hospitalized and two deaths as of June 19, 2020. Maverick County has seen an exponential growth of 1,060 COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths, and 45 hospitalized people in the past month, confirming the community spread of COVID-19 in Maverick County.
Texas reported a total of 7,404 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 164 new hospitalized patients, and 62 more deaths on July 20, 2020, bringing the statewide total to 332,434 positive COVID-19 cases, 10,569 current hospitalized patients, and 4,020 deaths.
Nationally, the United States reported over 40,000 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to over 3,844,800 cases and 140,904 deaths as of July 20, 2020.
Without a national strategic plan from President Donald J. Trump and his Administration to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadly novel coronavirus will continue to exponentially grow unabated with estimated deaths of up to 200,000 plus on November 3, 2020.
