Maverick County Kicks-Off 4th of July Holiday with 31 Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Cases, Raising Total to 550
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
With the busy, patriotic Fourth of July-Independence Day holiday knocking at the door, Maverick County Emergency Operations Center Co-Directors Rodolfo “Woody” Cardona and Leopoldo “Polo” Vielma announced at a Friday, July 3, 2020 press conference that 31 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Maverick County by the Texas Department of State Health Services, raising the total to 55O cases.
Cardona, who also is Eagle Pass’ Deputy Fire Chief, stated that a total of 6,751 people in Maverick County had a COVID-19 test administered as of July 3, 2020 with 550 positive results, 5,704 negative results, 497 waiting test results, 347 active cases, 198 recovered, 28 people hospitalized, five fatalities, and the positivity rate increased to 8.1.
Cardona added that the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Maverick County steadily increased by three, from 25 to 28, on July 3. Of the 28 hospitalized patients, five are in the Intensive Care Unit on ventilators, 13 positive patients and 3 pending under investigation are on the Medical Floor, and 2 positive patients and 2 pending under investigation are in the Emergency Room of Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, the sole hospital facility in Maverick County.
Maverick County public health officials and health care providers are closely watching the number of positive patients hospitalized at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center as any additional patients may overwhelm the local medical center capacity to treat coronavirus patients.
Previously, Dr. Sergio Zamora stated there are 10 Intensive Care Unit beds and 14 to 16 ventilators available while Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Eladio Montalvo noted there are 30 hospital beds available for COVID-19 patients. With 28 hospitalized patients, the local medical center is at the cusp of its maximum capacity.
Maverick County just reported its worst week during June 29 through July 3 with a record number of three deaths related to COVID-19, totaling five overall, and 224 positive COVID-19 cases, totaling 550 overall, 28 hospitalized patients, and the positivity rate skyrocketing to 8.1 percent.
With the novel coronavirus pandemic surging across Texas, the United States, and the world, Maverick County Emergency Operations Center Co-Directors Cardona and Vielma encouraged all Maverick County residents to follow the CDC guidelines and new Texas, Eagle Pass and Maverick County Declarations of Disaster during the red, white, and blue Independence Day holiday weekend. They recommend everyone wear a face mask, practice social distancing (6 feet), wash hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, limit travel to essential matters, and stay home to save lives.
Even our neighbor to the south, Mexico is surging with record number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19. Mexico has ordered the temporary closing of the Mexico-United States border by placing restrictions on who can cross into Mexico from the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mexico is concerned that Americans visiting it during the 4th of July holiday weekend may infect Mexicans with the COVID-19 virus. Mexico’s closure and restrictions has caused heavy vehicular traffic jams at the two City of Eagle Pass International Bridges during July 2-5, 2020.
Texas reported a total of 8,258 positive COVID-19 cases on July 4, 2020, bringing the total to 191,790 overall; 33 Texans died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,608 overall; a total of 7,890 Texans are hospitalized due to COVID-19; and the positivity rate increased to 13.3 percent statewide.
Cardona and Vielma recommended to Maverick Countians to celebrate the 4th of July-Independence Day holiday responsibly and at home following the CDC guidelines. Happy 4th of July-Independence Day!
