DSHS Reports a Total of 179 Deaths Related to COVID-19 in Maverick County as of December 10, 28 More than Locally Reported
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
The Texas Department of State Health Services, the state agency responsible for reporting the official COVID-19 statistics, reported Maverick County with a total of 179 deaths or fatalities related to COVID-19 as of December 10, 2020, a difference of 28 additional deaths than the 151 reported by the joint City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County Emergency Operation Center.
In an interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal, Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that he does not know why the Texas Department of State Health Services (“DSHS”) is reporting 28 more COVID-19 related deaths than the ones reported by the Maverick County Emergency Operation Center (“EOC”). County Judge Saucedo added that the 151 deaths related to COVID-19 as of December 10, 2020 being reported by the local EOC are based on confirmed data received by local authorities.
The significant disparity in the total number of COVID-19 related deaths reported in Maverick County has caught the attention of many local citizens who have pointed out the difference to the Eagle Pass Business Journal.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) compiles its statewide COVID-19 data from all available sources within the state. The COVID-19 data is constantly fluctuating, but generally public health experts point out that the numbers being reported by DSHS are considered to be underreported. If this is true, then that means that the cumulative total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Maverick County are greater than the 179 being reported by DSHS or the 151 reported by the local EOC as of December 10, 2020.
On Thursday, December 10, 2020, the Maverick County Emergency Operation Center reported one additional death related to COVID-19 and 33 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the cumulative total to either 151 or 179 deaths, depending which reporting agency you use-the local EOC or DSHS- and 5,347 positive cases.
In addition, Maverick County EOC reported as of December 10 a total of 5,347 positive cases in the community since the pandemic commenced with a total of 4,564 people having recovered, 139 people are awaiting their test results, there are 632 active cases in the community, the positivity rate remains high at 17.5%, and there are currently 29 people hospitalized locally, including 8 are on ventilators. Overall, there have been a total of 30,650 people tested with 25,164 people testing negative.
Maverick County like the rest of the United States is undergoing a surge of COVID-19 cases since the Thanksgiving holiday. The United States reported on Thursday, December 10, 2020, a record number of daily COVID-19 cases with 214,118 positive cases, a record number of daily COVID-19 related deaths with 3,067, and a total of 107,248 people hospitalized due to COVID-19.
The United States has a cumulative total of 15,359,290 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started with 289,295 deaths related to COVID-19.
Texas reported a total of 12,211 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 244 deaths related to COVID-19, and 9,045 Texans hospitalized due to COVID-19 on Thursday, December 10, 2020, bringing the cumulative total to 1,296,132 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and 23,325 deaths due to COVID-19.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo advised all residents of Maverick County to follow the CDC Guidelines of wearing a mask in public, wash hands with soap regularly, use hand sanitizer, practice social distancing (6 feet or greater), avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, limit travel to essential matters, and stay home.
