x
Breaking News
More () »

Coronavirus Task Force: 'About 1 in every 13 Coastal Bend residents have COVID-19'

City leaders paused for 42 seconds during today's briefing to honor the 42 lives lost from the coronavirus.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Health officials with the City-County Public Health District reported that 8-percent of the Coastal Bend is COVID-19 positive. The death toll continues as well as 42 people's lives have been taken from the coronavirus.

City Manager Peter Zanoni said the 412 new cases today is 20-percent higher than yesterday's total, and the second highest number of new cases ever in Nueces County.

With five deaths reported today, one of those was a baby boy less than six months old. 

Health Director Annette Rodriguez said the child was hospitalized, but not admitted to the ICU. He began responding to the care inside the hospital and was discharged. More than one week later, the infant died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. An autopsy will be performed.

Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales called for a moment of silence during Friday's briefing to honor the 42 lives lost from the coronavirus in Nueces.

"Every death by COVID is a tragedy, but for me, COVID death of an infant is one that is almost incomprehensible," Canales said.

Dr. Chris Bird with the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Coronavirus Task Force estimates that 8-percent of the entire Coastal Bend population is actively infected with COVID-19. Researchers shows that one in every 13 Coastal Bend residents has COVID-19.

Canales said the virus is widespread throughout the community and not in just one area. Leaders are working to bring a Navy Hospital to Nueces County. It's a fully staffed hospital ship with 1,000 beds.

"Our region needs this ship in the Gulf of Mexico and I have made this plea and I need to tell you that all it is is a request," Canales said. 

Additional highlights from Friday's meeting:

  • 5 deaths, 412 new coronavirus cases for Nueces County. Here's a breakdown of cases in the Coastal Bend.
  • 5,105 out of 5,672 cases are active.
  • Recovered Patients: A $50 gift card will be provided for blood donors. Recovered is considered to be 14 days after testing positive and three days without symptoms. Sign up here.
  • Mobile testing site at Richard Borchard Fairgrounds: Testing will take place Saturday, July 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Testing will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register residents can call 512-883-2400 or go online.
  • An estimated transmission rate of 3.0 infects 120 people per month.
  • Coronavirus Task Force say 2 people get infected from 1 person. 
  • COVID-19 is transmitted through the air, surfaces and contact. 
  • From June 29 to July 5 cell phone data shows that 9,475 visitors from other cities visited Coastal Bend restaurants. 
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbot Proclamation extending a Statewide Disaster Declaration. The original declaration was issued March 13. Texas now enters its fifth month of operation under a disaster declaration. 

For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.

More from 3News on KIIITV.com:

Before You Leave, Check This Out