Area COVID-19 cases top 6,000, 3 more deaths reported in Central Texas

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Central Texas rose by 324 to 6,178 Friday and three more deaths were reported including a Bell County man in his 20s and two Copperas Cove residents.

Forty five people diagnosed with the virus have now died in Central Texas including 14 in Bell County, four in Coryell County, one in Hamilton County, two in Hill County, one in Limestone County, 15 in McLennan County, one in Milam County, and seven in Navarro County.

Texas health officials reported 9,765 new cases Friday, increasing the statewide total to 240,111.

Of the total, 114,102 cases are active and 122,996 patients have recovered.

The statewide death toll rose by 95 Friday to 3,013.

More than 2.6 million tests have been administered and the virus is present in all but seven of the state’s 254 counties.

The state surpassed 10,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the first time on Friday.

As the numbers continue to surge, Gov. Greg Abbott warned Friday that the situation will continue to worsen and said if residents continue to ignore his statewide mask order, another shutdown may be required.

Abbott Friday extended his March 13 disaster proclamation issued in response to the spread of the new coronavirus.

Meanwhile Friday, the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the largest teachers group in the state, urged Texas officials Friday to delay the resumption of on-campus instruction until the COVID-19 curve flattens and called for a waiver of STAAR testing.

BELL COUNTY

Bell County’s case count rose to 1,977 Friday, an increase of 91, and the county reported another death, a man in his 20s who died outside of the county.

The county’s death toll now stands at 14.

A total of 557 patients have recovered.

“We are seeing the continued trend of most cases reported being those under 60. We want to continue to remind everyone of the steps they can take to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19,” Bell County Public Health District Director Amanda Robison-Chadwell said.

“Remember to stay home if you can, wash your hands regularly, socially distance, wear a mask if you cannot and please stay home if you are sick.”

Thirteen died earlier in Bell County including a Killeen man in his 50s in ICU died who died on April 8, a Temple man in his 60s in intensive care who died on April 6 who died on April 6, a Temple woman in her 80s who had been diagnosed with the virus died on March 26; woman in her 90s who was a resident of West Inn Nursing and Rehabilitation whose death was announced on May 30; a resident of Weston Inn Nursing and Rehabilitation whose death was announced on June 3; a woman in her 60s who was a resident of Weston Inn whose death was reported on June 9, a woman in her 70s who was transferred on June 1 from Weston Inn Nursing and Rehabilitation to Scott & White Medical Center died on June 14; two men in their 80s whose deaths were reported on June 17, both of whom were residents of Weston Inn Nursing & Rehabilitation in Temple; a man in his 60s whose was reported on June 19 who also was a former resident of Weston Inn; a woman in her 50s with underlying conditions whose death was reported on June 22; a man in his 90s who died on June 25, and a Killeen woman in her 80s whose death was reported on June 29.

MCLENNAN COUNTY

McLennan County reported 143 new cases of the virus Friday, but also corrected a major error made on Wednesday when the county reported 239 new cases when the correct count was actually 100.

The county’s total Friday stood at 2,442.

Of that number, 2,014 cases are active and 413 patients are recovering.

Fifty one patients are hospitalized, 11 of them on ventilators.

Forty three of the 51 are McLennan County residents.

More than 550 residents are being monitored, most of them by the Department of State Health Services.

Of the new cases, 10 involve residents who are 10 are younger; 13 involve residents whose ages range from 11 to 19, 30 are in their 20s, 31 are in their 30s, 24 are in their 40s, 20 are in their 50s and 15 are 60 or older.

Fifteen residents have died including a 44-year-old man who died on June 23 in a local hospital; a 66-year-old resident whose death was announced on April 22; a 61-year old McLennan County man whom a neighbor found dead on April 8, a 46-year-old man with no apparent underlying issues who died June 18 in a Waco hospital, a 53-year-old Hispanic man who died on June 28 at a local hospital; an 89-year-old Caucasian man who died on June 29 at a local hospital; an 87-year-old Hispanic man who died June 29 at a local hospital; a 62-year-old Hispanic woman and a 77-year-old African American man whose deaths were reported on July 4, and a 71-year-old Hispanic woman; a 76-year-old African American man whose deaths were reported on July 6; a 72-year-old Caucasian man whose death was reported on July 8 and a 41-year-old black woman whose death was reported on July 9.

G.W. Carver Middle School Principal Phillip Perry, died of complications from the virus on March 31 and a 69-year-old man died on April 9 at a local hospital.

CORYELL COUNTY

Coryell County reported two more deaths Friday, increasing the county’s death toll to four, a rural Gatesville man confirmed to have the virus on July 2 and a Copperas Cove man confirmed to have the virus on July 8.

The county was reporting 164 cases Friday, 82 of which are active.

The state report, which includes Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmates, stood at 374.

The virus earlier claimed the lives of a Copperas Cove man in his 70s who died on April 9 at Advent Hospital in Killeen, to which he was admitted on April 2 and a Copperas Cove man in his 60s who was diagnosed with the virus on April 5.

Copperas Cove officials Wednesday canceled the city's second annual Kite Festival because of Gov. Greg Abbott's order limiting the size of public gatherings.

LIMESTONE COUNTY

Limestone County reported 93 cases Friday, an increase of seven.

Thirty nine patients have recovered.

A Mexia woman in her late 50s to early 60s with underlying health conditions died on March 31 at Parkview Regional Hospital in Mexia after she was diagnosed with COVID-19.

NAVARRO COUNTY

Navarro County was reporting 433 cases on Friday, 167 of which were active.

A total of 259 patients have recovered.

The county reported its seventh death from the virus on Thursday.

Thirteen patients were hospitalized Friday.

OTHER COUNTIES

According to the latest figures Friday, Bosque County was reporting 37 cases including nine who have recovered; Falls County had 50 cases with 22 recoveries; Freestone County reported 69 cases, an increase of five, with 19 recoveries; Hamilton County reported 28 with one death and 16 recoveries; Hill County reported 139, an increase of nine, with two deaths and 46 recoveries; Lampasas County had 37 cases with 17 recoveries; Leon County reported 87 cases, with 17 recoveries; Milam County reported 149, an increase of 12 with one death and 96 recoveries; Mills County, reported six cases and one recovery; Robertson County had 93 cases with 10 recoveries; and San Saba County had 10 cases with three recoveries.

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