COVID-19 cases continue steady increase here, around the state

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Central Texas and around the state continued to rise Friday.

Twenty two new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Friday in Central Texas where the virus has now claimed the lives of 17.

The additional cases, including nine in Bell County, raised the total for the region to 1,076.

Statewide the total rose by almost 1,700 for another straight day to 71,613.

Texas Department of Health and Human Services data show 1,788 patients have died of the virus, 47,865 have recovered and 21,960 cases remain active.

A total of about 1.2 million tests have been administered and the virus is now present in 236 of the state’s 254 counties.

The virus has claimed a total of 17 lives in Central Texas including five in Bell County, two in Coryell County, one in Hamilton County, one in Hill County, one in Limestone County, four in McLennan County, one in Milam County, and two in Navarro County.

The Department of State Health Services reported 432 cases Friday in Bell County while the county’s report showed 416 cases with at least 217 recoveries.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases that Bell County reports at the local level does not include people who live on post at Fort Hood. The number of confirmed cases in Bell County that the Texas Department of State Health Services reports does include Fort Hood cases. Cases involving Fort Hood personnel who live off post are included in the numbers the county releases.

Five people diagnosed with the virus in Bell County have died 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, and a resident of Weston Inn Nursing and Rehabilitation whose death was announced on June 3.

Nineteen residents and 13 employees at the nursing facility have tested positive for the virus.

In McLennan County, two more new cases were reported Friday, raising the county’s total to 127.

Nine cases were active Friday, 114 patients have recovered and 46 residents were being monitored.

The latest cases involve two residents who are in their 30s.

One patient was hospitalized Friday in critical condition.

Four have died including a 66-year-old resident whose death was announced on April 22 and a 61-year old McLennan County man whom a neighbor found dead on April 8.

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.

The state reported 289 cases Friday in Coryell County, but the county’s latest update from Wednesday shows 236 cases including at least 160 state prison inmates who’ve been diagnosed with the virus.

Thirty one of the cases are active and 43 patients have recovered.

Several prison units in Gatesville remain locked down because of the virus, which has 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.

Thirty cases have been confirmed in Limestone County, which has recorded one death.

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.

Fourteen patients in Limestone County have recovered.

Bosque County was reporting seven cases Friday including two who have recovered; Falls County had 11 cases with three recoveries; Freestone County reported 10 cases with seven recoveries; Hamilton County reported nine with one death and five recoveries; Hill County reported 26, with one death and 14 recoveries; Lampasas County had nine cases with seven recoveries; Leon County reported 11 with four recoveries; Milam County reported 32 with one death and 28 recoveries; Mills County had one case and the patient has recovered; Navarro County reported 66 cases with two deaths and 51 recoveries; Robertson County had 15 cases with seven recoveries; and San Saba County had one case and the patient has recovered.