First Patient Dies of Coronavirus in Texas

BAY CITY, TX – Matagorda County officials have confirmed the first death in Texas as a result of COVID-19. 

According to the Texas Tribune, the patient, a male in his late 90s tested positive for the virus on Sunday. The patient died that evening at the Matagorda Regional Medical Center. According to the hospital, the patient had symptoms consistent with the disease.

“Per the State’s protocol, the State has launched an extensive investigation into this second positive case, as they have informed the Matagorda County Hospital District that evidence exists of a possible community link to the earlier positive case in Matagorda County,” said the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Center in a statement.

According to data released by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, as of Monday, there were 57 cases of COVID-19 in the state. The counties with the highest number of cases are Dallas, Fort Bend, and Harris.

Experts predict the number of infected officials could increase in the coming weeks and government officials are working to slow down the spread of the virus, or “flatten the curve.”

"You're going to see an exponential increase in the number of people testing positive on a daily basis," said Governor Greg Abbott in a San Antonio press conference.

The CDC recommends Americans follow the following guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus:

• Clean your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover coughs and sneezes, throw used tissues and immediately wash hands with soap and water
• Wear a facemask if you are sick or if you are caring for someone who is sick and isn’t able to wear one
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily