Coronavirus Case Reported in Permian Basin

CRANE, TX — Crane County Judge Roy Hodges reported Thursday that one person tested positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus. He did not know where the person was infected.

Judge Hodges said he is in contact with Dr. Rachel Sonne, MD, at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and those around the person who tested positive are ordered to stay home.

Update: After this story was published, a report that a UT Permian Basin employee who is from Crane was diagnosed in Odessa emerged. According to CBS7, "According to UTPB, the employee is from Crane. It is not clear at this time whether this is the same person who Crane County announced had a confirmed case of coronavirus."

Crane County is due west of San Angelo where the town of McCamey sits just outside its borders. It is due south of Midland/Odessa. The largest city in the county is the town of Crane. The county has a population of just 4,375 people. Crane County produces a sizable amount of crude oil and natural gas. In December 2019 the Texas Railroad Commission reported Crane County delivered 1.9 million thousands cubic feet (MCF) of natural gas and 607,476 barrels of crude oil.

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As of March 19 at noon, the Texas Department of health and Human Services reported 143 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and an additional three deaths since the pandemic was declared. Here are where the State reported those cases. The Crane case has not been categorized at the time this chart was compiled by the state.