By Public Radio Staff
There are 19 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Big Bend region.
Eight of the cases are in Presidio County and 11 are in Brewster County, according to Texas Department of State Health Services press releases shared late Wednesday.
The announcements come after a recent round of mobile coronavirus testing in the county late last week, where 61 people were tested in Alpine, 66 people were tested in Marfa and 21 in the City of Presidio.
Over the past week, 10 other cases in Brewster County were confirmed by DSHS, bringing Brewster County's total case count to 22. Health officials say the most recent cases range in age from 19-69 years old and are mostly are due to community transmission.
In Presidio County, the patients are a woman in her 60s, two men in their 50s, another man in his 40s, one in his 30s, a woman and man in their 20s and a woman under the age of 20. Public health authorities say the individuals have residences in Marfa and that every case was transmitted through community spread. State officials say all of the individuals are currently isolating themselves and that the agency is conducting contact tracing.
Prior to this, Presidio County had seen a travel-related case of coronavirus in late May. In early June, the county saw a second confirmed case in addition to four probable cases in Marfa. The only other confirmed case in Brewster County prior to June was from late April.
As more cases of the coronavirus are confirmed, Sul Ross State University will hold testing for the virus at the Pete Gallego Center beginning June 18 and continuing through June 20.
More National Guard will also take place throughout Far West Texas next week. Residents can make appointments at txcovidtest.org or by calling 512-883-2400.
Testing Locations:
Tuesday, June 23: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Alpine: North Brewster County Emergency Response Center, 102 S. Second St.
Friday, June 26: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Marfa: Marfa Visitor Center, 302 South Highland Avenue
Sunday, June 28: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fort Davis: Volunteer Fire Department, 202 Court Ave.
Monday, June 29: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Terlingua: South Brewster County Emergency Response Center, 23250 FM 170
Tuesday, June 30: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- City of Presidio: EMS and Fire Station, 100 E FM 170
Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases across the Big Bend area.