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The Port Arthur Health Department reported Monday afternoon the first COVID-19 related death of a Port Arthur resident.

Authorities said the male victim was between the ages of 45 and 50 and had underlying health issues.

“He had no known travel history,” a health department release said. “He [was] presented to the hospital with known COVID-19 symptoms and passed away during his hospitalization.”

Authorities said the death is an “important reminder” that COVID-19 is a very serious disease.

The Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center has counted 78 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 17 of which are in Port Arthur. Beaumont has the most in the six-county area with 48, Nederland has recorded six, Groves and the China/Nome area each have three, and Fannett/LaBelle has one.

Three citizens of Jefferson County have died from coronavirus. The other death in the area came from Hardin County, which has 31 confirmed cases.

Among the other counties: Orange County has reported 29, Jasper County three, Tyler County two and Newton County one.

While 80 percent of individuals who contract COVID-19 will have mild to moderate symptoms and fully recover, they may spread the disease to people who are at high risk.

The elderly and people with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems are at a much higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19.

This tragic loss emphasizes the importance of taking all protective measures available to stop the spread of COVID-19, authorities said, imploring the community to follow the directives of the federal government, Office of the Governor of Texas, Jefferson County, and the city of Port Arthur.