839 new virus cases reported in Texas; Port Neches man hospitalized

Published 7:29 am Monday, May 25, 2020

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — As Texas continues to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, health officials said Sunday there were 839 new cases of the virus reported in the state for a total of 55,348.

Within that total, the City of Port Arthur and Jefferson County Health Departments received confirmation that an additional person who tested positive for COVID-19 is a resident of Port Neches.

This individual is a male between the age ranges of 44-50 and is currently in the hospital.

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For confidentiality purposes, the health departments are not releasing any additional information to identify this individual. This brings the total to nine individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Port Neches.

For the state, the true numbers are likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Sunday that the number of deaths in Texas increased by 13, for a total of 1,519 deaths.

Gov. Greg Abbott has been reopening the state’s economic activity in phases.

Bars, breweries and tasting rooms were allowed to reopen Friday at 25 percent capacity and with other social distancing measures in place.

Rodeos, bingo halls and aquariums also can reopen. Restaurants, which were allowed to reopen May 1 at 25 percent customer capacity, can now run at 50 percent.

The new standards don’t apply yet in El Paso and Amarillo, which have seen a recent increase in coronavirus cases.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.