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Hidalgo County announced 22 additional deaths related to COVID-19 on Thursday, while another 1,248 people tested positive for the virus. The 22 deaths raise the total number of fatalities to 240 in the county. The new cases raise the total number of positive cases to 10,492.  “I am deeply saddened by the loss of 22 people from our community. My prayers and condolences go out to the families and friends of these individuals,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in a news release. “To those currently battling this disease and who are at home, I urge you to remain quarantined so that you may not infect a loved one or anyone in our community.” According to the release, the spike in cases is due to the mass federal testing conducted at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg last ...

It has been 14 days since Aaron Weeks was tested for COVID-19, and he still doesn't have his test results. "What's the point?" asked Weeks, 31, of Brooklyn, New York. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak He got tested after a close contact was diagnosed with COVID-19. Even though Weeks never felt sick, people without symptoms can spread the coronavirus to others. If people have to wait at least two weeks for results, it increases the risk that they'll unknowingly infect others before they know for sure whether they're infectious. "It's very difficult for people to be responsible — especially younger people — when it takes 14 days-plus to get their test results," Weeks said. He isn't alone in his frustration over the lag in COVID-19 test results, which has been a problem in th...

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The Oregon Health Authority reported a record-high 437 new coronavirus cases and two deaths on Thursday. It’s the third consecutive week that state officials reported a record-breaking daily total. The new high marks the second time state officials have reported a daily case count over 400. The previous daily record was set on Saturday with 409 new cases. State officials continue to attribute the rapid spread of COVID-19 to social gatherings. New cases have been traced back to graduations, birthday parties and weddings. “While it is difficult not to celebrate these events as we have in the past,” state officials said in a press release Thursday, “COVID-19 is spreading in our communities and people must think hard about altering daily routines that may put people at risk.” Most cases c...