By Louis San Miguel, LMTonline.com / Laredo Morning Times
Updated
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This handout illustration image obtained February 27, 2020 courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first US case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV, with the spherical viral particles, colorized blue, containing cross-sections through the viral genome, seen as black dots. – President Donald Trump has played down fears of a major coronavirus outbreak in the United States, even as infections ricochet around the world, prompting a ban on pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. China is no longer the only breeding ground for the deadly virus as countries fret over possible contagion coming from other hotbeds of infection, including Iran, South Korea and Italy. There are now more daily cases being recorded outside China than inside the country, where the virus first emerged in December, according to the World Health Organization. (Photo by HANDOUT/Centers for Disease Control and /AFP via Getty Images)
This handout illustration image obtained February 27, 2020 courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first US case
Photo: HANDOUT / Centers For Disease Control And /AFP Via Getty Images
Photo: HANDOUT / Centers For Disease Control And /AFP Via Getty Images
This handout illustration image obtained February 27, 2020 courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first US case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV, with the spherical viral particles, colorized blue, containing cross-sections through the viral genome, seen as black dots. – President Donald Trump has played down fears of a major coronavirus outbreak in the United States, even as infections ricochet around the world, prompting a ban on pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. China is no longer the only breeding ground for the deadly virus as countries fret over possible contagion coming from other hotbeds of infection, including Iran, South Korea and Italy. There are now more daily cases being recorded outside China than inside the country, where the virus first emerged in December, according to the World Health Organization. (Photo by HANDOUT/Centers for Disease Control and /AFP via Getty Images)
This handout illustration image obtained February 27, 2020 courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first US case
Photo: HANDOUT / Centers For Disease Control And /AFP Via Getty Images
For the second straight day, Laredo has overwhelmingly set a new single-day high in positive coronavirus cases while a citizen has died.
The City of Laredo and Webb County officials revealed a staggering 47 new cases in the city Wednesday. The announcement comes on the heels of the city breaking the former record of 26 with 38 cases on Tuesday.
The bevy of new positives pushed Laredo past the 800 mark as it has now had 803 cases of the coronavirus. The city entered Monday with 675 cases but took between 3-5 days to pass the century mark twice — the specific number is unclear as the city updated Saturday through Monday’s totals all together. It previously took between 7-9 days to get from 600 to 700 cases and between 17-19 days to get from 500 to 600 cases.
Laredo has now had an average of over 16.9 new cases per day (254 total) over the past 15 days. That average in itself is nearly as high as the city’s former high for one single day only 12 days ago which sat at 20 cases. Prior to that aforementioned stretch, Laredo was averaging 5.5 new cases over a 39-day span.
Meanwhile, the city reported the 22nd death due to coronavirus in Laredo during its Wednesday media briefing. A male in his 60s who tested positive for COVID-19 died while under treatment at Laredo Medical Center on Tuesday.
The death follows Tuesday’s announcement of the 21st death due to coronavirus at Doctors Hospital. The city now has two deaths in two days after having two in the previous 30 days.
Laredo also saw a rise in the number of hospitalizations Wednesday, with 15 people currently hospitalized locally. That number was as low as 10 to begin the week.
As of noon Wednesday, 6,167 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Laredo with 4,687 returning negative. There are currently 277 active cases of the COVID-19 in Laredo — nearly double the total to begin last week at 149.
A total of 677 test results are still pending, though 402 are presumed negative due to being over 30 days old. The amount of recovered persons from coronavirus infections sits at 504.
Laredo’s test positivity rate has climbed a few points in recent days jumping to over 14.6%. Texas’ rate sits at 6.1%.
According to city officials, National Guard free coronavirus testing will be held throughout next week from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sames Auto Arena. According to city officials, those who would like to be tested will not have to set up an appointment in advance.
