File photo
File photo
McALLEN – The Region 11 medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is warning of community spread of COVID-19 among younger people in the Rio Grande Valley.
The tendency in the local culture for close interaction among extended family is likely contributing to the spread, said Dr. Emily Prot.
Prot said that 60% of cases have fallen in the age range between 20 and 49. That raises an added concern due to the likelihood those people will be active in the local workforce, according to reporting by The Monitor.
“It’s important for all of our businesses to have good, strict policies because we need to keep people that are sick at home, and not at work,” she said.
In looking at the connections related to the spread of the virus, health authorities uncovered the likelihood that family ties are playing an important role.
As of April 20, Texas reported 18,923 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 477 deaths. Hidalgo County has 255 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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