Bowie County COVID-19 death toll rises

Southwest Center closed after employee tests positive

The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Bowie County, Texas, increased by one over the weekend, reaching 30.

The local emergency Joint Operations Center reported the new death, along with an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases from 439 to 493. Two-hundred twenty-five Bowie County patients have recovered, and the county is tracking 238 active cases.

While cases are recorded in the counties where COVID19 patients reside, deaths are recorded where they die. Considering Texarkana’s position as a regional health care hub, that means it is likely that some of the 30 deaths reported in Bowie County were among patients who resided elsewhere.

The JOC also announced that Texarkana, Texas’ Southwest Center will be closed until further notice because an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The remainder of the center’s staff are being tested.

Texarkana Senior Services will continue distributing free hot meals to local seniors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the back of the Southwest Center.

Cass County, Texas’ case count rose from 80 to 90 over the weekend, with 48 recoveries and two deaths, according to the JOC.

Elsewhere in Northeast Texas, Morris County’s tally increased from 61 to 64, Red River County’s from 129 to 130 and Titus County’s from 969 to 984, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

In Southwest Arkansas, Miller County added 36 cases over the weekend, moving from 324 to 360, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Two-hundred seventy-two Miller County patients have recovered, and two have died. There are 86 active cases in the county.

Pike County’s tally increased from 27 to 35, Lafayette County’s from 34 to 38, Little River County’s from 58 to 65, Nevada County’s from 116 to 117, Hempstead County’s from 108 to 131, Howard County’s from 161 to 178 and Sevier County’s from 842 to 861.

Caddo Parish in Northwest Louisiana added 243 cases from Friday to Monday, for a total of 5,041, and Bossier Parish added 128 cases to reach 1,602, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Statewide, Arkansas reported 33,927 cases with 363 deaths. Louisiana reported 94,892 cases with 3,462 deaths, and Texas reported 332,434 cases with 4,020 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,761,362 total cases so far in the U.S., with a national death toll of 140,157.