Man in late 90s is Texas’ 1st death

The first coronavirus-related death in Texas was reported late Monday in Matagorda County.

In a news release, the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Center confirmed that a man in his late 90s died Sunday evening at Matagorda Regional Medical Center with “symptoms consistent with COVID-19.”

Matagorda County spokesman Mitch Thames told the Houston Chronicle that the man, who was not named in the release, was tested while alive. The results came back positive on Monday, he said.

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services noti

fied the hospital about the positive test result at 6:15 p.m. Monday, the release said.

The man was the second positive case in Matagorda County. The first case, announced Saturday, involved a woman in her 60s with no travel history outside Texas.

She was admitted to the same hospital for “complications from pneumonia,” officials said. Matagorda County said she is possibly linked to the second case.

“Per the State’s protocol, the State has launched an extensive investigation into this second positive case, as they have informed the Matagorda County Hospital District that evidence exists of a possible community link to the earlier positive case in Matagorda County,” the release said.

Texas Department of State Health Services continues to investigate the woman’s health history and travel.

“We re using every tool at our disposal,” the release said.

The death was reported as President Donald Trump, under mounting pressure to take more significant steps to slow the spreading coronavirus, recommended that Americans stop unnecessary travel and avoid bars, restaurants and groups of more than 10 people, as he warned that the outbreak could extend well into the summer.

There were 29 positive cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, in the Houston region, excluding Matagorda County, as of late Monday.