CORONAVIRUS

Lubbock confirms 23 new cases of coronavirus, 1 more death

Matt Dotray
mdotray@lubbockonline.com

The city of Lubbock announced 23 new cases of the coronavirus and one additional death on Tuesday.

The total number of cases in the county is 100 with two deaths confirmed to be attributed to COVID-19, according to the city. Forty-nine of the cases have been announced in the past two days, so Lubbock’s curve is shooting up.

A significant number of the new cases are still associated with the ongoing outbreak at Whisperwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, reports the city.

“The health department continues to work with regulatory agencies to ensure appropriate care is provided to residents,” the city wrote in a news release on Tuesday. “This afternoon, screening of 60 individuals at the Whisperwood facility was completed.”

The city is now writing “nursing home” as reasons for exposure, and a total of 43 of the county’s 100 cases are identified as “nursing home.” And 18 of the “nursing home” cases are individuals above 60-years-old.

Katherine Wells, director of public health, announced that four nursing homes are under quarantine orders after cases began showing at Whisperwood Nursing Home last week. Under the order, there will be no visitors allowed at any nursing homes, retirement homes or long-term care facilities unless it’s to provide critical care.

Whisperwood, Heritage Oaks, Southern Specialty and Lakeside are all under quarantine.

Of all the cases, 28 are reportedly people over 60-years-old.

The city reports that 19 of the cases were community acquired. Other exposure explanations are “travel out of country” and “exposure to known case.” And 11 of the 100 cases are still under investigation.

The City of Lubbock did not provide information regarding the total number of tests that have been administered or the isolation status of the positive individuals.

The news releases are also no longer detailing possible exposure locations and times, which was a list regularly being regularly updated last week.

The city did not provide any information about the one person who died.

The city is scheduled to host a news conference at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

In addition to the reported Lubbock cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting additional cases on the South Plains including Hockley County (7), Terry County (4), Gaines County (1), Hale County (1) and Lynn (2), says the City of Lubbock.

“The City of Lubbock Health Department and our health care partners will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the Lubbock area to prepare for the possibility of more local cases,” said the news release. “Please continue to follow proper hygiene recommendations and social distancing practices.”

On Saturday, a Lubbock man in his 60s was reported to be the first death in the county due to COVID-19.