Two coronavirus outbreaks in Corpus Christi sicken at least 19

Two coronavirus outbreaks in Corpus Christi have sickened at least 19 people, but more cases are expected while mass testing and contact tracing are underway.

Public health officials on Tuesday were continuing work to determine the scope of potential exposures stemming from a downtown-area halfway house and the STX Beef meat processing plant.

At least 19 people – 16 residents and three employees – at the halfway house tested positive in the past week, public health director Annette Rodriguez said Tuesday afternoon.

It was thought that several of the people – although unclear exactly how many – who tested positive in the halfway home also worked at STX Beef processing plant, the site of an outbreak of unknown size.

Officials said in a Tuesday night news conference that the full number of people infected in the coronavirus outbreak at a Corpus Christi beef processing plant will likely be known by the end of the week.

At least 600 samples have been collected from people at the plant, its personnel numbering between 700 and 800 employees, Rodriguez said.

Case totals have been unclear so far, although those cited most recently have ranged from 17 to 31.

Still being sorted out are the number of people who would be Nueces County residents, how many are currently employed at the plant and how many may be contractors or vendors, said County Judge Barbara Canales.

A news release from STX Beef, read aloud by Canales, stated that “the health and safety of our employees is the most important responsibility each day for us.”

Late Tuesday, new public health data put the total count of COVID-19 cases for Nueces County at 174.

It was an increase of 27 cases. At least some stem from the outbreak at STX Beef, officials said.

Eighty patients were listed as recovered, according to the new public health data. Eight people were currently hospitalized.

Although there haven’t been any confirmed cases, the health district is also keeping tabs on potential exposures in several nursing homes — living environments that have proven especially high-risk elsewhere in the state. Officials say an asymptomatic healthcare worker had contact with residents at those facilities.

The individual had taken a trip to Peru, then subsequently self-quarantined for two weeks before returning to work, never developing symptoms, officials have said.

It was discovered the healthcare worker was carrying the virus when applying at another facility, which required testing, Rodriguez said.

One facility where the individual worked has tested 150 staff and residents, Rodriguez said, and none were found to be positive for the virus.

Some of the other facilities, where the person worked one-on-one with residents, are having all staff and residents tested, she said, but those results haven’t yet been returned.

Details were not immediately available on how many facilities – including staff and residents – are currently undergoing testing.

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new directive that all residents and staff of nursing homes be tested for COVID-19.

About one-third of coronavirus fatalities have been tied to nursing homes, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Efforts to begin that widespread testing in Nueces County are already being organized, Canales said.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, more than 4,900 tests had been performed in the county, according to public health data.

More: Texas governor orders testing at all nursing homes

More: COVID outbreak reported at halfway house

More: All STX Beef employees  to be tested for coronavirus

More: Nursing home worker positive for COVID-19

Kirsten Crow covers government, industry and development in South Texas. Support local news by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe