COVID-19 probable active cases in Pecos County saw a significant increase this past week due to a report by Iraan General Hospital.

The facility reported to Pecos County Emergency Management Coordinator on Aug. 17 that there were 32 individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19 at IGH. The tests administered were antigen tests (rapid tests) and in turn do not fall under the confirmed active case criteria according to DSHS due to their accuracy.

An individual must test positive for the virus by way of a PCR test to be considered a confirmed case.

The 32 individuals that tested positive at IGH via the antigen test coincides with 28 confirmed active cases that were tested at Fort Stockton medical facilities. If the 32 probable cases are 100% accurate (no false positives), the total number of active cases would be at 60 active cases in the county – the highest number since Jan. 13.

Dominguez added that the numbers may not be completely accurate as DSHS is not reporting to the designated counties of case counts anymore. In the past, Dominguez would be informed if a resident tested positive for COVID-19 outside of the county by DSHS. That is no longer the case.

Pecos County Memorial Hospital CEO Betsy Briscoe reported on Aug. 18 that PCMH had six people hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications. The hospitalization number peaked at nine last week. The facility can hold 11 COVID-19 patients according to Briscoe.

As COVID-19 active cases and probable active cases have risen, so have vaccinations, but at a much slower rate. PCMH held their second vaccine clinic since the spike in cases last Saturday. The hospital gave out 106 first doses and 11 second doses. Forty one of those doses were given to individuals between the ages of 12-17.

Pecos County data shows that out of the 62 vaccine-eligible people that have tested positive for COVID-19 since the recent spike three weeks ago, only 10 were vaccinated. That translates to 83.8% of positive tests came from unvaccinated individuals.

There have not been any deaths in Pecos County since Feb. 16.

Here is a list of confirmed active cases in Pecos County as of Aug. 17:

Case #1142 – 54-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 8.

Case #1143 – 65-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 8.

Case #1145 – 16-yearold male with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1147 – 28-yearold male with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1148 – 39-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 9.

Case #1149 – 36-yearold male with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 13.

Case #1150 – 24-yearold female with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 13.

Case #1151 – 28-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 10.

Case #1152 – 55-yearold male with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 10.

Case #1153 – 26-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 9.

Case #1154 – 16-yearold male with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1155 – 25-yearold female with possible contraction from travel. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1156 – 5-yearold female with possible contraction from travel. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1157 – 6-yearold male with possible contraction from travel. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1158 – 7-yearold male with possible contraction from travel. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1159 – 20-yearold male with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1160 – 47-yearold female with possible contraction from travel. Tested on Aug. 12.

Case #1161 – 57-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 12

Case #1162 – 39-yearold female with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 13.

Case #1163 – 41-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 16.

Case #1164 – 57-yearold male with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. on Aug. 13.

Case #1165 – Female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 17.

Case #1166 – 37-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 16.

Case #1167 – 57-yearold female with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 11.

Case #1168 – 67-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 11.

Case #1169 – 18-yearold female with contraction from confirmed case. Tested on Aug. 11.

Case #1170 – 45-yearold male with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 11.

Case #1171 – 48-yearold female with unknown contraction. Tested on Aug. 11.