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Nueces County official warns of COVID surge; temporary infusion site gives 31 antibody treatments
Summary
Emergency management reported a surge of COVID-19 cases (425 new cases and nine deaths reported the prior day) and described a temporary monoclonal-antibody infusion operation at Memorial Hospital that administered 31 infusions during its first days while a state-funded fairgrounds center is stood up.
Nueces County Emergency Management Coordinator Melissa Munguia told the commissioners Aug. 11 that the county is in a serious COVID-19 surge, attributing much of the increase to the Delta variant and reporting 425 new confirmed cases and nine deaths the previous day.
Melissa described two parallel efforts to expand early outpatient treatment: a temporary rapid infusion center (RIC) at Memorial Hospital that opened for a soft run and treated 31 patients over its first days, and a state-funded infusion center scheduled to open in Exhibit Hall A at the fairgrounds. She said the county requested a state team; the BCFS team was staging equipment and the state had approved the fairgrounds site.
On eligibility and logistics, the judge and staff clarified that use of the infusion center requires a physician referral; people without a primary-care physician must be processed through the COVID clinic to determine eligibility and receive a referral. Melissa added that the therapeutic being given is a monoclonal-antibody treatment (Regeneron) and is being provided free through partner hospitals and suppliers. She listed participating partners and local hospitals, and warned that hospital capacity and clinical staff are critically limited.
In response to questions, Melissa said staffing shortages are the biggest constraint and that the county is coordinating with the Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Council and regional partners to request state staffing and plan for alternative-care sites. She urged residents to get tested, wear masks and seek vaccination and said the county continues to adjust funding requests and FEMA/ARPA planning to sustain operations.
Quote: "Our cases yesterday, we had 425 COVID positive cases yesterday and 9 deaths," Melissa said during the briefing.
Next steps: the county will continue regional coordination, publicly announce fairgrounds operations and publish guidance about referrals and hours for the RIC and vaccination/testing sites.
