CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Local health officials announced that 85 babies were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Nueces County.
"These babies have not had their first birthday yet," said Annette Rodriguez, director of public health for the city/county health district during the city's daily press briefing on Friday.
Rodriguez said Nueces County residents are getting sick from their own family members.
"We are seeing a lot of transmissions between family members," she said. "Don't invite others into your home to get this illness."
This recent spike in infant COVID diagnosis mirrors the rest of the county.
"Amongst metropolitan counties in Texas, Nueces County has the fastest case growth in new cases right now in the seven-day average than any other metropolitan county in the state," Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said.
Health officials asked Nueces County residents to practice social distancing, cancel any planned family events, and wear a mask in public to help bring down the number of new cases.
"We are number two in the state in regards to death per capita," Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said.