Hidalgo County jury trials canceled next week due to state guidance on COVID-19

The Fifth Administrative Judicial Region has recommended that all courthouses in its 11-county oversight cancel all non-essential hearings and jury trials through April 1 in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Hidalgo County jail suspends visitation due to COVID-19 concerns

Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra says all visitation to the jail will be suspended starting Saturday.

The measure is being taken as a precaution and to comply with the Texas Commission on Jail Standard’s plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus.

Guerra said during a brief interview Friday that the suspension will be lifted once Governor Greg Abbott lifts the disaster declaration he announced early Friday afternoon.

Hidalgo County: Public testing for COVID-19 not currently available locally

Hidalgo County officials said Friday that public testing for COVID-19 locally is not currently available and there is no timeline for when it will be made available.

COVID-19 testing kits were received by a state testing facility in Harlingen just Thursday.

Hidalgo County Judge: Avoid large gatherings, reconsider holding events

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez issued a statement Friday morning advising the community to avoid large mass gatherings because of recommendations from state health experts regarding COVID-19.

The judge is advising residents to avoid public gatherings of more than 1,000 people based on information received in a Thursday afternoon conference call between Governor Greg Abbott, Texas health officials and county officials from across the state, the statement from the judge’s office said.

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