COVID-19 coverage graphic

The Northeast Texas Public Health District announced two new deaths from the coronavirus in Tyler, bringing Smith County fatalities to seven.

An 87-year-old woman and a 95-year old man both from Tyler died from the virus, NET Health said Wednesday. NET Health did not provide any more information about the deceased.

Sixty-six new cases were also announced for Smith County for a current total of 1,164, including 294 recoveries and the seven deaths.

Since July 1, there have been 510 new cases based on NET Health data.

The previous five Smith County deaths are a 74-year-old Tyler man, a 91-year old Hideaway man, a 56 year-old Troup man, a 78-year old Tyler man and a 68 year-old Tyler man.

The Smith County COVID-19 death count does not include the death of Raul Rodriguez, 61, a Smith County Jail inmate who tested positive for the virus and died in mid-May, according to Rodriguez’s family.

At the time of his death, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said the Texas Rangers would conduct an investigation, which is standard protocol for an inmate death. The Smith County Jail reported one COVID-related death to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards that day.

All of the 66 cases were from hospitals and local community health clinics, NET Health said. Forty-eight of the 66 new people diagnosed from Tyler residents.

The health district also noted that none of COVID-positive cases include positive antibody tests from local mobile testing sites, every hospital and every community clinic since early March. NET Health’s coverage area includes Smith, Gregg, Henderson, Anderson, Wood, Rains and Van Zandt counties.

“All of our 2,571 laboratory-confirmed positive COVID-19 results within our seven-county region are all positive results from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests that analyze samples from a person’s nose or throat,” NET Health said.

“We ask everyone to please follow public health recommendations to control the spread of COVID-19, such as physical distancing yourself from others as much as possible, wearing a cloth mask at public locations, staying home if you are sick, and washing your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds,” George Roberts, NET Health CEO, said.

More information about free COVID-19 testing locations, community strategies to control the spread, and access to local social services are listed at NETHealthCOVID19.org.

Tyler hospitals are treating 69 patients from East Texas as of Wednesday, which is down by one since Tuesday.

Through July 7, the Texas Department of State Health Services reports 10,336 total tests were performed on people from Smith County.

According to the TCJS, there are five inmates and five detention officers from the Smith County Jail who have an active case of COVID-19 as of Tuesday.

Inmates are not included in regular Smith County COVID-19 counts, but jailers are if they live in the county. TCJS numbers do not include inmates or officers who may have recovered.

Smith County statistics

The Smith County joint information center typically updates recovery numbers on Tuesdays and Fridays. The center is made up of agencies, including the city of Tyler, Smith County, NET Health and Tyler ISD.

NET Health provides updates on remaining weekdays.

Of the 1,164 cases, 932 are in Tyler, 45 in Flint, 49 in Whitehouse, 61 in Lindale, 22 in Troup, 25 in Bullard, two in Overton, eight in Arp, eight in Winona, two in Kilgore, six in Hideaway, one in Gladewater and three in Mineola.

Of the total cases, 1,116 are a result of community spread and 48 are travel-related.

Here is the age breakdown of cases:

• 0-20, 221 cases

• 21-40, 467 cases

• 41-59, 300 cases

• 60-79, 152 cases

• 80 and over, 24 cases

Regarding gender, 558 are men and 606 are women.

Other counties

Anderson County has 207 cases, including 95 recoveries and one death of a 76-year-old Palestine man, according to NET Health. These numbers do not reflect inmates at the prisons in Tennessee Colony.

In Gregg County, there are 695 COVID-19 cases, including 14 deaths and 178 recoveries, according to the Gregg County Health Department.

Van Zandt County has 150 cases, including three deaths and 35 recoveries, NET Health reported.

Henderson County has 215 cases, including four deaths and 74 recoveries, according to NET Health.

Wood County has 115 COVID-19 cases, including the deaths of five Winnsboro residents and 62 recoveries, according to NET Health.

Rains County has 16 cases, including six recoveries, NET Health reported.

In Cherokee County, there are 271 COVID-19 cases, including 96 recoveries and two deaths, according to the Cherokee County Public Health Department.