Nursing home resident becomes first COVID-19 death in Harris Co.

The first COVID-19 death in Harris County has been announced by Harris County Public health Thursday afternoon. 

Officials say the patient that died was in his 80s and was a resident at a nursing home in northwest Harris County. 

Harris County Public Health reports the man was at high risk for complications due to his age and underlying health conditions. 

"This news is obviously difficult for all of us in our community," said Dr. Umair Shah head of the Harris County Health Department. "This is the fourth death in Texas."

The first Harris County resident to die from COVID-19 became the 19th confirmed case in unincorporated Harris County on Wednesday.

He died Wednesday night at a northwest Harris County hospital.

Officials have no doubt his death is due to community spread.

"This is not just a minor disease especially for those who are at risk," Shah said.

Before being transported to the hospital the man between 80 and 90 was a resident at a northwest Harris County nursing home. Currently, authorities are not identifying that nursing home.

"We want to make sure there are no other staff members no other nursing home residents that are showing any symptoms," said Shah.

Right now officials say there's no evidence of the virus spreading at the nursing home. Sources tell us a young woman who has recovered from COVID-19 is still dealing with a 30 percent decrease in lung capacity.

"It's just difficult for us to say what the recovery or long-lasting impacts will be for an individual who has it," said Dr. Sherri Onyiego with the Harris County Health Department.

Mayor Sylvester Turner says our hospitals are now operating at 90 to 95 percent capacity.

"If we don't flatten the curve he says hospitals will be crippled. If we don't do it and all of these cases are coming in at the same time our health care delivery system can not handle the load," Turner said.

RELATED: 22 people at Illinois nursing home test positive for coronavirus

Harris County investigators are working to find out who this man may have come into contact with.

This COVID-19 case was one of the cases confirmed by the county on March 18.

Officials confirm this is the fourth COVID-19 in the state.

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