The Nueces County COVID-19 hotline went online Monday, March 30, as nine new cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus were reported by Corpus Christi city officials during the daily 5 p.m. news briefing.
The new number is 361-441-6000, announced County Judge Barbara Canales, who thanked “our amazing staff” for setting up the service so quickly. The phone number will be answered during working hours. After hours, questions can be emailed to county.attorney@nuecesco.com.
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nueces County jumped to 31 on March 30, when nine new cases were reported — the highest number in one day in the county. Of those, 23 are travel-related, one is person-to-person locally, and seven are still under investigation. So far, the county has tested 154. Additional patients have been tested in private commercial labs and in hospitals, but that number is unknown.
Anyone arriving at Corpus Christi International Airport from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or New Orleans must quarantine for 14 days. Officials explained the order from Governor Greg Abbott at the city’s briefing.
Passengers are given forms to fill out while in flight. Those must be handed to one of three Texas Department of Public Safety officers stationed at the airport.
“It is up to the passenger to find one of the three DPS officers,” City Manager Peter Zanoni said.
Passengers also have to report where, whether in a home or a hotel, they will be staying in quarantine.
“It’s all pretty simple,” Zanoni continued. “This is a way to keep our community safe. Other cities and communities are doing this as well.”
Nueces County COVID-19 Hotline Open
Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales announced the county’s new COVID-19 hotline number — 361-441-6000 — as Lucy James interprets her remarks in American Sign Language. Screen capture