98 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ector County

UPDATE: 98 new Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Ector County, according to an update Monday from the health department.

Stats show 1643 cases have been confirmed and 760 are probable for a total of 2,403 cases in the county.

Despite the reported cases, health officials shared some positive news on Monday afternoon. Medical Center Hospital CEO Russell Tippin and Odessa Regional Medical Center President Stacy Brown said the hospital census was improving.

“The number of patients in house today is a little bit encouraging,” Tippin said. “We don’t want to get over excited about it because we know how fast that can change.”

ORMC President Stacy Brown said the hospital did report another death over the weekend but their patient COVID numbers seem to have “stabilized.”

MCH also noted they have another case in Labor and Delivery but plan to discharge several other patients on Monday afternoon.

Dr. Timothy Benton also said Monday, the epidemiological curve appears to have flattened. However, the Doctor also noted that while the COVID-19 curve appears to have flattened slightly, it has not dropped.

Overall, health officials say they are cautiously optimistic about what they are seeing but urged the community to continue taking precautions as the situation can change quickly.

“I don’t want use to let down our cautions, let down our guard,” Dr. Benton said Monday.

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