The pandemic is leading Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales to do something she never wanted to do.
Canales said Monday during the daily city/county presser that she wants some "Coastal Distance" from the rest of the state.
“Don’t come here, come when we’re not in crisis," Canales said. "I'm gonna personally reach out to Harris County, San Antonio, Bexar County and everyone in between that loved to come to the coast.
"We welcome you on any other normal summer, but our survival right now and the health of our hospitals depends on this Coastal Distancing. When the coast is clear we’re gonna let you know, but right now we need to level off."
Canales wants the entire Coastal Bend area to work together to pull through the COVID-19 crisis.
"So, from our friends in Port Aransas to Padre Island, we need to make a better effort than we did this weekend," Canales said. "As a result of this weekend I will be visiting with the General Land Office to understand where we are."
The area's high ranking nationally is an disappointing statistic that Canales she wants to put behind us.
"Number one in cases in the nation, I never want to see again," she said. "We will do everything we can in emergency management to drive that number down.”