Governor Issues Executive Order Mandating 14-Day Self-Quarantine For Some Air Travelers
Anyone flying into Texas for a visit or return home from the New York Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey or Connecticut area) or New Orleans should prepare for a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. Texas Governor Greg Abbott Thursday, March 26, issued an Executive Order mandating a 14-day self-quarantine for individuals traveling to Texas as their final destination through an airport from the Tri-State Area of New York, New Jersey or...
Commissioners Court Reappoints Balkcom As Local Health Authority
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Thursday evening called an emergency meeting to reappoint Dr. Balkcom as the county’s official Local Health Authority. Judge Robert Newsom first reported there are no new reports of positive coronavirus cases; just one as reported Tuesday. Newsom noted that Dr. I. L. Balkcom IV has served in this capacity for a number of years and recommended that he be reappointed as Local health Authority....
Chamber Connection – March 26, 2020
By Lezley Brown, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO I have found myself at a complete loss for words lately. I wasn’t even sure what to include in the Chamber Connection this week … what is relevant, what is important, what is changing so fast that we can’t even keep up? Then I remembered a poem I read at the Chamber banquet in February. I dug it out, reread it, and found some comfort … so I’m passing it along to you....
DSHS Accelerates COVID-19 Reporting, Including All Cases Reported To Local Health Departments
Texas COVID-19 impact as of March 24, 2020: 13,235 tests taken, 715 positive results, 65 of 254 counties have a positive case, 11 deaths reported The Texas Department of State Health Services this evening announced it is updating its method of reporting COVID-19 cases in Texas. In order to provide more timely information, the DSHS daily case count now includes all cases reported publicly by local health departments around the state....
COVID-19: Visitor Restrict By CHRISTUS
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs medical professionals and associates daily exercise numerous health and safety practices for patients, workers and visitors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, additional measures have been put in place. Effective Monday, March 23, the following were implemented: All associates will be screened each shift upon arrival to work, including a temperature takenElective, non-essential...
First Case of COVID-19 Positive Reported In Hopkins County
Hopkins County Emergency Management Team just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, reported they’d just been notified by state health officials of one positive result for COVID-19 in Hopkins County. The individual who tested positive has been told to “self isolate” (shelter in place.) When a positive occurs the state health department takes over moving forward, the emergency management officials said. Judge Robert Newsom...
Commissioners Court Approves Travel, Sick Pool, COVID-19, CDL Policies
Hopkins County Commissioners Court during their regular meeting Monday morning approved five policy changes, including a new policy implemented related to COVID-19 Travel, Sick Pool Policies Commissioners amended a county employee travel policy. When an employee uses a personal vehicle for travel, that county employee would be reimbursed the lesser of two options. The policy is an addition to the rental car policy approved by the...
COVID-19: Hopkins County Offices Open Only By Appointment For Residents
Following discussion among officials Monday, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom Monday afternoon announced that Hopkins County’s offices will be open by appointment only and for Hopkins County residents only as a COVID-19 precaution. “To be very clear, the county is not shutting down or closing the offices. County business will continue as usual and county officials will continue to work diligently to assure that access to...
Hopkins County Clarifies COVID-19 Testing
As nationwide testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to increase, so do the complexities of accurate numbers of overall tests and positive results. With both private labs, and state-run labs doing testing, accurate numbers of how many people have been tested in one county is almost impossible. Adding in the possibility that Hopkins County residents may go outside the county for testing, or other residents not living in Hopkins...
Emergency Management Team Gives Update on COVID-19: 03/20/2020
During a scheduled teleconference with Hopkins County Emergency Management Team, Andy Endsley confirmed as of 3/20/2020 that there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from any patient in Hopkins County. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom encouraged citizens to think about different ways to contact nursing home residents, as all visitors to nursing homes are restricted at this time. “A phone call could make...
