Dec. 29 COVID-19 Update: 54 New Cases, 37 Recoveries, 28 More Vaccines Administered
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 29 COVID-19 reports showed 54 new COVID-19 cases (confirmed and probable), 37 recoveries and 28 additional vaccines administered for Hopkins County, while Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Dec. 29 COVID-19 update reported a slight increase the COVID unit patient count and 146 more free COIVD-19 tests conducted on Monday. Texas Health and Human Services also reported two additional COVID-19 fatalities among Sulphur Springs nursing home residents as of Dec. 15.
Dec. 29 COVID-19 Case Counts
The DSHS Dec. 29 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts dashboard showed a total of 1,123 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 test results as well as 1,111 cumulative probable COVID-19 cases.
That’s 54 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday, 47 confirmed (molecular) cases and 7 new probable cases, for Hopkins County. That makes 49 new confirmed and 11 new probable cases reported so far this week, and 291 new molecular COVID-19 positives reported this month and 187 new probable cases from Dec. 11 (when the state began daily probable case reporting) to Dec. 29. At that pace, December could potentially match or exceed the record 323 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported during the 31-days of October. That’s 6.02 percent of the Hopkins County population reported to have COVID-19.
DSHS also reported the cumulative number of patient recoveries had increased to 2,036 out of the 2,234 total cases (confirmed and probable). That means 37 additional Hopkins County residents were confirmed on Dec. 29 to have recovered from COVID-19. So far this month, there have been 1,342 recoveries, including the 810 probable case recoveries that had not been counted among the daily recovery count until Dec. 11.
While no COVID-19 fatalities were announced Dec. 29, there were 11 Hopkins County residents confirmed by death certificate to have died this month from COVID-19 and 58 confirmed to have died in previous months from COVID-19. That 0.19 percent of the Hopkins County population who have died from COVID-19, and a fatality rate of 3.09 percent among all COVID-19 cases (confirmed and probable) in Hopkins County.
That leaves 129 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County as 5:05 p.m. Dec. 29, which is 18 more than DSHS reported on Dec. 28.
COVID-19 Testing
HC/SSEM officials in the Dec. 29 COVID-19 update reported 6,759 oral swab tests had been performed at the free testing center at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs from Sept. 25 to 6 p.m. Dec. 28. That means 146 additional tests were conducted inside the Red Cross building on Monday, 301 since Christmas, 407 in the last seven days and 2,228 so far this month at the free testing site.
DSHS reported 13,457 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Hopkins County through Dec. 28, 11,170 confirmed molecular or viral tests, 1,131 antigen tests and 1,156 antibody tests. That includes five additional antibody tests and 17 additional antibody tests.
Free COVID-19 testing will continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 29-31 inside the free testing center on Jefferson Street. The free center in Sulphur Springs will be closed New Year’s Day, then resume weekdays in January from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. and Saturdays until 5 p.m. at 128-A Jefferson Street.
Online registration is required at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested. Testing is open to anyone regardless of address. Even children ages 3 and up can be tested, provided an adults registers and accompanies them to have the oral swab test performed. The Sulphur Springs free testing site is not a drive through location. Testing is conducted inside the building.
Individuals should refrain from eating, drinking or using tobacco products a minimum of 15-20 minutes before or testing will be delayed. Those testing will need to bring a photo ID and the number provided upon registration with them to the test location. Masks must be worn into the testing center. Testing typically takes about 5 minutes.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Across the state, 611,850 vaccines have been received by providers, with the first dose administered to 163,700 people in 248 of Texas’ 254 counties as of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 28.
The DSHS Dec. 29 COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard showed a total of 66 vaccines had been administered to 66 people in Hopkins County as of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 28, which is 28 more vaccines administered in Hopkins County Monday than were reported on Sunday and 34 more than were reported on Christmas Eve,
According to the DSHS Dec. 29 COVID-19 Vaccine Data report, 300 vaccines have been allocated to Hopkins County, 100 to Brookshire’s Pharmacy and 200 to CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. So far, DSHS reported, 66 people have been administered the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
Texas has been allocated about 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine through the first three weeks of vaccine distribution.
SHS has instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ship COVID-19 vaccine to more than 350 providers in 94 Texas counties over the next week. The CDC will deliver 175,100 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 81,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine directly to Texas providers.
An additional 121,875 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will go to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Vaccinations under the program started in Texas today and, according to the CDC, will serve staff and residents at more than 300 long-term-care facilities in the first week.
DSHS encourages providers to rapidly vaccinate priority populations against COVID-19 and promptly report doses administered in ImmTrac2, the state’s immunization registry. Additional allocations of vaccine will be received each week.
“All providers that have received COVID-19 vaccine must immediately vaccinate healthcare workers, Texans over the age of 65, and people with medical conditions that put them at a greater risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19. No vaccine should be kept in reserve.” DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, stated Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Hopkins County has 29,578 residents ages 16 or older, 7,446 residents age 65 or older, 1,680 healthcare workers who meet the guidelines to receive the vaccine in Phase 1A and 620 who meet the long-term care requirements under 1A, according to the DSHS Dec. 29 COVID-19 Vaccine data chart.
DSHS has posted a vaccine provider location map that will be updated weekly after allocated doses have shipped to providers. A list of providers that will be receiving vaccine this week is available at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/updates/COVIDVaccineAllocation-Week3.pdf, according to the DSHS news release.
Hospital Reports
HC/SSEM’s Dec. 29 COVID-19 update showed 24 patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, which is one patient in the unit Tuesday than on Monday, but still one less than on Christmas Eve and four less than on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23.
While the COVID-19 hospital count rose in Hopkins County, Trauma Service Area F (which includes nearly all hospitals in Northeast Texas, including CMFH-SS) as a whole had seven less COVID-19 patients on Tuesday than the 178 reported on Monday.
While that number declined, the total number of patients in TSA F hospitals rose on Monday. A total of 1,064 hospital beds were staffed on Dec. 29, 32 more than no Dec. 28. There were 602 total hospitalizations, 15 more than on Dec. 28, and 972 inpatient beds were staffed in TSA F on Dec. 29, 32 more than on Monday.
Thus, COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for only 15.96 percent of the total hospitalizations in TSA F on Tuesday, down from 17.23 percent on Monday and 16.054 percent on Christmas Day.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in TSA F have been above the 15 percent high capacity threshold set in GA-32 on six of the last seven days, but only consistently for the last three days. TSAs in which the COVID-19 hospitalizations exceed 15 percent of the total capacity for seven consecutive days must go back a step in the plan to reopen Texas., with businesses and other facilities reducing capacity to 50 percent and in some cases, like bars, could require them to close. The TSA must remain below the 15 percent threshold for a solid week before the restrictions are lifted.
TSA F also reported nine ICU beds available on Tuesday, two more than on Monday and three more than on Christmas Day, but still 21 less beds available on Tuesday than on Sunday and 18 less than on Saturday.
A total of 371 hospital beds were available on Tuesday in TSA F, 17 more than on Monday, but 57 less than on Dec. 27.
A total of 79 ventilators were available in TSA F on Dec. 29, the same as on Dec. 23, but four more than on Dec. 28, five more than on Dec. 27.
| Trauma Service Area F Category | 12/27 | 12/28 | 12/29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Staffed Hospital Beds | 1060 | 1,033 | 1065 |
| Available Hospital Beds | 428 | 354 | 371 |
| Available ICU Beds | 30 | 7 | 9 |
| Available Ventilators | 74 | 75 | 79 |
| Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Patients in Hospital | 164 | 178 | 170 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 540 | 587 | 602 |
| Total Staffed Inpatient Beds | 968 | 941 | 973 |
| COVID Hospitalizations Percent Total Capacity | 15.47 | 17.23 | 15.96 |
Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility Reports
Texas Health and Human Services’ Dec. 29 COVID-19 nursing facility report, which reflects data reported through Dec. 15, showed two additional nursing home resident died as a result of COVID-19, three additional nursing home employees and four nursing home residents had tested positive for COVID-19, and five employee recoveries.
One resident of Carriage House and one Rock Creek resident were confirmed Dec. 15 to have died from COVID-19. That brings the cumulative total since March to 45 nursing home residents who have died from COVID-19: 27 at Carriage House, four at Rock Creek and seven each at Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab and Sunny Springs Nursing and Rehab.
One additional employee each at Carriage House Manor, Rock Creek Health and Rehab and Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab had tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 15. All four new resident cases were reported at Rock Creek Health and Rehab.
One employee at Carriage House, two at Rock Creek and two at SSHR had recovered from the virus on Dec. 15, according to the Dec. 29 COVID-19 nursing facility report.
HHS in the Dec. 29 COVID-19 assisted living facility report showed one employee at Wesley House had also tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 15, That’s the only active COVID-19 case reported at any of the assisted living facilities in Sulphur Springs on Dec. 15.
There were no active COVID-19 cases among the six licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before-and after-school programs in Hopkins County on Dec. 28, HHS reports showed.
Lady Cats Soccer Team Wins Scrimmage at Ranked North Forney Monday Night, 3-1
The Lady Cats Soccer Team got a solid scrimmage win over a well regarded opponent Monday night (December 28) on the road. The Lady Cats topped North Forney, 3-1 in Forney. The Lady Falcons are preseason ranked #10 in Region II in Class 5A according to the Texas Soccer Coaches Association poll. The Lady Cats’ first goal was scored by freshman Anna Williams. It was an unassisted goal. Junior Katelyn Robinson scored the Lady Cats’ second goal assisted by sophomore Isabelle Thesing. Sophomore Rebekah Stanley had the Lady Cats’ third goal with the assist going to senior Janine Yamaguchi. Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo said the varsity had a very good game. He said an intense first half ended in a 0-0 tie. He said the Lady Cats had plenty of chances to score. Coach Aguayo said thankfully during the second half the Lady Cats were able to take care of business and put three in the back of the net. He said he was very pleased with the way the Lady Cats played. The Lady Cats complete their scrimmage portion of the schedule with an Alumni Scrimmage Saturday. The Lady Cats JV will play the Alumna at 2 p.m. The varsity will face the former Lady Cats beginning at 3:30 p.m. Both games are at Gerald Prim Stadium.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Has Tough Second Half in 41-30 Loss at North Lamar Tuesday
It looked like the Lady Cats Basketball Team had righted their ship in a solid second quarter that gave them an 18-15 led at the half Tuesday afternoon (December 29) at North Lamar. However the second half was a not a good one for the Lady Cats as they were outscored by the Pantherettes, 26-12 in a 41-30 loss. The Lady Cats opened the game with a slow start and they trailed North Lamar 13-5 after one quarter. During the second quarter, the Lady Cats scored 13 points and held the Pantherettes to just 2. Sophomore Kenzie Willis led the Lady Cats with 10 points. Senior Nylah Lindley had 7 points. Senior Dalanee Myles added 5 points. Sophomore Serenity Lewis and Sophomore Addisyn Wall had 3 points each. Junior Baylie Large had 2 points. The Pantherettes’ Maddie Walters led all scorers with 13 points. The Lady Cats are now 6-6 for the season. The Lady Cats ring in the New Year with a home game against Gilmer Friday. A JV game is scheduled at noon with the varsity game to follow at around 1:15 p.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats, Greenville Basketball Game Abruptly Ends at the Half: COVID-19 Concerns
Somehow it seems fitting that the last SSISD High School game of 2020 would be impacted by COVID-19. The Wildcats Basketball Team’s game at home against Greenville Tuesday afternoon (December 29) was at halftime when High School Assistant Principal Jarret Wilson announced to the crowd that the game was being ended due to what he called COVID concerns. No further explanation was given. The Wildcats were leading 33-22 at the break. The Wildcats led after one quarter 24-13 and both teams scored 9 points in the second quarter. The Lions’ Braelan Brown led all scorers with 10 points. The Wildcats were led by sophomore Kordrick Turner with 8 points and junior Justin Haire with 7 points. Senior Boo Wilkerson added 5 points. Senior Lamodrick Johnson had 4 points. Junior Cason Arrington, junior Caleb Alexander and Parker Whisenhunt all scored 3 points. The Wildcats remain 8-5 for the season. Next the Wildcats resume district play Saturday afternoon at Marshall. Freshmen play at 1 p.m. The JV game is at 2:30 p.m. The varsity Wildcats play the varsity Mavericks at 4 p.m. The Wildcats are 1-0 in district play. Marshall is 0-1.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Roofing, Framing Work On Grays Building In Progress
Framing and roofing work on the new Grays Building in Pacific Park is in progress.
Griffith Roofing was on site Tuesday furthering roofing work while Temo Construction began framing.
With the steel metal framing in place, decking is installed over the framing. A icy water membrane is being applied to protect it from weather.
Framing is expected to take less than 2 weeks to complete, weather permitting.
“It won’t be long until it’s dried in. We anticipate completion around late spring, unless we have unusual weather that sets us back,” said Don Roundtree, who serves as manager for park project.
Once the project is “in the dry” work should progress inside the structure regardless of the weather.
“We are now beginning to see the shape of it. It will be changing on a regular basis,” Roundtree said. “It will be changing a lot over the next few months.”
The project still has quite a bit of work to go before it is completed. Although city staff will provide electrical, plumbing and site work, including site concrete work for parking and sidewalks, most of the project is contracted.
The building, once completed, will serve as a community center, designed as a user-friendly, comfortable gathering place.
The Grays Building is part of a Pacific Park improvement project, which along with a new senior citizens activity center, is fund with the $3 million received in bond proceeds in March; $1.5 million has been designated toward each project.
Sulphur Springs residents in November 2019 voted to allow the city to use up to $200,000 of EDC money for up to 20 years for a 4B purpose, to make payments on the bond. The project has to be finished within 3 years of issuing the bond.
The City of Sulphur Springs also received a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department which will go toward improvements to the park itself, including new playground equipment.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Basketball are Featured on This Game Day Tuesday
On this game day Tuesday (December 29), the Wildcats Basketball Team returns from Christmas break with an afternoon non-district game at home against former district foe Greenville. There will be a freshman game at 1 p.m. The JV game versus the JV Lions is at 2:15 p.m. The Wildcats Varsity takes on Greenville at 4 p.m. All three games will be in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School. The Wildcats come in with a season record of 8-5. They won their last game one week ago at home against district opponent Pine Tree. KSST Radio will bring you the Wildcats and Lions live featuring live streaming video and audio. The game will also be recorded for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Lady Cats Basketball Team plays their second non-district game in as many days Tuesday (December 29), this one at North Lamar. Scheduled is a JV contest at 11 a.m. with the varsity game starting at around 12:30 p.m. The Lady Cats won Monday at Nevada Community, 66-60. The Lady Cats are 6-5 so far this season. North Lamar is the alma mater of Lady Cats Coach Brittney Tisdell.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Soccer Team Edges Past Pittsburg in Road Scrimmage, 3-2 Monday Night
The Wildcats Soccer Team scored some early goals and then held on at the end to take a 3-2 scrimmage win at Pittsburg Monday night (December 28). The Pirates are preseason ranked #6 in Region II in Class 4A. Joel Vasquez got the first Wildcats goal after an assist from Omar Hernandez. Hernandez scored the last two Wildcats goals. His first was unassisted and the second was assisted by Edgar Salazar. Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton said the Wildcats exploded for some goals. He said they gave up some cheap stuff at the end. Coach Upton added he was glad his team held on and got the win. Next the Wildcats wrap up their scrimmage schedule with their Alumni Scrimmage on Saturday at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Wildcats JV 1 Team will scrimmage some of the old dogs at 5:30 p.m. The Varsity scrimmage versus Alumni will start at 7:15 p.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
While Unemployment Rates Rose In November 2020, Hopkins County Still Had The Lowest Jobless Rate In The Area
While unemployment rates rose in November 2020, Hopkins County still had the lowest jobless rate in the 9-county Northeast Texas Workforce Development Area last month, according to the civilian labor force estimates released this month by TWC, produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, and posted on the Texas Labor Market Information website,.
Hopkins County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.7 percent in October 2020 to 5.8 percent in November 2020, with 999 out of 17,211 unemployed in November 2020. Last month’s unemployment rate in Hopkins County was 2.8 percent higher than that of November 2019, when 522 of 17,607 were unemployed (2.8 percent).
November 2020’s 5.8 percent unemployment rate is the third highest unemployment rate this year, behind only the 8.4 percent reported in April 2020 and 7.8 percent reported in May, when many businesses had to shut down or reduce labor forces due to regulations imposed because of COVID-19. Those followed a 2.8 percent unemployment rate in December of 2019, and unemployment rates of 3.2 percent in January and February of 2020 and 4.5 percent in March 2020.
Hopkins County wasn’t the only county in the region that experienced an increased unemployment rate. Unemployment was up in all nine counties in the Northeast Texas Work Force Development Area and was up as a whole across the state as well, according to the employment estimates released earlier this month.
The Texas unemployment rate for November was 8.1 percent, up from 6.9 percent in October 2020.
Around the NET WDA the unemployment rate was 7.5 percent with 9,423 of the 125,011 civilian labor force (CLF) unemployed in November 2020.
Delta County came in behind Hopkins County with a 6.4 percent unemployment rate in November 2020, with 153 of the 2,398 CLF unemployed. That’s 1.4 percent higher than in October 2020, and 3 percent higher than in November 2019.
Nearby Franklin County had a 6.8 percent unemployment rate for November 2020, up from 5 percent in October 2020 and 3.4 percent in November 2019.
Lamar County had a 6.9 percent unemployment rate in November 2020, up from 5.7 percent in October 2020 and 3.3 percent in November 2019.
Morris County continued to have the highest unemployment rate in the area. Morris County’s unemployment rate rose from 12.3 percent in October 2020, to 14.9 percent in November 2020. In November 2019, Morris County’s unemployment rate was only 5.4 percent,.
Cass County had the next highest unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in November 2020, that’s up from 7.7 percent last month. Just one year ago, the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in November.
Also around the WDA area, Bowie County’s unemployment rate rose from 6.1 percent in October to 7.3 percent in November, which is 3.3 percent higher than in November 2019.
Red River County’s unemployment rate of 7.6 percent for November 2020 was 3.2 percent more than in November 2019 and 1.4 percent more than was reported in October 2020.
Rounding out the Northeast Texas Workforce Development Area is Titus County, with an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent. That’s a 1.3 percent higher unemployment rate than in October 2020 and 3.7 percent more than in November 2019.
These and other state labor and market statistics can be found at https://texaslmi.com/
| County | October 2020 Unemployment Rate | November 2020 Unemployment Rate | November 2019 Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOWIE | 6.1 | 7.3 | 4 |
| CASS | 7.7 | 9.4 | 4.1 |
| DELTA | 5 | 6.4 | 3.4 |
| FRANKLIN | 5.2 | 6.8 | 3.5 |
| HOPKINS | 4.7 | 5.8 | 3 |
| LAMAR | 5.7 | 6.9 | 3.3 |
| MORRIS | 12.3 | 14.9 | 5.4 |
| RED RIVER | 6.2 | 7.6 | 4.4 |
| TITUS | 6.3 | 7.6 | 3.9 |
Assault Investigation Results In Controlled Substance Arrest
An assault investigation resulted in the alleged victim going to jail on a controlled substance charge Monday night, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police officers responded at 8:42 p.m. to a call alleging four males exited a black Chrysler 300 and appeared to have assaulted the driver of a black Chrysler 200. Upon contact with the 21-year-old driver of the Chrysler 200 at a gas station in the 1300 block of Mockingbird Lane, police noted the Sulphur Springs man appeared to be nervous and was uncooperative when asked questions regarding the alleged assault.
An officer reported seeing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in plain view as he walked by the man’s car. When told to unlock the car, Jose Alejandro Gomez-Murillo refused to comply, resulting in him being placed into handcuffs and put in the back of a patrol unit, SSPD Officers Cameron Robinson and Silas Whaley alleged in arrest reports.
The keys for the Chrysler 200 were reportedly located. A probable cause search of the car allegedly yielded a wax-like substance the officers believed to be THC wax as well as other drug paraphernalia. Consequently, Gomez-Murillo was arrested at 9:30 p.m. December 28, 2020, for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance.
Gomez-Murillo remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, on the second-degree felony controlled substance charge.
Monday wasn’t the first time the 21-year-old Sulphur Springs resident has been booked into Hopkins County jail on possession charge.
Gomez-Murillo was jailed Oct. 3-10, 2018, for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, after an Oct. 3, 2018 traffic stop which yielded ID information belonging to another individual and a small amount of marijuana.
He also spent Dec. 17, 2018-April 15, 2019 in Hopkins County jail on evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, tampering with physical evidence and possession of marijuana charges, according to jail reports. Those charges stem from a vehicle chase Dec. 17, 2018, on County Road 4724, after he allegedly fled from a state trooper. Traveling at 60-70 miles per hour on the county road, he reportedly failed to make a 90-degree turn, striking a fence and crashing into a ravine in a pasture. He was allegedly smoking a marijuana cigarette when taken into custody and two bags of marijuana were found in the ravine where the truck stopped. He was indicted on the eavding arrest and tampering with evidence charges in February of 2019.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Dec. 28 COVID-19 Update: 6 Vaccines Administered, 63 Recoveries, 18 New Cases
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 28 COVID-19 updates show 18 new COVID-19 cases, 63 additional recoveries and six more doses of the vaccine administered over the weekend for Hopkins County. One additional nursing home resident has been confirmed to have died as a result of COVID-19, according to Texas Health and Human Services’ Dec. 28 nursing facilities report.
Dec. 28 COVID-19 Case Counts
Hopkins County has now had 2.179 cases of COVID-19, which is roughly 5.88 percent of the population, although only 111 of those cases were still active on Dec. 28.
Over the last 3 days, Hopkins County had had only two confirmed cases of COVID-19, both reported on Dec. 27. That makes 244 Hopkins County residents who have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results this month and 1,076 confirmed cases since March.
Sixteen additional residents are considered to have “probable cases” of COVID-19, 12 reported on Dec. 26 and four on Dec. 27. That makes 180 new probable cases reported from Dec. 11, when the state began reporting probable case totals daily, through Dec. 18, and 1,103 probable cases since the state began tracking that data in June.
From Dec. 26-28, another 63 Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19, 55 over the weekend and eight on Monday. That makes 1,305 recoveries reported this month (including 810 “probable” case recoveries not counted among the total until Dec. 11). That makes 1,999 recoveries out of the 13,364 Hopkins County cases. As was reported Dec. 25, 69 Hopkins County residents have died from COVID-19 since March (including 43 deaths of nursing home residents).
COVID-19 Vaccines
Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine continued to be distributed across the state over the weekend, with a total of 146,988 people receiving the first doses of the vaccine from among the 472,100 doses received by approved vaccine providers in 246 of Texas 254 counties as of Monday.
Included among that 145,988 who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are 34 from Hopkins County. That’s six additional people who had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hopkins County as of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 27, according to Texas Department of State Health Services’ Vaccine dashboard
As of Monday afternoon, the number of sites approved to receive and administer the vaccine in Hopkins County had been narrowed to two. Brookshire’s Pharmacy was allocated 100 doses and CHRISUS Trinity Clinic 200 doses.
Brookshire’s had received a shipment of the vaccine and as of Monday afternoon had provided 20 vaccines to health care providers and anticipated another 40 doses would go out this week. The Clinic also had not received any doses of the vaccine as of 3:20 p.m. Dec. 28, but CHRISTUS-Sulphur Springs administrators anticipate receiving vaccines some time next week.
Initially, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs had also been approved to serve as a regional distribution site for the 300 does of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. However, on Christmas Eve, the hospital had yet to receive the vaccine and that afternoon had been removed from the list of approved facilities posted on the DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard. CMFH-SS CEO Paul Harvey Dec. 24 and Dec. 28 reported that hospital representatives have been trying to find out why, but at noon today still did not have an answer.
COVID-19 Testing
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Dec. 28 COVID-19 update reported 6,613 COVID-19 tests have been conducted since the free testing center in Sulphur Springs opened on Sept. 25, including 155 performed Saturday and 2,082 molecular tests so far this month.
As of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 27, a total of 13,376 COVID-19 tests had been conducted for Hopkins County, 11,111 molecular (viral/PCR) tests, 1,114 antigen tests and 1,151 antibody tests. Twelve of those tests were conducted on Sunday, two antigen and 10 molecular tests, and 103 since Christmas.
Free COVID-19 testing will continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 29-31, will be closed New Year’s Day, then resume weekdays in January from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. and Saturdays until 5 p.m. at 128-A Jefferson Street.
Online registration is required at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested. Testing is open to anyone regardless of address. Even children ages 3 and up can be tested, provided an adults registers and accompanies them to have the oral swab test performed. The Sulphur Springs free testing site is not a drive through location. Testing is conducted inside the building.
Individuals should refrain from eating, drinking or using tobacco products a minimum of 15-20 minutes before, but waiting an hour should make them more accurate, officials reported.
Those testing will need to bring a photo ID and the number provided upon registration with them to the test location. Masks must be worn into the testing center. Testing typically takes about 5 minutes.
Hospital Reports
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Dec. 28 COVID-19 update reported 23 patients in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, two less than on Christmas Eve and five less than on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23.
COVID-19 patients accounted for 17.23 percent of the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F, which includes Hopkins County and nearly all of Northeast Texas, on Monday, Dec. 28. That makes the second consecutive day TSA F’s COVID percentage has been over the 15 percent threshold set by the Governor’s Office as “high.” It’s also the fifth time in the last seven days in which the COVID-19 percentage has exceeded the 15 percent capacity: 15. 57 percent on Dec. 23, 15. 94 percent on Christmas Eve, 16.04 percent on Christmas Day, 15.47 percent Dec. 27 and 17.23 percent on Monday (the highest percentage reported yet by DSHS for TSAF).
Overall, there were 178 patients in hospitals across TSA F, 14 more than on Dec. 27, 17 more than on Dec. 26, seven more than on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 41 more COVID-19 patients on Monday than on Dec. 19, and 52 more than on Dec. 11.
On Dec. 28, there were 1,033 total staffed hospital beds in TSA F, 27 more than on Dec. 27 and 44 less than on Dec. 26,, 70 less than on Dec. 18, 87 less than on Dec. 12.
TSA F also had 587 total hospitalizations on Dec. 28, 47 more than on Dec. 27, 21 more than on Dec. 26 an d 64 more than on Dec. 12, but 37 less than on Dec. 25 and 56 less than on Dec. 18
Overall, DSHS reported 941 total staffed inpatient beds on Dec. 28, 27 less than on Dec. 27, 34 less than on Dec. 26, 70 less than on Dec. 18 and 88 less than on Dec. 12. In fact, it’s the lowest in at least 24 days.
On Dec. 28, DSHS reported only 7 ICU beds available in hospital throughout TSA F, down from 30 on Dec. 27 and 27 on Dec. 26. A total of 75 ventilators were available in TSA F hospitals on Dec. 28, one more than on Dec. 27, but three less than on Christmas Day and four less than on Dec. 23, but still 16 more than on Dec. 11.
There were only 354 hospital beds available in TSA F on Monday, down from 428 on Dec. 27, but still more than the 367 reported on Christmas Day and the 347 reported on Dec. 23.
Nursing Home Updates
Between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14 at Sulphur Springs nursing homes, eight additional residents and two employees had tested COVID-19 positive, one resident and five employees had recovered from the virus, and one nursing home resident died as a result of COVID-19, according to Texas Health and Human Services Dec. 28 COVID-19 nursing facilities report.
Both Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab and Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab have reported no new and no active resident cases from Nov. 30 to Dec. 14 (the most recent date data is available from HHS for nursing homes on Dec. 28). SSSHR did have two employees who tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 10, but one of those cases had recovered on Dec. 14. Sunny Springs reported no active employee COVID cases.
Rock Creek Health and Rehab didn’t have any any employee cases until Oct. 12 and no resident cases until Oct. 20. The facility had 22 active resident cases and two resident deaths from COVID-19 on Dec. 8. Those numbers had increased on Dec. 10 to three COVID-19 deaths and 28 active cases on Dec. 10. On Dec. 14, the resident case count had risen to 32, and while no additional fatalities were reported at Rock Creek, there also had been no resident recoveries recorded either. Two employees of RCHR were reported to have recovered from COVID-19 at least three more had tested positive on Dec. 14, giving the facility 18 cumulative employee cases since March, 12 of which were still active cases.
Carriage House Manor Had one employee who no long her COVID-19 but one more had tested positive on Dec/. 14. From Dec. 8-Dec. 14, CHM reported two additional resident recoveries and four additional residents had tested positive for the virus on Dec. 14.
