Dec. 21 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 3 New Confirmed And 12 New Probable Cases
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 21 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed one additional COVID-19 fatality, three confirmed cases and 12 probable cases for Hopkins County Dec. 20-21. The patient count in the COVID unit rose again as did the number of people tested at the free testing center on Jefferson Street on Saturday.
Case Counts
DSHS reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday and one on Monday. That makes 211 Hopkins County residents who have received lab-confirmed COVID-19 tests so far this month, and 1,043 since March.
Confirmed cases are those in which an individual has tested positive through a molecular test that looks for the virus’s genetic material.
The DSHS case counts dashboard also showed a dozen probable cases not previously reported, six each on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. That makes 130 new probable cases from Dec. 11, when the state began daily reporting probable statistics, and Dec. 21, cumulatively, there have been 1,053 probable COVID-19 tests reported for Hopkins County since June. However, DSHS notes that one older probable case was reported Monday to DSHS by a lab.
Probable cases are those in which an individual either tests positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis.
No new COVID-19 patient recoveries were reported for Hopkins County on either Dec. 20 or Dec. 21. So far this month, however, there have been 1,162 recoveries reported.
While that sounds like a lot, it should be noted that this figure includes recoveries reported for both probable and confirmed cases. Prior to Dec. 11, only molecular cases were reported daily, with antigen probable cases relayed to local emergency management officials once a week. So December’s new recoveries count also includes 810 probable recoveries that had previously tracked by DSHS but not previously reported in daily case counts until Dec. 11.
From Dec. 12-21, 236 Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from the novel coronavirus 2019. Cumulatively, 1,856 Hopkins County residents have recovered from COVID-19.
That leaves 172 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County on Dec. 21.
COVID-19 Fatalities
DSHS’ Dec. 21 COVID-19 dashboard showed 68 Hopkins County residents have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19, that’s one more than reported on Saturday and Sunday. The latest COVID-19 fatality occurred on Dec. 11, and was one of only 67 fatalities across the state newly reported to DSHS on Dec. 21, according to the DSHS County Trends report.
That makes 10 COVID-19 fatalities that have occurred so far in December. Two deaths were reported on Dec. 3, and one each on Dec. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 14. That’s as many deaths confirmed as of Dec. 21 during the first two weeks of December as were reported during the entire month of November, and is one more COVID death than during the first two weeks of October; the 10th month of the year finished with a total of 29 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities.
COVID-19 fatalities are deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate. A medical certifier, usually a doctor, determines the cause(s) of death. DSHS does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Fatalities are reported by where the person lived as listed on the death certificate.
Hospital Reports
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Officials in the Dec. 21 COVID-19 update reported 25 patients in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, five more than during the last report on Friday. Patient counts are only reported Monday-Friday.
During the month of December, patient counts in the CMFH-SS COVID Unit have been highest each week on Mondays. The most patients so far this month in the COVID unit on a single day was 26 on Dec. 14.
The lab-confirmed COIVD-19 patient count across Trauma Service Area F hospitals has continued to rise over the last two days from 138 on Saturday to 148 Sunday and 154 on Monday. The most COVID patients on a given day over the past 2 weeks in TSA-F, which includes Hopkins County and almost all of Northeast Texas, was 157 on Dec. 8 and 9, and the fewest was 124 on Dec. 11. COVID-19 patient hospitalizations have accounted for 13.99 percent of the total hospital capacity on Dec. 20 and 14. 42 percent on Dec. 21.
A total of 1,068 hospital beds were staffed on Monday, 10 more than were reported Dec. 20, but 14 less than on Dec. 19, and 52 less than on Dec. 12 in TSA-F. DSHS reported 614 total hospitalizations on Dec. 21, seven more than on Dec. 20. A total of 976 inpatient beds were staffed on Dec. 21, 10 more than the day before, but 14 less than on Dec. 19 and 39 less than on Dec. 6.
Available on Dec. 21 in TSA -F were seven ICU beds, one more than the day before, but four less than Dec. 19. On Monday, 77 ventilators were available throughout TSA-F, one less than Dec. 20 but 9 more than on Dec. 19. In fact, the most ventilators available on any given day since Dec. 4 has been 78 on Sunday. A total of 362 hospital beds were available in TSA-F on Dec. 21, three more than on Dec. 20 but four less than on Dec. 19.
Testing Update
HC/SSEM in the Dec. 21 COVID-19 update reported 180 molecular tests were conducted Dec. 18-19 at the free testing center in Sulphur Springs. That makes 610 oral swab tests performed at 128-A Jefferson Street over the last week, 1,534 so far this month and 6,065 since the free testing site opened on Sept. 25.
Cumulatively, there have been 12,868 COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County: 10,726 molecular or viral tests (PCR), 1,017 antigen tests and 1,125 antibody tests. That’s 704 total COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County from Dec. 13-20.
Free molecular testing continues to offered inside the Red Cross building weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m. on Saturdays through January, emergency officials reported last week. Online registration at www.GoGet Tested.com is required, however. Testing is available for anyone, regardless of address or age. Children should be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Those testing should refrain eating, drinking or using tobacco products for 20 minutes to an hour prior to arrival at the free testing center. A photo ID and the number sent electronically to the registrant is also required at the time of testings.
Year in Review: 2020 Hopkins County Livestock and Forage Education
Trainings, Tours and Field Days
By Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Hopkins County
Relevance
Livestock and forage production is a 3.96-billion-dollar industry in the Central Region. Livestock and forage enterprises are affected by climate and market variability.
Hopkins County currently has more than 100,000 head of beef cattle with 27,000 head of dairy cattle Due to environmental requirements of federal and state authorities, Hopkins County dairy operators must maintain environmental requirements for operation. This plan will collaborate with dairy (Dairy Farmers of America, Southwest Dairy Museum) and beef organizations (NETBIO) to determine and conduct educational efforts needed for the successful operation of livestock farms and ranches.
Texas livestock and forage producers and related agribusinesses effectively evaluate and adopt research-based technology applications and best management practices for sustainable and profitable livestock management systems. Livestock producers improve knowledge of production and management systems to improve quality, profitability, and sustainability.
This plan had the goal of providing educational experiences to 350 beef producers, 150 private applicators, 60 dairy producers and 60 landowner seeking private applicator accreditation.
Response
During 2020, the world responded to a human viral disease denominated COVID-19. Several response mechanisms were developed to mitigate the disease impact in the human population.
The term business essential was coined to determine business operations during the response of the early onset of the disease. The Hopkins County Extension office was determined as business essential by county officials and continued normal operation, supporting cattle sales and financial emergency support to farmers and ranchers.
A dairy-producers task force was created statewide by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to determine emergency response priorities to dairy producers, support to workforce and financial aid to dairy farmers. A series of online meetings were conducted during this period with several outcomes (reported in result section).
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension response to the emerging situation during COVID-19 included the participation of County Extension Agents to aid with the securing of funding during the implementation of the CARES Act. A series of trainings in coordination with local municipal officials and city managers were planned and conducted. As pandemic conditions due to COVID-19 evolved, Hopkins County relaxed face-to-face meeting requirements and three face-to-face programs were conducted: Homeowners Septic System Training (September, 2020), North East Texas Fall Dairy Conference (October 2020) and Private Applicator CEU session (November 2020).
Results
A series of educational trainings directed to dairy producers was determined to be essential during the COVID -19 response in 2020. Three major components were determined as a priority:
A short-term reduction of milk production strategies were developed and promoted due to the challenges in the food distribution chain of liquid milk during the first stage of COVID-19 response strategy. Three mass media press releases were created and distributed during this phase. The strategy included nutritional, management and animal husbandry protocols directed to reduce milk production with minimal animal well-being impact. An online training with 350 participants nation-wide was planned and implement by Texas A&M AgriLife Diary specialists (J. Pineido and J. Spencer) in March 2020 using an online platform (zoom).
A second component was the creation of a COVID-19 response campaign to provide education to the Hispanic workforce training directed to communicate the Center of Disease Control (CDC) strategies to prevent COVID-19 adapted to dairy environments. Three factsheets were developed and distributed to dairy producers to re-distribute and post at their facilities. A series of monthly podcasts were developed to provide educational material to the Hispanic workforce (Manejo Lechero).
A third component was the dissemination of financial resources available to dairy and beef producers under the CARES Act from federal and state authorities. Weekly meetings with county and city officials during 24 consecutive weeks were conducted with county and city personnel to facilitate the utilization of federal and state funding to mitigate expenses in the cities and county due to COVID-19 during the implementation of CARES Act.
The results of the retrospective post evaluations of the Homeowner Septic System, Private Applicators CEU and North East Texas Fall Dairy Conference were as follows:
- 88% (14/16) of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with the activity (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 94% (15/16) of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with the physical setting’s contribution to ease of listening and participation (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 81% (13/16) of respondents anticipate benefiting economically as a direct result of what they learned from this Extension activity (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 100% (16/16) of respondents would recommend this activity to others. (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 100% (60/60) of respondents plan to take actions or make changes based on the information from this Extension activity (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 88% (53/60) of respondents anticipate benefiting economically as a direct result of what they learned from this Extension activity (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 98% (59/100) of respondents would recommend this activity to others (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 98% (59/100) of respondents would attend another subject offered by Extension if it addressed a specific need or interest of theirs (Private Applicators CEU Training).
- 87% (53/100) of respondents said that the information and programs provided by Extension were quite or extremely valuable to them (Private Applicators CEU Training).
- 100% (10/10) of respondents plan to take actions or make changes based on the information from this Extension activity (Northeast Texas Dairy Fall Conference).
Acknowledgements
The Hopkins County Agricultural and Natural Resources Program recognizes the support of Master Gardener volunteers, county officials and episodic volunteers during the development of programs, creating training materials and maintaining programmatic activities during 2020.
County Seeking Legal Help In For Costs Of Repairing County Roads Damaged By 2019 Pipeline Fuel Spill Cleanup
Hopkins County is seeking legal for costs of repairing county roads damaged by the 2019 pipeline fuel spill cleanup in Turkey Creek.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning considered a retainer agreement with Allison, Bass & Magee LLP to assist with legal action in attempts to get Delek Logistics to pay for damages reportedly caused by heavy trucks using county roads in Precincts 1 and 4 while responding to the Oct. 3, 2019 fuel spill in Turkey Creek.
Background on the 2019 Pipeline Fuel Spill
Local officials on Oct. 4 reported, Hopkins County Fire Department responded at 6:44 p.m. Oct. 3, 2019, “in the area of County Road 1130 in Miller Grove for a six inch rupture in a pipeline that occurred after diesel was pushed through the pipeline after a two month maintenance program. While the diesel was being pushed the pipeline burst causing the diesel to run into the nearby waterway. The pipeline was shut down and mitigation was started to contain the diesel. The creek bed was dry and contained before getting into any other water way.”
A remediation company was contracted to place a boom to prevent the spill from traveling downstream. Local community volunteers under the direction of the Hopkins County Office of Emergency Management built a temporary earthen barrier in the event the boom was insufficient, emergency management officials reported Oct. 4, 2019.
The State of Texas State Operations Center on Oct. 4 reported 10,000 to 15,000 barrels of product were to have been released during the incident.
Much of the creek bed along the 1.25-mile stretch of Turkey Creek was dry, with only a few pockets of water, which helped stop the spread before it got into the drinking water. Some fish in those small pockets of water were found dead after the first day or response, officials reported.
On Monday, Oct. 7, 24,186 barrels of substance had been removed from the area. However, Hopkins County emergency management officials reported not all contained product, some were mostly water. An estimated 10,048 barrels were diesel.
According to EPA officials at the command center on Oct. 11, the quick response to contain the spill and remove the product so quickly, was expected to result in no long term damage to the creek and surrounding environment. An area of soil around the pipeline leak would have to be replaced, but the creek itself wasn’t expected to have to be remediated, according to the EPA official.
Retainer Agreement
“Hopkins County employees and their equipment did a lot of work the night of that spill to keep that flow of diesel from going into Lake Fork. We provided anything they asked for and we did have a gentlemen’s agreement that they would take care of our roads, which now they are not following through,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker said during the commissioners court.
“His crew did really save the day for us out there. It was hours out before they ever got any equipment in there. His crews already had it stopped, diked and dammed. They did an outstanding job,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley said.
Once crews contracted by the company arrived, they began to clean up the fuel that was spilled, requiring heavy trucks to travel on county roads.
Endsley emphasized the subcontractors who performed the cleanup did a “good job on it” and “were on top of their game.” He said he has no complaint with their efforts.
“It’s still an ongoing spill. They have not closed it out. And, they need the local authority and county judge to sign of that it is completed. We’re still months, maybe even a year or more, before we have a clean bill on that creek being complete. They’re out there at least once a month,” Endsley said.
Reimbursement has been paid for materials and manpower of fire department, emergency management and county employees during the biggest part of the clean up effort, Endsley noted.
However, Delek Logistics has not honored the agreement to restore county roads damaged in the cleanup effort, county officials contend. In addition to the gentlemen’s agreement, federal environmental regulations regarding hazardous material incidents stipulate that the company is responsible for paying 100 percent back to take care of damages, including county roads, county officials contended.
“I’ve already spent quite a bit of money repairing my roads. I know Joe has also,” Barkers said of Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price. “We’ve had over 500 overloaded trucks going up and down our county roads, that have at some places destroyed the road and at other places destroyed the base underneath the road. We just feel like it’s time to move forward with this. It’s been over a year now.”
According to Price, about 4 miles of county road in his precinct have been damaged as well. Heavy overloaded trucks “compromised the top of that road and it’s not going to get any better,” Price said. “I’ve spent $10,000 just on a short strip where the trucks and stopped to enter [FM] 275. That doesn’t even scratch the surface on what I need to do.”
“I’ve spent about $30,000 in material and on some culverts that were crushed, and that’s just patching, that’s not completely repairing the roads,” Barker said. “Citizens out there are getting very upset and I don’t blame them one bit, but we are very limited in what we can do.”
Price made the motion, which was seconded by Barker, to approve a retainer agreement with Allison, Bass & Magee LLP. The motion received unanimous approval from the Commissioners Court during the 9 a.m. regular court session Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.
Barker and Endsley said they and Price have gone beyond the call of due diligence, trying to resolve the matter with the company without legal action.
Endsley recommended the commissioners court put Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP, “the finest law firm in the state of Texas,” on retainer to help move the process forward.
“I believe that they will help us move forward and get the county roads back where they need to be. We’ve really done our due diligence with Delek trying to be no so aggressive with them, but I think we’re at that point where we have got to move forward and get some more legal advice,” Endsley.
“We’ve all tried to handle this is situation. Delek has chosen to turn this over to their insurance lawyers. We just feel that it’s time that we get someone else involved that can understand a little more of the legal lingo and push to get our roads repaired,” Barker said.
Brookshire’s Pharmacy: Ready For Vaccine
Brookshire’s pharmacy wants to keep supporting each local community by distributing the vaccine for COVID-19. They made the committment as soon as they were able to apply to receive the vaccine. Not knowing when they signed up which vaccine would be readily available, they now know they will receive the Moderna vaccine as early as Tuesday, December 22nd, at the Sulphur Springs store. Although they could receive it as late as Thursday. Brookshire’s Pharmacy will be the first non-hospital affiliated outlet to receive the vaccine in the Sulphur Springs area.
Before you rush to make the required scheduled appointment, you should know that these first doses are reserved for “front-line healthcare workers” and those making an appointment to receive their first dose will have to have documentation proving they are in this group. With only 100 doses being received this week, it is unclear how many doses the pharmacy will receive in future weeks. But, they do know that they will receive 100 of the “second dose” in approximately three weeks for those that receive the 100 first doses this week.
Brookshire’s was ready to accept whatever vaccine the federal government decided to send, and in any quantity. The first vaccine approved by the FDA, from Pfizer, has more rigourous storage temperature protocols, but Brookshire’s already had a plan in place to meet the temperature protocols. Once approved, the Moderna vaccine was chosen to be sent to the Brookshire’s chain. Although it has less stringent temperature requirements, the Moderna vaccine has a six hour “shelf life” once each 10-dose vial is opened. Those adminstering the vaccine locally are confident they will be able to schedule appointments close enough to meet this six hour protocol while still providing social distancing protocols.
The general public awaits their turn to be able to receive the vaccine, and it may be sooner rather than later. These 100 doses and the 600 doses that will received locally by CHRISTUS (also this week), will be made available to front line healthcare workers in and around Hopkins County. The next wave, after healthcare workers that choose to take the vaccine are giving their chance, is believed to be residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The CDC has also mentioned including an age group in the next wave and that age group currently is 74 and over. These criteria will most certainly change as will the availability of the vaccine dependent upon how many doses are sent to which facility locally. Several more local clinics, pharmacies and other outlets are awaiting approval to receive the vaccine.
If you are a healthcare worker and qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine you can call your local Brookshire’s pharmacy and then press “0” to make an appointment. KSST News will continue to publish information about the availability of the vaccine from all sources.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Drops A Game To McLeod Saturday
The Saltillo Lions Basketball Team took a loss against McLeod on Saturday, December 19.
The Lions had the lead after one quarter but McLeod rallied over the next three periods to take a 57-40 win.
Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 19 points. David Whitworth scored 8 points. Andrew Redburn added 6 points. Coy Collins had 4 points. Colton McGill scored 3 points.
The Lions record for the season is now 3-6. The Lions play Savoy Monday afternoon.
Man Accused Of Choking Wife During Altercation
Police arrested a 54-year-old Sulphur Springs man accused of choking his wife during an altercation Saturday at their residence.
Sulphur Springs Police officers responded at 8:25 p.m. Saturday to a report of a physical disturbance on Houston Street. Upon arrival, Officer Cameron Robinson reported seeing Gary Edwin Hayes standing above a woman, identified in police reports as the man’s wife.
The wife went outside and her mother left the room when Hayes sat down to talk with police. The 54-year-old man allegedly began yelling angrily, stood up and stepped toward his wife’s mother. Police reported using “a reasonable amount of force to repel aggression” to keep him away from his mother-in-law.
Due to his aggressive behavior, the officer attempted to place Hayes into handcuffs as a safety precaution while he investigated the alleged assault. Robinson alleged Hayes pulled away from him and was “assisted to the ground, where he continued to resist until he was successfully placed in handcuffs and placed into custody.”
The man’s wife, the alleged assault victim, had apparent injuries to her neck and one arm, Cameron reported. Witnesses alleged during a verbal altercation between Hayes and the woman Hayes grabbed his wife and slammed her into furniture, then to the ground, where he proceeded to choke her, Robinson noted in arrest reports. Hayes allegedly choked his wife for 20-30 seconds, during which she could not breath.
Consequently, Hayes was taken into custody at 8:32 p.m. December 19, 2020, and transported to Hopkins County jail. He was booked on a third-degree felony family violence assault impeding breathing charge and a Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest charge.
Hayes was released from jail Sunday on a $20,000 bond on the assault charge and a $10,000 on the resisting arrest charge.
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.
Woman Accused Of Threatening Four People With A Gun
Deputies arrested a 56-year-old Sulphur Springs woman accused of threatening four people with a gun Sunday evening.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at 1:25 p.m. December 20, 2020 at a woman’s County Road 4615 residence to what was reported as an animal complaint call involving a female pointing a gun at the complainant. Upon arrival, they contacted the complainant, his wife and their two adult daughters.
During the investigation, Janice Leigh Fite was alleged to have gone outside with a handgun to confront the man, his wife and their daughters. She told him she would kill him, then turned to the man’s wife and daughters and threatened them as well, while displaying a handgun and pointing it at the four. Consequently, 56-year-old Janice Leight Fite was arrested at 3:15 p.m. on four aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges.
She remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning on the four charges for threating the four people with a gun. Her bond was set at $35,000 per charges. Her jail records shows she was also booked into Hopkins County jail on Aug. 24, 2002 on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.
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.
2020 ‘Wreaths Across America’ in Sulphur Springs
The annual posthumous recognition for veterans of all wars was held in cemeteries across the nation on Saturday December 19, 2020. This year, five Hopkins County cemeteries took part in the solemn event. They are Sulphur Springs City Cemetery, Black Oak Cemetery. Pickton Cemetery, Greenview Cemetery and Gafford’s Chapel Cemetery. Almost 900 wreaths were placed in City Cemetery alone! Many local volunteers came together and made the event a memorable experience. Here are photos from activity at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery.
DSHS: CHRISTUS Hospital-Sulphur Springs Is 1 Of 3 Local Sites Selected For COVID-19 Vaccine
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs CEO Paul Harvey Thursday gave an update of the COVID-19 situation and other activities at as they relate to the hospital and associated local CHRISTUS facilities, including reports on testing and the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Over the last week, the CDC delivered doses of the COVID-19 to various locations across the country and state. Texas Commissioner of Health appointed an Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP) of subject matter experts to make recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine allocation decisions. This includes identifying groups that should be vaccinated first, with a goal of protecting the most vulnerable populations and critical state resources, Texas Department of State Health Services reported Friday.
CMFH-SS, Titus and Paris hospitals were NOT among the medical facilities selected to receive batches of the COVID-19 vaccine during the first round of distribution over the last week, but Hunt Regional received 975 doses of the vaccine, according to Harvey.
Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler and CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center Longview had each received a box with about 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, the CMFH-SS CEO told Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors during their regular meeting Thursday afternoon. The UT Health Science Center in Tyler
UT Health System in Tyler received 3,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week as CHRISTUS did and more than Northeast Texas..
“This first wave is for any provider or hospital that gets this, it really goes to the first responders and the first staff that are dealing with the COVID patients,” Harvey told Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors Thursday afternoon during the board’s December meeting.
While the state list Thursday afternoon indicated a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t scheduled to be available at CMFH-SS until the first week in April, Harvey said CHRISTUS officials hoped that process will be fast-tracked with the approval of the Moderna vaccine. At that point, CFMH-SS officials anticipated first line employees would be able to drive to Tyler to get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, then return to that site in 21 days to get the second dose.
However, Moderna announced Friday evening, Dec. 18, that the FDA has authorized the emergency use of mRNA-1273, Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age or older.
Texas expects to receive 620,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine distributed to more than 1,100 providers in 185 Texas counties in Week 2 of vaccine distribution. The CDC anticipated delivering 460,500 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 159,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to continue to vaccinate front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, according to DSHS reports.
The second COVID-19 vaccine disbursement should begin arriving Monday at providers such as hospitals, freestanding ERs, EMS providers, pharmacies, local health departments, health centers and other clinics. Providers that have received vaccine are being encouraged by DSHS to partner with other health care facilities and workers in the area to maximize vaccinations.
The Week 2 vaccine allocation schedule posted on the DSHS website Saturday showed three locations in Sulphur Springs are now among 23 of sites scheduled to receive batches of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The DSHS reports shows Brookshire’s Pharmacy is scheduled to receive 100 doses of Moderna vaccine, Christus Trinity Clinic – Sulphur Springs 200 doses, and Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs 400 doses on Week 2 of vaccine allocations.
Most of the Pfizer vaccine, 124,800 doses, will go to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Vaccination under the program is expected to begin Dec. 28 in Texas. The remaining doses will be distributed to 29 hospitals that received Pfizer doses this week to continue vaccinating health care workers, according to DSHS.
“I’m not a scientist but some of the doctors that have really kept abreast of this say the science even on Pfizer is as good or better than if you remember years ago the measles outbreak and how that happened. So, the science is good. so, I think we can all be assured that the vaccine will do its job,” Harvey said Thursday. “Obviously we don’t know about people and how they react so far there’s not been that big of a deal on allergic reactions yet. Some are saying sometimes that will happen on the second round, but as far as we know — and our hospitals throughout CHRISTUS have done this since Monday — everything has gone very well so far in the vaccinations at those facilities.
Harvey said whether someone has had COVID 19 or has had a remdesivir infusion the thought in the medical community right now is to wait 90 days after diagnosis or having the infusion before getting a vaccine. Remdesivir was the the first antiviral drug Veklury approved by the FDA for treatment of COVID-19 in certain hospitalized individuals.
Harvey said from what he has seen and can tell, the federal government is “really doing a pretty good job” with the methodology and track mechanism used to track COVID-19 actions.
Additional COVID-19 response
According to Harvey, CMFH-SS and all of the other connected sites do all three types of testing, PCR (molecular or oral swab). Approximately 14.2 percent of the COVID-19 tests performed by the Sulphur Springs CHRISTUS staff have had positive results. That’s about 1,300 COVID-19 positives out of the 9,300 COVID-19 tests performed at the facility. That’s from a variety of tests including, PCR, blood antigen rapid tests, according to Harvey.
Case counts at the hospital include not only Hopkins County residents but people who live and work in counties other than Hopkins County as well.
The hospital has also accommodated other medical facilities to help house and care for COVID patients. For example, CMFH-SS has assisted Quality ER of Paris, an independent emergency room with several facilities in Northeast Texas, when they need somewhere to go an Paris can’t accommodate their patients. CMFH-SS has also taken a transfer from Lewisville, Paris and other places.
There have been other times when other areas need somewhere to transfer patients, but CMFH-SS has not been able to assist at the time because they just didn’t have enough available beds to take the patient.
“You just have to be selective depending on what you capacity is,” Harvey noted.
Harvey said blood is being drawn in Sulphur Springs for a convalescent serum, with more than 200 draws used.
The hospitalization rates, especially in Northeast Texas, have gone up, so EMS volumes continue to go up. There’s been a sharp rise in hospitalizations all across Northeast Texas over the last 4 weeks, Harvey note.
“We’ve been able to hold our own. Over the last four weeks we’ve averaged in the mid 20s as far as the number of COVID patients,” Harvey said. “The feeling is after Christmas we might see another little spike, depending on how families get together and so forth.”
Harvey said the community should be proud of the team here at the hospital and what they’ve gone through, including dealing with more hospice death type situations. It has taken a toll on hospital associates who aren’t normally used to this that at the acute care hospital.
“Hats off ot our team there that does a phenomenal job,” Harvey said. “We do get support from the state in the amount of resources. At one point we had over 35 state-sponsored clinical staff, whether they are nurses, respiratory therapy or patient care techs.”
The hospital continues to have plenty of the proper equipment to be able to take care of patients appropriately and the associates. Being part of the CHRISTUS Health system, Harvey noted, has allowed the hospital to access more supplies that the hospital might not be able to get on their own. Additional warehouse space has been secure to be able to house some of the additional equipment and supplies.
“I feel very confident about our ability and capabilities. We have cohorted enough where we can take up to 35 patients if they were COVID-related. We haven’t even come close to hitting that,” Harvey said, adding “And I mean 35 and we are still taking care of the other non-COVID-19 type patients that come in.”
CMFH-SS’ surge plan includes an agreement to be able to send “med-surge patients to the CHRISTUS facility in Winnsboro if the situation became necessary to do so om order to free up some beds at CMFH-SS.
More Hospital News
CMFH-SS recently received an A Leapfrog rating, which is the national gold standard benchmark that indicates how safety a facility is at providing quality care.
“We were the only hospital in the region that received an A so our competitors that are surrounding us all got a Cs,” Harvey said. “So we continue to hold our own, but to be strong and to continue to do the things that we need to do to keep our patients, our community and our associates safe while we provide care
While the Health Care Foundation Gala will not be able to hold a fundraising gala the way its typically held, the committee has come up with what Harvey says is a “very innovative plan” includes a virtual event that will be memorable to those who want to support the foundation. That event, “Gala Unmasked” will take place Feb. 20, with additional information to be released at a later time. He expressed appreciation to the sponsors who have stepped in over the last 2 weeks.
“I’m really pleased with that Foundation Board. They are really taking this to another level given what we’ve had to deal with from a pandemic standpoint.
The sports medicine clinic offered for local students on Saturdays has just wrapped up, but touched the lives of kids in 14 high schools and tripled the number of students seen by Dr. Metsakos during the fours of the clinic.
Starting in January, because of the Foundation donations last year, CMFH-SS has the new Stryker’s Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Application that will allow Dr. Chris Meltsakos to perform knee surgeries using a robot.
“The outcomes are phenomenal and require less hospitalization usually. He and our OR team are fully certified on that now. He of course has patients set up for the first week in January,” Harvey said. “It’s just phenomenal to be able to have the capability here. We are very excited about what that is going to do a we continue to look at ways to growing our service line in orthopedics.”
Anyone wishing to donate blood to help bolster extremely low supplies during this time of COVID-19 can scheduled to an appointment in the Carter BloodCare bus on the CMFH-SS parking lot during the blood drive on Wednesday, Dec. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on how to sign-up, call/text 800.366.2834 or visit:
https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/120339
Dec. 21-25 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center remains closed due to COVID-19, volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community.
The Dec. 21-25 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday – Chicken Cacciatore, Penne Pasta, Italian Vegetables and Garlic Sticks
Tuesday – Shepherd’s Pie, Broccoli and Pickled Beets
Wednesday – Honey Glazed Ham, Corn Bread Dressing, Green Bean Casserole, Candied Carrots, Cranberry Sauce and a Roll
Thursday – Smothered Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Spinach and Roll
Friday – Closed for Christmas
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
