3 New Positive COVID-19 Cases Reported May 19 In Hopkins County
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at 8:45 p.m. May 19 reported two additional positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed for Hopkins County, for a total of three new positive COVID-19 cases reported today.
Newsom and Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley said officials have received no background information on the three cases yet. They do know that all three are being treated in isolation.
These three new cases were not from among the 107 screenings conducted during the mobile test collection event last Friday at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. Those test results are still pending, according to the emergency management officials.
The Local Health Authority has a nurse who will be working the cases, trying to obtain background information to “find out where this is coming from,” the judge reported.
“We’ll have answers, hopefully. We don’t get very much. We hope to have answers, to try to prevent any further cases than we have to have,” Newsom said.
The three cases today bring the total of COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County since the pandemic began to 11, with five individuals recovered and six cases currently active.
“The way that you figure it changed. We are below the limit still. I believe we are fine at 50 percent for restaurants and businesses,” Newsom said. “Nothing really changes as far at that.”
The Minimum Standard Health Protocols previously allowed Hopkins County to reopen at 50 percent capacity when many other counties were only allowed 25 percent capacity because it had five or fewer laboratory-confirmed cases on May 1. According to the protocol (listed on the Governor’s Open Texas Checklists page), counties that submit the required paperwork to Texas Department of State Health Services, will have to revert to 25 percent occupancy limits only if any of the following occurs:
- Five consecutive testing / tracking intervals with positivity rates greater than 12% in that interval.
- The county has more than 3 positive cases per 1,000 residents.
- Less than 15% of the surge capacity in hospitals for the catchment area is available.
Social distancing, hand-washing and other recommended preventive health practices are especially important to help keep the number of cases in Hopkins County low by reducing potential spread of coronavirus, Endsley emphasized earlier today, when the ninth case was announced.
Deputies Stop To Offer Assistance To Motorists, Make 2 Arrests
May 19, 2020 – Sheriff’s deputies stopped to offer assistance to motorists in a maroon Ford stopped with flashers active on the side of State Highway 19 south at County Road 1182. They ended up taking both occupants to jail on a controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputies Elijah Fite and Zack Horne, in arrest reports, alleged seeing several open containers of an alcoholic beverage throughout the four-door vehicle upon contact with the occupants.
Both occupants were asked to exit the vehicle while they conducted a probable cause search of its contents. Deputies alleged finding multiple glass pipes of the kind commonly used to smoke narcotics along with a baggy containing suspected cocaine.
Both 40-year-old Raul Guerrero of Corsicana and 39-year-old Elizabeth Tovar of Sulphur Springs denied ownership of the substance. Both were arrested at 7:35 p.m. and jailed on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; the car was impounded.
Guerrero and Tovar were released from Hopkins County jail Tuesday, May 19; bond on the charge was set at $5,000 each on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
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.
1 New Positive Case In Hopkins County, 1 Recovered From COVID-19
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom this afternoon reported one new positive case of COVID-19 in Hopkins County, for a total of nine positive cases since the Hopkins County Emergency Management Team began tracking coronavirus in Hopkins County in March.
The individual whose test result was reported to be positive May 19 is in isolation. No additional information about the case was released by officials.
The new positive test result was not from among the 107 individuals who were screened during the free mobile test collection last Friday at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The results of the May 13 screenings are still pending. Results from the last April 30 mobile test collection at the Civic Center, on average, came back in 3-4 days, according to Hopkins County Fire Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley.
While the county did have one additional positive test, Newsom said there was some good news too. One of the two people reported May 1 to have COVID-19 has recovered. That means Hopkins County still has only four active COVID-19 cases.
Because the county’s active cases remains below the five, Hopkins County businesses and organizations authorized to open on or before May 18 may continue to operate at 50 percent capacity, according to the county judge.
“We are very blessed in Hopkins County that the numbers remain low,” Endsley said, but emphasized the importance for those in Hopkins County to continue following social distancing guidelines where possible.
As businesses and other offices and programs begin reopening, social distancing, hand-washing and other recommended health practices are especially important to help keep the number of cases in Hopkins County low by reducing potential spread of coronavirus, the emergency management coordinator said.
Sulphur Springs Fire Chief David James reported that infectious disease control inspections at all four nursing homes in Hopkins County began Saturday will be completed by the end of the day May 19.
SSFD’s two assistant fire marshals were designated as the only personnel to conduct the nursing home inspections, to meet state requirements. Limiting entry to only two personnel helps reduce potential for cross contamination and safety precaution for the nursing home residents as well as SSFD employees. The fire marshals also between inspections completed a decontamination process as an added safety measure, according to the SSFD chief.
As for the inspections, James said the nursing homes are “doing real good.” The assistant fire marshals will have some recommendations, but will be available to help the nursing home staff through the process. The fire officials too are making sure that the nursing homes have the personal protective equipment needed to properly ensure the safety of residents and staff.
James said while other agencies across the state are reporting shortages of PPE, the fire department “is sitting good” as far as supplies of PPE. When SSFD sends in a request, it has been filled quickly. While SSFD’s stock of PPE may not be as high as some would like, they have not fallen short.
He said the testing of nursing home residents, also required by the state, is being coordinated by Hopkins County EMS Director Brent Smith, in conjunction with the Emergency Medical Task Force and National Guard.
That process, James said, is starting to get under way. He said while the Governor Greg Abbott ordered all nursing home staff and residents in Texas to be tested, residents may refuse the testing. However, that individual will have to go into a 14-day isolation period.
Bright Star Theater Back Open For Business In Sulphur Springs
After being closed for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bright Star theater is back open for business, although with limited capacity. KSST News talked with the owner who is thrilled that she is able to put her employees back to work at the theater. Show times will be on a limited basis as they get back open, and social distancing rules are in effect even as you select your seat online. Ticket pricing has been adjusted to $5.00 per seat. Click here for more information: Bright Star Cinemas
Food Give-Away Scheduled In Sulphur Springs
NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AT THE HOPKINS COUNTY REGIONAL CIVIC CENTER TO HELP FEED HUNGRY NORTH TEXANS DURING COVID-19
Hopkins County Civic Center, in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), will be distributing kitted food boxes through a low-touch distribution model on May 29th, 2020. Distribution will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. To receive food, visitors must be in a vehicle. No proof of identification is necessary.
When: May 29th, 2020 10AM – 12PM
NTFB staff will determine if the distribution needs to extend past end time.
Where: 1200 Houston St., Sulphur Springs, Texas
Sulphur Springs High School parking lot behind the Dairy Museum.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization operating a state-of-the-art volunteer and distribution center in Plano — the Perot Family Campus. Last year, the Food Bank worked hard in partnership with member agencies from our Feeding Network to provide access to almost 77 million nutritious meals across a diverse 13-county service area — this means more than 200,000 meals per day for hungry children, seniors and families. But the need for hunger relief in North Texas is complex and in order to meet the need the NTFB is working to increase our food distribution efforts. Our goal is to provide access to 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025.
NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization.
Car Fire At Lowe’s
May 19, 2020 – An observant KSST listener snapped this picture of a car on fire at Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Sulphur Springs Fire Department is on the scene.
Special Use Permit Request For Cosmetic Tattoos Approved By P&Z, Headed To ZBA
A Davis Street business is one step closer to being able to perform cosmetic tattoos. Salon Laveau’s special use permit request received approval from the Sulphur Springs Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday evening, and is on this evening’s Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals’ agenda.
Special Use Permit Request
The business owners requested the special use permit to be allowed to expand services provided to include microblading and cosmetic tattoos.
Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski told the P&Z Commissioners that 10 letters had been sent to nearby property owners notifying them of the permit request, but as of Monday night, the city had not received any responses regarding the matter.
Niewiadomski said it was the recommendation of city staff to approve the request for the special use permit to allow Salon Laveau to provide microblading and permanent makeup services.
The commission approved the request, sending it to the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals for consideration at the 5:30 p.m. meeting, to be conducted May 19 via Zoom.
Cosmetic Tattoos Discussion
The request to allow salons and cosmetology businesses to provide cosmetic tattooing — permanent makeup — and micro-blading is the most common request for special use permits, according to Niewiadomski.
Thus, Niewiadomski asked the P&Z Commission for additional guidance regarding whether to consider drafting a proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance to define cosmetic tattoos and permanent makeup and to provide locations for these activities to occur.
The Zoning Ordinance does not specifically identity these uses and which have been classified as a special use under Article 20 and treated as Tattoo and body piercing parlors. Typically, these requests have come
from persons working for salons to perform microblading or permanent makeup as an ancillary use to some other form of business.
City staff is proposing permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoos be defined, to allow them as a use by right in commercial zoning districts or in multi-family zoning if performed as an ancillary use within a beauty shop or salon, Niewiadomski noted.
He suggested permanent makeup be defined as “a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyeliner and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids. It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, and to disguise scars and blemishes to the skin to provide a more natural appearance.”
The community development director said if the P&Z Commission is comfortable with defining it to allow for an ordinance amendment, he can put it a formalized format and bring it back for more action at a future meeting.
Commission member Pat Chase said while he feels allowing those services for beauty shops is fine, he believes “a lot of citizens don’t want decorative tattoo parlors around town.”
The matter was submitted for discussion only.
ZBA Agenda
The ZBA in addition to considering the special use permit request for Salon Laveau, the ZBA will also be asked Tuesday evening to consider approving a variance request from the subdivision ordinance to subdivide land from one 19.009 acre lot to two lots, one being 17.78 acres with the remaining acreage being 1.229 staying with house on property at 5755 County Road 1100.
The ZBA also has the option to discuss any other business presented.
The ZBA meeting is scheduled to be conducted at 5:30 p.m. May 19 via Zoom. The link is https://zoom.us/j/93551162475?pwd=VUQ0eHNQOFN3Y0J2eEdNL0lvVnpiUT09.
The meeting ID is 93551162475, and the password is 291572.
A&M-Commerce Selected To Receive Texas Emergency Aid Funding For Students
Austin, Texas – Texas A&M University-Commerce is among 57 higher education institutions selected from among 124 applicants to receive Texas Emergency Aid Grant Program funding, according to an announcement Monday by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Higher Education Foundation, the Greater Texas Foundation and the Trellis Foundation.
In addition to TAMU-C, other colleges and universities around the region named as recipients include Northeast Texas Community College, Panola College, East Texas Baptist University, Kilgore College, Texas A&M University-Texarkana and The University of Texas at Tyler.
Overall, $710,000 in grant funding was divided among 29 community colleges, 16 public universities and 12 independent, non-profit Texas institutions to support students during the COVID-19 crisis. The amount awarded to each agency was not specified by THEFCB in the press release.
The Texas Emergency Aid Grant Program is designed to provide critical support to help students make ends meet and stay on track to graduate. Applicants could apply for funding for a variety of needs including food, housing, and technology support to help with the transition to online learning, according to a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board press release.
THEF’s plans to continue raising funds to support institutions’ work in meeting students’ needs.
“I’m proud that together we are providing much-needed assistance to these Texas institutions and the more than 300,000 students they collectively serve across the state,” Commissioner of Texas Higher Education Harrison Keller was quoted in the press release as stating. “Throughout this process, institutions have shared with us the struggles their students are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some seeing dramatic increases in student emergency aid requests. I am grateful to our partners, including Greater Texas Foundation and Trellis Foundation, for helping students stay on track to obtain high-value credentials. Looking ahead, we know that Texas graduates will play a critical role in the recovery of the Texas economy.”
“Greater Texas Foundation’s mission centers on helping more Texas students earn postsecondary credentials. This fund is a critical resource for directing financial support to students impacted by COVID-19 so they can stay on track to achieve their educational goals,” Greater Texas Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Sue McMillin was quoted as saying.
“Our Texas colleges and universities are playing a vital role in Texas’s recovery efforts,” the press release quoted Trellis Foundation Executive Director Kristin Boyer as stating.. “We appreciate that so many of them are putting students at the center of these efforts, and we thank the Coordinating Board for stepping up to support them through the creation of this emergency fund.”
Texas Higher Education Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for the Texas Emergency Aid Grant Program, working to identify additional sources of funds that may be used as a match to private philanthropic dollars, such as the anchor funding donations by GTF and Trellis of $500,000 and $200,000, respectively. Individuals may join this effort by contributing online. According to the press release, funds raised “will help provide crucial resources to another institution and its students during this time of unprecedented need.”
The goal of this public-private partnership is to continue raising money to support the state’s two- and four-year institutions with block grants of $10,000 to $30,000, depending on the size and need of each institution and its student body. These grants are designed to expand existing emergency aid programs offered by higher education institutions in Texas and complement the federal funds provided by the CARES Act by providing resources for capacity-building support of emergency aid programs or through direct emergency student aid, according to the press release.
CPJH Academic Awards Announced
Baxley, Monk Named Top 8th Graders
While Como-Pickton Junior High was unable to host the 8th grade awards program scheduled earlier in the year to take place on May 18, school administrators and staff still recognized students accomplishments. CPJH Principal Cassie Bland announced this year’s CPJH Academic Awards recipients, including Top 10, perfect attendance and Honor Roll award recipients Monday.
Top 10
Earning top honors as the 2020 Como-Pickton 8th grade valedictorian is Dana Baxley.
Finishing second in this year’s 8th grade class and earning salutatorian honors is Addison Monk.
Also honored for being in the Top 10 based on cumulative averages are eighth graders:
3. Tatiana Martinez
4. Kevin Hernandez
5. Anayaeli Tovar
6. Landan Cummins
7. Noelia Garcia
8. Katie Tifft
9. Mac Hankins
10. Tenison Stephens
Perfect Attendance
Only four CPJH students had Perfect attendance this year. They include 6th graders Sean Carpenter and Skyla Smith, and 8th graders Vanessa Bass and Fernanda Munoz.
A Honor Roll
Como-Pickton JH students who had all As include the following A Honor Roll students:
7th Grade
- Sanay Diaz
- Emily Hall
- Isabella Romero
- Judah Van Rijn
8th Grade
- Dana Baxley
- Tatiana Martinez
- Addison Monk
AB Honor Roll
Como-Pickton JH students recognized for making As and Bs include the following AB Honor roll students:
6th Grade
- Cade Childress
- Adriana Enriquez
- Shiloh Hill
- Claire Jalufka
- Jacob Kettwich
- Justiss Larkin
- Tucker Lecroy
- Jose Mejia
- Sarai Olvera
- Julian Pastrana
- Talon Pierson
- Maud Poortvliet
- Saylor Smith
- Jordan Williams
- Madelyn Williams
7th Grade
- Maggie Brown
- Adan Bucio
- Allie Cockrum
- Stephanie Galvan
- Krislynn Gonzalez
- Zachary Harper
- Daisy Nunez
- Kaitlyn Olguin
- Fernanda Palacios
- Alyssa Partin
8th Grade
- Vanessa Bass
- Daniel Corral
- Camyn Courson
- Landan Cummins
- Ireland Fite
- Noelia Garcia
- Anayeli Gomez
- Mac Hankins
- Kevin Hernandez
- Lani Hurley
- Keyden Self
- Tenison Stephens
- Rhayne Thomas
- Katie Tifft
Academic Content Awards
Several students were recognized for being among the among the top students overall in their various classes. Those winners include by class and grade level:
Honors Reading
6th Grade
- 3rd Claire Jalufka
- 2nd Saylor Smith
- 1st Shiloh Hill
7th Grade
- 3rd Levi Teague
- 2nd Judah Van Rijn
- 1st Sam Tapley
8th Grade
- 3rd Addison Monk
- 2nd Dana Baxley
- 1st Tatiana Martinez
Honors English
6th Grade
- 3rd Saylor Smith
- 2nd Cade Childress
- 1st Shiloh Hill
7th Grade
- 3rd Sanay Diaz
- 2nd Emily Hall
- 1st Isabella Romero
8th Grade
- 3rd Addison Monk
- 2nd Dana Baxley
- 1st Tatiana Martinez
Reading
6th Grade
- 3rd Talon Pierson
- 2nd Jordan Williams
- 1st Maud Poortvliet
7th Grade
- 3rd Giovanni Camacho
- 2nd Vanessa Velasco
- 1st Cooper Lavender
8th Grade
- 3rd Evelyn Pulido
- 2nd Vanessa Bass
- 1st Danielle Hernandez
English
6th Grade
- 3rd Talon Pierson
- 2nd Jordan Williams
- 1st Maud Poortvliet
7th Grade
- 3rd Danica Wiggins
- 2nd Fernanda Palacios
- 1st Alyssa Partin
8th Grade
- 3rd Vanessa Bass
- 2nd Danielle Hernandez
- 1st Tenison Stephens
Math
6th Grade
- 3rd Jordan Williams
- 2nd Tucker Lecroy
- 1st Cade Childress
7th Grade
- 3rd Emily Hall
- 2nd Matteo Guadagni
- 1st Isabella Romero
8th Grade
- 3rd Tatiana Martinez
- 2nd Addison Monk
- 1st Dana Baxley
Science
6th Grade
- 3rd Claire Jalufka
- 2nd Tucker Lecroy
- 1st Cade Childress
7th Grade
- 3rd Cooper Lavender
- 2nd Judah Van Rijn
- 1st Levi Teague
8th
- 3rd Tatiana Martinez
- 2nd Addison Monk
- 1st Dana Baxley
Social Studies
6th Grade
- 3rd Ashton Cotten
- 2nd Maud Poortvliet
- 1st Cade Childress
7th Grade
- 3rd Isabella Romero
- 2nd Sanay Diaz
- 1st Emily Hall
8th Grade
- 3rd Tatiana Martinez
- 2nd Dana Baxley
- 1st Addison Monk
AVID
6th Grade
- 3rd Mylee Hall
- 2nd Talon Pierson
- 1st Claire Jalufka
7th Grade
- 3rd Matteo Guadagni
- 2nd Fernanda Palacios
- 1st Gabriela Romero
8th Grade
- 3rd Anayeli Gomez
- 2nd Noelia Garcia
- 1st Katie Tifft
Art
6th Grade
- 3rd Shiloh Hill
- 2nd Tucker Lecroy
- 1st Saylor Smith
7th Grade
- 3rd Lucas Silva
- 2nd Heather Joiner
- 1st Sanay Diaz
8th Grade
- 3rd Fernanda Munoz
- 2nd Nayeli Rojas
- 1st Dana Baxley
Band
6th Grade
- 3rd Mayra Lazaro
- 2nd Sean Carpenter
- 1st Cade Childress
7th Grade
- 3rd Zach Harper
- 2nd Jacob Correa
- 1st Adan Bucio
8th Grade
- 3rd Tatiana Martinez
- 2nd Kevin Hernandez
- 1st Mac Hankins
Explorations
6th Grade
- 3rd Maud Poortvliet
- 2nd Skyla Smith
- 1st Jordan Williams
Drama
7th Grade
- 3rd Sam Tapley
- 2nd Emily Hall
- 1st Danica Wiggins
AG
8th Grade
- 3rd Rhayne Thomas
- 2nd Katie Tifft
- 1st Addi Monk
Top Readers
6th Grade
- 3rd Sean Carpenter, 149.9 Points
- 2nd Jacob Kettwich, 175.9 Points
- 1st Jeremiah Porter, 472.3 Points
7th Grade
- 4th Fernanda Palacios, 110.4 Points
- 3rd Cooper Lavender, 126.4 Points
- 2nd Kasey Neal, 132 Points
- 1st Angelica Sasnett,154.6 Points
8th Grade
- 5th Daniel Corral, 100.2 Points
- 4th Evelyn Pulido, 121.1 Points
- 3rd Nicholas Arnold, 130.4 Points
- 2nd Daniela Castro, 143.4 Points
- 1st Vanessa Bass, 166.7 Points
KSST extends congratulations to each students on for their hard work and accomplishments.
Governor Outlines Phase 2 To Reopen Texas
Child Care Centers, Youth Clubs and Sports, Personal Services Businesses Allowed To Reopen Immediately
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a televised press conference Monday, March 18, outlined plans Phase 2 plans to reopen Texas following closured due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let me be clear, COVID-19 still exists in Texas. Our goal is to find ways to coexist with COVID-19 as safely as possible,” Abbott said.
Texans can do this by continuing the safe practices they have already adopted, including social distancing, wearing masks when out in public and sanitizing hands, Abbott said. These safety practices can help to save lives, especially the lives those most vulnerable to COVID-19 — individuals age 65 and older, particularly those who may have other health conditions. This is the demographic with the deaths among Texas COVID-19 fatalities, the governor further noted.
Abbott noted several businesses re-opened as scheduled today, and others are also approved reopen. Included among the businesses and places authorized to reopen immediately (effective May 18), provided social distancing and health standard are followed, are:
- Gyms
- Offices
- Manufacturers
- Child Care Centers
- Massage and Personal Care Beauty Services (Tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal services and hair loss treatment and growth services are included, provided there is the requisite 6 feet between work stations)
- Youth Clubs (ex. Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA)
- Youth Services
Beginning May 22, additional openings and expanded capacity were announced.
Restaurants in most cities that were open at 25 percent in-person capacity during Phase 1 of the Reopen Texas plan may now open at 50 percent capacity. Hopkins County has been allowed to open at 50 percent because the county at maximum has had only four active cases since May 1, per the term set of five or fewer cases.
Bars and wine tasting rooms across the state may reopen at 25 percent capacity starting May 22, the governor reported, this limits does not apply to outdoor areas that maintain safe distancing, Abbott said.
Bowling alleys, bingo halls, skating rinks, rodeo and equestrian events, aquariums and natural caverns can open at 25 percent capacity May 22. Drive-in concerts are allowed provided that participants remain in their own vehicles. Also, outdoor areas of zoos may operate up to 25% capacity beginning May 29.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said it is his understanding that because Hopkins County continues to have a low active case rate Hopkins County businesses can re-open at 50 percent, but encourages them to review the state guidelines set for their specific types of business to be in compliance with those stipulations.
“Counties with five or fewer active case counts can file proper attestation forms with DSHS to allow for occupancy limits to be 50% instead of the listed 25%,” according to Governor’s Executive Order GA-23.
On May 31, youth sports camps and programs, including Little League will be able to open. Parents can participate as spectators as long as social distancing and health safety guidelines are followed, Abbott said during the May 18 press conference. While, youth sports programs may begin practices May 31, games and competitions may not begin until June 15, according GA-23.
Youth camps and all summer camps, day time and overnight camps, including those for scouting and Vacation Bible Schools may re-open, if the guidelines are followed.
Professional sports, including golf, auto racing, baseball, softball, tennis, football and basketball may also reopen May 31 without spectators, provided safety standards are followed.
Guidelines for businesses and organizations regarding these re-openings may be found on the Governor’s website at https://gov.texas.gov/opentexas
Beginning June 1, school districts will have the option of offering summer school, so long as safe distancing and other health protocols are followed.
Texans are asked to avoid interactive amusement venues, including amusement parks and water parks at this time. Texans are also still asked to not visit nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities at this time, according to a release from the Governor’s office.
There are some exceptions to these re-openings. Phase 2 re-openings planned for May 22 that “require a temporary pause in opening process” due to high growth rate of COVID-19 and to make sure hospitals are not overtaxed include El Paso, Randall, Potter, Moore and Deaf Smith counties. These are scheduled to begin Phase 2 re-openings on May 29, according to Abbott. The high rate in the Amarillo area is due to spread in jails, nursing homes and meath packing plants, according to Abbott.
Surge Response Team are sent to those areas to quickly provide tests, separate sick from healthy, and ensure the outbreak is contained including overseeing sanitizing.
Already thousands of workers at meat packing plants and residents in Amarillo area have been tested. The state is working to increase the number of tests being administered daily. With the increase in testing a spike in the number testing positive is expected, the Governor said. However, typically, based on recent data, within a week or two the flare ups are contained and the number of positive tests is reduce as are number hospitalized, Abbott said.
The Surge Response Team also is overseeing efforts to have 100 percent of all residents and staff at all nursing homes in Texas tested for COVID-19. Local fire departments are tasked with partnering with local health authorities for these efforts as well as infection control inspections.
“Texans always faced adversity and Texans always prevails,” Abbot said, noting that Texas’ COVID-19 fatality rate is one of lowest and recovery rate overall one of the best in country. “Now more than ever, we need to work together as one Texas. As we move into phase 2, be a good neighbor. Be a good Texan.”
