COVID-19 testing is going to be available in Milam County, eventually.
That was among the many bits of information passed on Tuesday in a meeting of exactly 10 persons at the Patterson Civic Center by Robert Kirkpatrick, Milam County Health Department director.
Some limited tests are available at Country Meadows Clinic in Thorndale, but those are available on a case-by-case basis.
Kirkpatrick said Rockdale HealthPoint was in the process of obtaining some tests. Rockdale Medical Clinic “is not set up for testing,” he said.
“Baylor Scott & White in Cameron will refer those seeking testing to the main hospital in Temple,” he said.
Kirkpatrick said Milam’s efforts are aimed at “flattening the curve” of COVID-19 spread. What’s that? See page 2A
He said, as of Tuesday evening Milam County has no confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Kirkpatrick said a COVID-19 vaccine is “probably a year away.”
But he noted getting the disease is not a death sentence. “Probably the most underreported statistic in all this is that in the U.S. (as of Tuesday) there have been 5,894 cases with 97 deaths but 80,840 recoveries,” he said.
Kirkpatrick said studies show a person with the virus can infect 2.2 others. “Measures being taken are designed to lower that down to one or less,” he said.
He noted Dr. Anthony Fauci, medical advisor to six presidents, has estimated measures to achieve that goal will take at least 8-10 weeks.
Kirkpatrick said the virus has hit during prime allergy season. “If your eyes are red and you have a runny nose, it’s probably an allergy, not COVID-19,” he said. “But get checked out.”
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