Week two of COVID-19 and the biggest news is a negative that sounds positive, at least for the time being.
There have been no new cases of the deadly, incurable virus reported in the county since March 23. The total remains at two.
Chances are it won’t stay at two and all kinds of strategy is being employed to fight the impact:
• County superintendents met Tuesday afternoon with County Judge Steve Young to discuss whether to extend school closings past the first week in April.
The same afternoon Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all Texas schools not to resume until at least May 4.
Contained in the executive order, is the extension of the prohibitions of certain types of businesses from operating altogether, Abbott said.
The executive order explicitly lists gyms, massage parlors, tattoo and piercing studios, cosmetology salons and dining-in at restaurants and bars as prohibited.
Texans are still strongly encouraged to utilize drivethrough and to-go options at restaurants, Abbott said.
• Rockdale’s former Richards Memorial Hospital and Cameron’s ex-Central Texas Hospital—both closed since Dec. 12, 2018—have been okayed for possible use by non-COVID-19 patients in the event of overcrowding in area big-city facilities.
• Shelter-In-Place orders remain in effect in Rockdale and Milam County.
CASES—Two COVID-19 cases have been reported in the county, one each on March 20 and March 23.
Previously, five persons had been tested. Young said last week he believes all five tests were negative.
It’s tricky to assess what’s going on. “We don’t actually know how many people have been tested in the county,” Young said. “We don’t know the test results until the medical folks get back with us.”
HOSPITALS—On Sunday, six representatives of the Texas National Guard, and two from the Texas Dept. of Emergency Management toured the former Richards Memorial Hospital in Rockdale with city, county and Rockdale Hospital District officials .
Purpose was to assess the 44,000-square foot building—and the 35,000-squarefoot former Central Texas Hospital in Cameron, the subject of a separate tour— to see if they could be used in the future to house non-COVID-19 patients in the event area hospitals become full with those suffering from the virus.
“Some in statewide emergency management predict hospitals in Central Texas, if not all of Texas, will be full by the third week of April,” Young said.
He pointed out hospital space for non-COVID-19 patients is not solely a Texas problem. “Louisiana plans to have the Superdome in New Orleans ready to receive such patients in a week or so,” Young said.
The visitors told the Milam officials both hospitals were “in great shape” and could be used for patients.
Young said RMH is in “pristine condition” with 15 beds and “a lot of medical equipment still in place.”
Barbara Holly, interim city manager, and Rockdale Hospital District President Karolyn Puccio attributed that preservation to Troy Zinn, former hospital administrator and current hospital district board member, who has served as a caretaker since the building closed 15 months ago.
Zinn has advised the hospital board on maintenance issues which then have been corrected through the board.
WESTWARD-ORIENTED—“There is a very good chance that both buildings may be selected for use,” Young said.
He noted the governor’s office plans to relax some standards during the COVID-19 emergency to allow more patients in facilities. “Some staffing would be done by EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) instead of doctors and nurses,” he said.
One stipulation is that a facility receiving such non-COVID-19 cases from another hospital needs to be within about 40 miles of that hospital.
Young said RMH looks to be within range of hospitals in Taylor and Round Rock, while the Cameron facility would be within range of Temple’s.
STAY HOME—Milam County residents are under a Shelter-In-Place order that’s in effect until at least Tuesday (April 7), although that’s a lead-pipe certainty to be extended.
President Donald Trump on Sunday extended the federal “social distancing” guidelines to April 30.
During that announcement, Trump said he also expects the nation will be “well on our way to recovery by June 1.”
Those guidelines are voluntary but many entities, including Rockdale and Milam County, have enacted their own, mandatory, shelter-in-place restrictions.
Young said Milam County commissioners have scheduled a phone conference meeting for Monday to discuss extending Shelter-In-Place.
“This is not going to be a short-term problem,” Young said. “The virus will be around for a long time.”
“Remember, there is no cure,” he said. “The only thing we can do for protection is to avoid contact with others. Stay home!”
FOOD PROGRAM CHANGES—The free food program for students 18 and younger, which the Rockdale ISD instituted on March 16, continues. Two locations have been changed since the Monday, Wednesday and Friday program was announced.
There’s a new location near the Walmart Garden Center, replacing one previously announced for the Salty Community Center.
The other new location is Sumuel Park, MLK at Fourth in Rockdale. That replaces the Aycock Center.
No change to the other locations:
• Elementary gym parking lot.
• Parking lot at Rockdale High School next to Career Tech Building.
• Rockdale Housing Authority Main Office, 100 Cordova Drive.
• Corner of San Andres and San Gabriel.
• Corner of Jessie and Sierra, Praesel Addition.
• Old General Store in Sharp.
• Corner of Northwood Drive and Northwood Circle, off US 77.
• Minerva Community Center.
MEALS—Hours are 11 a.m. to 12-noon.
Students must be present to receive a meal. Parents may not attend alone to pick up meals for the student but students may attend alone. One set per student.
At the same times, and locations, campus staffers will be on school buses at each location to hand out, or receive, instructional material from students.
More changes are in store.
“Due to recent changes in the Texas Department of Agriculture guidance, we will no longer be able to provide weekend meals,” Assistant Supt. Pam Kaufmann said.
“We will continue to provide lunch and breakfast for all days that we would normally be in school at the remote sites as well as at Rockdale Elementary,” she said.
Remote sites can also be used for instructional packet pick up and delivery. Campus staff will provide specific information on packet distribution, Kaufmann said.
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