In a week in which it seemed like the COVID-19 situation was changing by the hour—always for the worst—Rockdale and Milam County residents are left mostly sitting in homes wondering what’s next.
A Shelter-In-Place order was imposed at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday (March 25) by County Judge Steve Young.
It’s 2,522 words long, but mostly it means “Stay Home!”
You can read the whole thing at https://files. constantcontact.com/ fc54a6b4701/22ae9b11- 9855-4986-b302- 97baf4150050.pdf.
Many will be interested in its exemptions, noting under what circumstances certain people are allowed out.
It stays in effect until April 7.
INFECTED—At midweek, two cases of the potentially deadly virus had been reported in Milam County and, while few details are being made available, the county health department has completed its investigations into both cases.
“You should already have received a communication from the health department if you’ve had contact with either of these two individuals,” Young said. “If you haven’t, then you’ve got nothing to worry about on that front.”
FIRST CASE—The first Milam case of the potentially deadly disease was confirmed Friday morning by Young.
Young told The Reporter the individual was not one of the five persons he mentioned in a Thursday address to the county as having been tested for the virus.
“We have not heard back from those tests, so we are presuming they were negative,” he said.
Testing is available at HealthPoint Clinic in Rockdale and Country Meadows Clinic in Thorndale. Scott & White Clinic in Cameron will refer patients to the main facility in Temple, Young said
“There are probably a lot of people who have been tested in the county that we don’t know about,” he said.
SECOND CASE—The second case wasn’t long in coming.
Young said at 12:38 p.m. Monday he had been advised a second case had been reported about two hours earlier.
That person had been admitted to a Bell County hospital, according to Young.
SHELTER-IN-PLACE— Later Monday, commissioners met and enacted a Disaster Declaration, limiting gatherings to 10 or less and extending current school closings.
But by Tuesday the rapidly changing dynamics of the pandemic had changed again, prompting Young to seek authority for a Shelter-In-Place order, citing numerous cases in many counties surrounding Milam who either had issued, or were about to issue, their own Shelter-In-Place decrees.
At an 11 a.m. Tuesday meeting—conducted wholly by phone conference—commissioners gave Young the authority.
‘STAY HOME’—T he new decree, in place until at least April 7, prohibits all social gatherings, not just the 10-or-more ordered four days previously.
“This one doesn’t have a number with it,” Young said. “You need to stay home.
The second, and most complex provision, is to prohibit non-essential traveling. What’s non-essential? That’s defined in the massive document but Young told commissioners there are many exceptions.
“This isn’t going to close any businesses that weren’t already closed,” he said. “Restaurants will remain open.” Drive through/takeout only were mandated in the Thursday decree.
“Construction stays open, medical, professional and essential government business will go on,” he said.
There’s a 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. countywide curfew for those 18 and under. (See box.)
SCHOOLS—All Milam County schools are closed until at least April 3. Rockdale ISD is one of many already undertaking remote learning. (See story this page.)
“The operation of a school is considered essential,” Pam Kaufmann, assistant super intendent, said. “Milam County superintendents will have phone conference calls with the county judge to make a decision about future closings.”
“We’re going two weeks at a time, hoping to get back to school,” Supt. Dr. Denise Monzingo said.
DECREES—It’s not just Milam County bodies making decisions affecting Milam residents.
Young and Gov. Greg Abbott issued orders within an hour of each other Thursday afternoon that upped the COVID-19 ante to crisis level.
They broadened the scope to include service organizations, church activities, sporting activities, gyms, fitness centers and civic functions.
Numerous organizations have canceled, or otherwise altered, their schedules.
(See page 2A.)
Lobbies of financial institutions are closed, although drive-throughs remain open.
CURFEW, NURSING HOMES—Each order listed areas not addressed by the other.
Gov. Abbott’s executive order addressed nursing homes, retirement homes and long-term facilities stating “people shall not visit... unless it is to provide critical assistance.”
‘A KILLER’—Young prefaced his disaster declaration Thursday with words Milam residents have never before heard about a disease. This couldn’t be more serious,” he said. “This is a killer.”
As of early Wednesday, 11 COVID-19 deaths had been reported in Texas, 802 in the United States.
PUNISHMENT—A violation of Shelter-In-Place is punishable as a Class C Misdemeanor by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or confinement to jail for not to exceed 180 days.”
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