COVID-19 cases are “spiking” in Texas and Milam County is definitely going along with that trend.
Maybe “exploding” would be a better word. As of presstime Wednesday morning, Milam had logged 51 cases.
Thirteen new cases have been reported in the county during the past week. That makes 21 in two weeks—counted Wednesday morning to Wednesday morning (Reporter publication dates). County Judge Steve Young says more are expected.
The pandemic has now affected local sports programs, which are cranking up again under re-opening guidelines issued by the state.
On Monday the RISD athletic department postponed girls’ summer workouts for two weeks after an undisclosed athlete tested positive for the virus.
Boys’ workouts were not affected.
Two divisions of the Rockdale Girls Softball League have been postponed due to one of the new COVID-19 infections. The league’s 15-and-under division has been postponed for two weeks and the 13-and-under division by one week, also due to a positive test of an undisclosed athlete.
Girls Softball League President Pete Rubio said he was advised of the situation Monday. With games scheduled to start the next day, Rubio made the decision to postpone the contests.
See stories on pages 1B and 2B.
‘EVERYWHERE’—“It is just everywhere,” Young said. “We are nowhere close to seeing the end of this.”
There are a number of reasons for the spike, according to Young, who noted more testing is being done. There will be tests at three locations week after next including the first testing session in Rockdale.
Young said he attributes the spike in Milam County to the same reasons statewide numbers have shown an increase, the “reopening” of Texas and more mingling over the recent Memorial Day weekend.
If there’s a bright spot, as of Wednesday morning there were no Milam residents in the hospital with the potentially deadly virus. One person diagnosed during the past week was hospitalized for a couple of days but Young said that person has since been released.
COUNTYWIDE—County officials don’t release the locations of COVID-19 patients, citing privacy rules, but Young noted: “The virus is everywhere, so be careful.”
He said the positive tests have come from residents in Buckholts, Thorndale, Rockdale, Milano, Gause, Burlington, Cameron and “many other places.”
“There is no cure for the virus and our reports are that none will be available for at least a year,” he said.
“In the meantime, we must prevent the spread by keeping at least six feet from others, wearing a mask and using good personal hygiene, such as frequent hand washing,” he said. “Please do your part.”
TESTING—Three more free drive-through COVID-19 testing dates have been announced.
Rockdale’s is at the former Richards Memorial Hospital, 1700 Brazos, just off Meadow Drive. Testing will be Monday, June 29.
Testing will be at the Milano VFD Fire Station Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, at the Cameron Fire Station.
Previously, two testing events at the Milano Volunteer Fire Station have begun at 9 a.m.
As with previous tests, individual times must be scheduled by calling 512-883-2400.
NURSING HOMES—It’s good news, so far at least, from testing of residents and staffers at Milam County’s three nursing homes, including Renaissance Villa in Rockdale.
“With four test results still not having been received, all so far have come back negative,” Young said.
“I attribute this to the good work by administrators and staff at all the nursing homes, Winnie L, Legacy and Renaissance Villa,” he said.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 14 active cases in the county, and the Milam County Health Department was monitoring 71 persons “living with or having a close relationship with someone who is infected.”
Those numbers are the highest since the pandemic swept into the area in March.
Young said the majority of the new cases, including all three reported Wednesday, were “community spread.”
“That means the infection came from someone else located in our community,” he said.
Milam County has reported one death from the virus, occurring on April 20.
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