Milam County’s COVID-19 case count grew and the number of activities being permitted in a re-opening Texas did, too, in a many-faceted week on the pandemic front in the Rockdale area.
County Judge Steve Young, addressing social media chatter, told county commissioners Monday that one employee of Rockdale Walmart had tested positive for the disease but said rumors of three employees of the discount store had COVID-19 were “inaccurate.”
He also noted, surprisingly, statistics in Milam have shown 66 percent of persons testing positive are between the ages of 30 and 50.
There was another day of testing Monday at the Milano Volunteer Fire Department.
WALMART—Yo u n g opened Monday’s commissioners meeting by addressing the Walmart online chatter peaking during the weekend.
Young said “about 10 days ago” one Walmart employee did test positive. “He was sent home immediately and went into self-quarantine,” Young said.
“This person will not come back to work until they have tested negative,” he added.
Young said Walmart has been “very cooperative” and has taken “extra precautions” since the situation arose. “I believe we’re going to be all right,” he said.
COUNT RISES—Milam COVID-19 positive cases rose from 22 to 27 during the week.
Young said the 23rd case is a person living in the central part of the county.
Young said the person had pneumonia symptoms and went to a Bryan ER, was tested and found to be positive for the virus.
“The person was hospitalized, but returned home and initially self-quarantined but did have a relapse and entered a Temple hospital,” he said.
The 25th case was reported early Monday, a resident of the western part of the county, who was not hospitalized but self-quarantined at home.
Case No. 26 was reported Monday afternoon. “This is another case from the western part of the county of an older person with underlying health conditions,” Young said.
“The person is not hospitalized and is at home and self-quarantined. The Milam County Health Department has started its contact information and will contact at least two individuals considered to be at high risk due to their contact with the infected person,” Judge Young said.
The 27th case, reported Tuesday, is a younger male from central Milam County who tested positive and is now self-quarantined at home. “This is not a person who was tested in Milano,” Young said.
THE NUMBERS—As of Tuesday, the most recent accounting, the Milam Health department listed 27 cases recorded total, with eight of them active.
There were 19 cases listed as closed or recovered, one fatality and one person currently hospitalized.
A total of five Milam residents have been hospitalized since the pandemic struck.
Eleven persons who came into contact with those who have tested positive are being monitored by the department.
There have been 80 persons monitored overall.
MORE TESTS—The Texas National Guard conducted free COVID-19 testing Monday in Milano with 31 persons taking advantage of the opportunity.
Thirty-seven persons tested at the same site on April 29 with one testing positive, a Milam resident.
BARS, BINGO— As promised, Gov Greg Abbott addressed the state Monday, rolling out Phase II of the state’s re-opening plan.
Restaurants, which were allowed to re-open two weeks ago with 25 percent capacity, are allowed 50 percent capacity on Friday.
Restrictions already in effect will continue.
That’s also the day Texas bars may re-open but it’s a bit more complicated.
Bars may only have 25-percent of capacity. And the governor’s guidelines ask for the bar itself to be blocked off. Bar stools at the bar must either be removed or blocked off.
Patrons are to be served at tables, with no more than six seated at any table.
If patrons order at the bar they are encouraged to spend as little time there as possible.
Bingo halls may also re-open on Friday under social distancing and other guidelines.
Youth sports teams may begin practicing on May 31 with spectators limited to one parent or guardian per participant.
Games may start June 15 “with or without spectators.”
Also addressed by the governor on Monday were re-opening guidelines for day care centers, gyms, manufacturers, officebased employees and much more. To see guidelines for those, and many more, go to https://gov.texas.gov/organization/opentexas.
HERD—Robert Kirkpatrick, Milam County Health Department director, told county commissioners Monday he had heard opinions expressed that “herd immunity” was the way to end with the COVID-19 crisis.
“In order for herd immunity to work, you would have to have 90 percent of the population come down with the virus,” he said.
“If that would happen in Milam County, using the current 1.3-percent death rate, that means 325 Milam residents would die of COVID-19,” he said.
FRUSTRATED—Both Kirkpatrick and Judge Young urged Milam residents to wear masks. “I will admit to getting
“I will admit to getting a little frustrated,” Young said. “I see so many people not wearing masks.”
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