COVID-19 cases going up

The active COVID-19 case count continues to rise.

"We are now up to 21 active cases in the county, which is about where we were last July. This virus is a long way from being over. As of last Friday, there were over 125 million cases globally with 2,700,000 deaths. In the U.S. we have had 29,700,000 confirmed cases and 540,000 deaths. In Texas we have had over 2,400,000 confirmed cases and over 45,000 deaths. Today’s numbers in our county are twice as high as they were during our initial peak of April 2020. By now, we all know someone who has had the virus," wrote Milam County Judge Steve Young in an email.

There is something that can be done to fix all of this: get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and effective, he said. 

In Milam County, we will have administered almost 10,000 shots by week's end with about 13% of the county’s population fully vaccinated. This is not near enough. We need at least 75% - 90% of the population vaccinated to achieve herd immunity," he said

As of March 29 anyone over the age of 18 will be eligible to be vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine and anyone over the age of 16 will be eligible to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.

"We want everyone in the county to get on the list and we want everyone in the county to get vaccinated," Young said.

Call 254 697 7000 or email Amy Guillen at aguillen@milamcounty.net to get on the list.

This week the county will run two large vaccination clinics in Rockdale on Wednesday and Thursday. The plan is to administer 250 second round doses of Moderna on Wednesday and 480 first round doses of Moderna on Thursday. Those to receive shots will be contacted by phone and told of their appointment time. 

If you are called, arrive at your appointed time with your consent forms completed. There are different forms for the first round shot and different forms for the second round shot. You may download the forms by going to our web site address as set forth below:

a.       First Round Consent Forms: http://www.milamcounty.net/upload/page/9873/VACCINE%201.pdf

b.        Second Round Consent Forms: http://www.milamcounty.net/upload/page/9873/VACCINE%202.pdf

Monday's testing was light in Rockdale. There were fewer than 10 people with about 3 positive results. So far, the county has tested 3,258 individuals with 962 positive infections which is a 29% positivity rate.  There are no more test dates this week.

Countywide numbers:

1386 total PCR cases-up 1

11 active PCR cases – no change

0 open PCR cases

1061 antigen cases- up 2

10 active antigen cases – up 2

0 open antigen cases

Total active cases in Milam County – 21 – up 2

1 hospitalized – down 3

Total hospitalized since the pandemic began -188 – no change

1 on ventilators – no change

45 fatalities- no change