Wearing mask, other cautions, encouraged to continue

On Tuesday Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask mandate and opened business up 100% as of March 10. 

People are still, however, encouraged to wear masks by some leaders and medical experts. 

“Remember this new edict does not say that wearing a mask is bad, in fact, the governor encouraged that we all wear masks in public. Further, the edict does not suggest that keeping your distance or washing your hands is unwarranted. In fact, wearing a mask, keeping your distance and washing your hands have always been an individual decision as the governor’s executive order had little enforcement authority,” said County Judge Steve Young. “Because the enforcement provisions were so weak, we never tried to enforce the mask requirement in Milam County. But, I asked every citizen to do so and I continue to ask every citizen to do so now. 

“Remember, less than 7% of our population in Texas has been fully vaccinated.  In order to reach so called ‘herd immunity’ we need to vaccinate 70%-80% of the state’s almost 30 million citizens, which is roughly 22 million individuals, or almost every adult in the state. We are a long way from those numbers,” the judge said.

“The decision to wear a mask has been and continues to be an individual decision. We never know for sure if we are carrying the virus and thus wearing a mask helps prevent the next person from getting infected,” he said.

THE NUMBERS—COVID-19 cases this week have been measured Wednesday to Tuesday.

• Cumulative cases – 1,339, up 19 from 1,320.

• Active cases (PCR test) – 21, down 6 from 15

• Confirmed (antigen) cases 1021–, up 30 from 991. 

• Hospitalized – 7 , up 5 from 2.

 • Deaths – 39, up 2.

TESTING—Free antigen (93 percent accurate) testing schedule:

• Friday—Cameron, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cameron Fire Station.

• Monday, Rockdale, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., former Richards Memorial Hospital.

• Wednesday—Milano, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Milano Fire Station.