COVID UPDATE: Case count passes 800 in county as testing continues

COVID REPORT for Dec. 22, 2020, from Milam County Judge Steve Young:

Today was another heavy day of testing here in Milam County. Our fine testers, Michelle Morgan and Angelica Huerta tested 75 individuals in Rockdale today with 23 positive results. In the last 25 days of testing, our crew has tested 1,008 individuals with 266 positive results, with a positivity rating of approximately 25 percent.

If you were one of those at the testing site today, you know how hectic and how needed this testing really is. These ladies are putting their lives on the line everyday for the benefit of all of us in the County, so we can quickly find out if we are infected or not. Since Sept. 1, 2020 this team has tested approximately 2,000 individuals here in the county. 

Tuesday we will test in Thorndale at the Thorndale VFD from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for any Milam County resident with COVID symptoms. The test is free and one can get results in a very short period of time. 

Our Medical Department has been extremely active and has done a great job as well to slow the spread of the virus. The Medical Department has contacted almost 3,500 individuals in the County who were either infected or had close contact with someone who was infected. And like our testing crew, the Medical Department is a small group of hard working, dedicated individuals who are working hard, day in and day out to protect each of us.

So, stand up and do your part. Stand up and wear your mask, keep your distance, stay away from large crowds and wash your hands. Only you can do these things. Only you can make this responsible difference. Only you can slow the spread of the virus. And together we must do this!

What are today’s numbers? A lot more. We have 27 new infections to report; 14 new PCR cases and 13 new probable cases. Thankfully, 42 individuals were discharged from the active lists and 5 persons were discharged from hospitals.   

Milam County Cases as of Monday, December 21, 2020:

1.   Confirmed PCR cases 815 up 14

2.   Confirmed active PCR cases 62 – down 2

3.   Confirmed probable (antigen) cases 459 up 13

4.   Confirmed active probable cases 62 – down 14

5.   Total confirmed cases in Milam County 124 – down 16

6.   Currently monitored individuals 240 – down 43

7.   Cumulative monitored individuals – 1,936 – up 8

8.   Hospitalizations 10 – down 4 (4 persons on ventilators – up 1)

9.   Deaths 11 – no change

Texas Cases: Yesterday there were 9,264 new confirmed cases, 113 deaths. The current 7-day rolling average of 15,939 new cases/day grew 7.6% from 14 days ago, while the average of 204 deaths/day grew 15.9% in Texas.

1.   Confirmed cases 1,604,808

2.   Deaths: 25,934

USA Cases: Yesterday there were 189,099 new confirmed cases, 1,509 deaths. The current 7-day rolling average of 215,762 new cases/day grew 6.3% from 14 days ago, while the average of 2,625 deaths/day grew 17.8%.

1.   Confirmed cases 18,017,492

2.   Deaths 319,270

Please be safe over the holidays; wear your mask, keep your distance and wash your hands.