COVID UPDATE: Occupancy restrictions set for start Wednesday

Occupancy rates in Milam County will soon be restricted due to COVID-19.

Milam County Judge Steve Young announced late Monday that two more residents had passed away due to complications of the virus bringing the county's death toll to 13.

Young also said that occupancy rates will soon be reduced.

Effective Wednesday, Jan. 6, all businesses in the county must drop their occupancy rate to half and all bars are required to close.

The move comes as area hospitalizations reached specific thresholds outlined in Texas Governor Greg Abbott`s executive orders on areas with high hospitalizations. Milam County`s trauma area reached a seventh straight day for total area hospital capacity to exceed 15 percent. The current capacity is above 21 percent at this time.

Texas also reported a record high for current hospitalizations.

Young said this order will not impact churches, schools, child care services, government offices, youth camps, sports, and some other activities.

Testing for the virus and the number of cases continue to rise. Young reported that 105 people were tested at a mobile test site Monday, with 43 coming back positive. The number of confirmed PCR cases stands at 910 since the pandemic began, with 57 of those considered active. The antigen case count is at 638, including 103 of those active. A total of 160 combined cases are active at this time in Milam County. The Milam County Health Department is monitoring 280 people that had close contact with a person that tested positive. Seventeen people are hospitalized, including five in serious condition.

The county has been rolling out vaccinations to residents at the health department and hopes to expand that program soon.