COVID UPDATE: County reports 15th death due to COVID
Milam County recorded its 15th death due to COVID-19 on Thursday.
“I am sad to report one additional death, which brings our toll to 15,” Milam County Judge Steve Young said Thursday night. “We did have one person hospitalized and two discharged.
Young said the county tested 81 individuals in Cameron with 29 positive results on Thursday.
“Our countywide testing program has tested 2,368 Milam County residents with 645 positive results for a 27 percent positivity rate,” he said. “We plan to continue the testing until March 2021. We are in the process of having the state assist with contact tracing so that we may dedicate more of the Health Department to our vaccination program. Therefore, we do not have any new active cases to report.”
Milam County Cases as of Thursday, January 7, 2021:
1. Confirmed PCR cases 936
2. Confirmed active PCR cases 66
3. Confirmed probable (antigen) cases 641
4. Confirmed active probable cases 87
5. Total confirmed cases in Milam County 153
6. Currently monitored individuals 267
7. Hospitalizations 17 – down 1
a. 6 persons on ventilators – up 1
b. Cumulative hospitalizations since the pandemic started 119 – up 1
8. Deaths 15 – up 1
Young said that on Saturday, Jan. 9, the county will undertake a big vaccination clinic at the former Rockdale Clinic, located at 1700 Brazos in Rockdale. This will be manned by a group of volunteers, including six nurses from the county, who will actually give the shots.
“We hope to vaccinate up to 200 people on Saturday,” he said. “Again, these are individuals who have called in to be placed on the vaccination list. Today, we contacted about 100 of these and the rest will be contacted tomorrow. There will be no walk-ins. On Monday, Jan. 11, we will conduct another vaccination clinic at the former Rockdale Clinic. This will be manned by our friends from Texas A&M Health Science under the direction of Dr. Joy Alonzo. Those to be vaccinated will be contacted and advised of their appointment time.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the county will be vaccinating at the Winnie L. Nursing Facility in Cameron. Young said that Winnie L. had difficulty getting the vaccine and thus we will assist with some of that allocated to the county.
“Next week we expect to receive at least 400 more doses and we will work hard to start this same process all over, with more clinics,” he said. “Appointments are being made to have an orderly vaccination and one where we can maintain safe, social distancing. If you are contacted to be vaccinated, please click on the link below and download the “consent” form. Complete and sign the form and bring it with you to your appointed vaccination clinic. The completed form will speed up the process.”
Click on this link: https://www.milamcounty.net/upload/page/9873/COVID-19%20Vaccine%20consen...
“We thank Troy Zinn and Karolyn Puccio of the Hospital District for allowing us to use the clinic,” he said. “We also thank all of the nurses, including Wes Van Horn, Charlotte Keen, Leslie Watkins, Billie Williams, Pat Sheguit and Renee Wright and others who are working to make the Saturday clinic a big success. If you want to get on the vaccination list, please call the Milam County main number at (254) 697 7000 or simply email Amy Guillen at aguillen@milamcounty.net and we will get you on the list. We need your contact information, including your email and we will put you on the list. The shots will be given to those on the list on a first come, first serve basis. Currently we have 1,127 individuals on the list.”
The Moderna drug is a two-shot vaccine, meaning that a booster shot is necessary 28 days after the first shot. Those who are vaccinated will be given a card depicting the type of vaccine they received and when the booster shot can be given. It is imperative that both shots be received. Further, the drug cannot be intermingled with another drug, such as the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine will be provided at no cost, although there may be an administration charge for those with insurance.
“While vaccinations are totally voluntary, we highly recommend that everyone receive a vaccination,” Young said. “Even if you have previously been infected by the virus, you should still get the shot. This is our best chance to get this terrible pandemic under control. In order to establish herd immunity, we need 70- 90 percent of the Milam County population to be vaccinated. We have been under the gun for almost a year and now we have a ticket to safety, so please do your part and get the shots!”