COVID cases hit record high, another death recorded in county
The active COVID-19 case count continues to soar as yet another Milam County resident has died from the virus.
Milam County Judge Steve Young confirmed on Tuesday that a 55th resident has now died from the virus. This is the sixth death in the past month and a half and second in the past week.
“Currently, we have 19 Milam County residents hospitalized with COVID-19 and six of those are on ventilators,” Young said. “We currently have 192 active, confirmed cases in Milam County, which is more than we have ever had. Our previous high was 173 back in December 2020.”
Young said 53 percent of local cases since August are aged 19-29 and 80 percent of all cases here are of the Delta variant, a strain considered as contagious as chicken pox and that causes more serious illness to those it infects.
Statewide, there has been a 400 percent increase in hospitalizations and 95 percent of those entering the hospital are unvaccinated.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced he has tested positive for the virus. Abbott is fully vaccinated and is not experiencing any symptoms. He is tested every day and will be isolating in the Governor’s Mansion.
The Milam County Health Department is still urging the public to get vaccinated at this time. While it may not keep you from getting the virus, the vaccine is highly effective at keeping you from being hospitalized or dying.
Shot clinics are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the former Rockdale clinic and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday at the Health Department offices in Cameron. Clinics are open to residents at least 12 years of age. Shots are free to the public. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome.
To schedule an appointment, please call (254) 697-7000. If you would like to sign up for the homebound program, please call (254) 627-0311 or (254) 627-9436.
Free virus testing takes place Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the former Rockdale clinic and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cameron Fire Station.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Monday that Trauma Service Area L — which includes Milam County — had the percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients rise to 22.25 percent. This is the seventh highest hospitalization rate the area has seen during the pandemic, with the highest rate of 24 percent seen on Jan. 11.
Monday’s rate is a drop from the hospitalization percentage seen on Sunday of 22.52 percent, which is now the fifth highest rate seen in the service area.