COVID-19 cases climb for August, nursing homes and assisted living facilities without cases may have limited visitors

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

Coryell County has seen an increase in positive confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, with countywide numbers at 431 as of Thursday, excluding inmates housed at TDCJ facilities within the county. 

Of those confirmed positive cases, 276 are still considered active according to Coryell County’s COVID-19 tracker, with recoveries now up to 151. Four are listed as deceased. 

The City of Copperas Cove released its weekly case update on Monday afternoon, noting 216 cases within the city limits, with 163 of those cases being active, 50 recoveries and including three deceased. 

The city listed 11 new cases on Monday, to include five in their 20s, a female in her 30s, three individuals in their 40s, a male in his 50s, and a female, age not given. 

On the Aug. 3 update, there were 198 cases, with 145 active and 50 recoveries/no longer active.

On Thursday morning, AdventHealth announced that non-critical patients are now allowed one visitor per day between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors may enter through the main entrance located at the front of the hospital. All visitors will be screened using the procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, and all visitors will be required to wear a mask.  

Visitor access is still restricted in the Intensive Care and Critical Care units, as well as in the Emergency Department. Patients in the Maternal Child unit are allowed one visitor per admission. 

Baylor Scott & White also revised its policy as of Monday, allowing one visitor per patient per day, except for the emergency department or patients confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19. 

Last week, state health officials announced that residents in nursing homes without any COVID-19 cases could have visitors on a limited basis outdoors. At assisted living facilities, indoor visits would be permitted with plexiglass barriers. 

Coryell County: 8.89 confirmed cases per 1,000 residents 

Although Coryell County doesn’t have the case numbers as high as some surrounding counties such as Bell or McLennan Counties, Coryell County’s rate of positive cases per 1,000 continues to rise. 

As of Aug. 12, Coryell County has 8.89 confirmed cases per 1,000 residents, per the Texas Department of State Health Services. On July 12, that rate was 5.12 cases per 1,000. 

Back on June 12, there were 3.82 cases per 1,000 residents.

In neighboring Bell County, with 4,036 confirmed positive cases, there are 11.41 cases per 1,000. In McLennan County, with 5,106 confirmed positive cases, there are 20.18 cases per 1,000. 

During Monday morning’s meeting of the Coryell County Commissioners Court, Coryell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Harrell characterized the increased Coryell County cases so far for August as “exponential growth,” calling it “pretty disturbing.”

On Monday, Coryell County Judge Roger Miller also noted the state report says a fifth individual has died from COVID-19 in Coryell County, but had not been confirmed to him. Last week, the entire jail inmate population as well as the staff, courthouse employees to include clerk offices, administrative staff, court staff were all tested via Coryell Health. 

A free mobile testing site is set Tuesday, Aug. 18 in Evant, open to residents of Coryell, Mills, Hamilton, and Lampasas Counties. It is an oral swab test with results available in three or four days.  Preregistration must be done ahead of time at www.txcovidtest.org or by calling 512-883-2400.  

Coryell Health in Gatesville continues to conduct drive-through testing Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at its clinic. Those interested in testing should call 254-248-6263 prior to reporting to the clinic. 

Texas confirmed positive cases pass 500,000 on Tuesday

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were a total of 506,820 positive confirmed cases in Texas, up by 6,200 new cases, and the state breaking the 500,000 mark on Tuesday. 

Recoveries stand at 367,354 with an estimated 133,598 active cases. Fatalities have risen to 9,034, up by 324. 

The seven-day testing positivity rate rose to 24.5 percent statewide, the highest recorded thus far. However, hospitalizations have continued to decline, to 7,028 statewide. Locally in Hospital Region L, In the local hospital region, there are 65 patients hospitalized with lab-confirmed positive COVID-19. Region L includes hospitals in Bell and Coryell Counties.