COVID numbers on the rise after holiday weekend
Milam County saw a significant increase in COVID cases over the holiday weekend.
“Our COVID-19 cases really spiked over the weekend,” Milam County Judge Steve Young said on Tuesday evening. “This evening we report 149 new cases and 39 discharged cases, leaving 231 confirmed, active cases in Milam County. Three individuals were hospitalized today, but we have no new deaths.”
Two weeks ago the county only had 13 confirmed active cases. At the height of the Delta variant, Milam County reached 267 confirmed active cases.
The county tested 99 individuals in Rockdale on Tuesday with 49 positive results. There will be testing in Cameron at the Fire Station today, Jan. 6, beginning at 9 a.m.
Young also said the infusion clinic is out of medication at the moment.
“Our clinic is out of infusion medications,” he said. “The medications are controlled by the State and we understand the rise in cases has affected the availability of the drug. We are hopeful that we will get more soon, but we do not know when. We have a great staff at the clinic run by Ms. Elley Sanchez.”
Young said the infusion clinic in Rockdale will remain open until Jan. 31.
“We have been pleading with TDEM and the state to leave the infusion clinic in Rockdale,” he said on Tuesday. “We have a very central location for rural Central Texas and a great facility to house the clinic. Last week, TDEM advised the clinic would end on Dec. 31. The clinic has been busy, doing on average six infusions daily. Today, we were in the process of finding a way to operate a clinic on our own, when TDEM called saying they would give us another 30 days. So we will have the clinic through Jan. 31 at the same location in Rockdale.”
Young said he hopes the clinic will have extended hours in January and that a new drug will be on its way to help fight the Omicron variant.
Those who test positive may simply take their results to the infusion clinic and get an infusion. The infusion is available to anyone and there is no charge.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the former Rockdale Medical Clinic.
Those infected by the virus need a referral to get the infusion. If you do not have a medical provider, call (512) 853-0208 and the clinic could possibly have their provider write the referral for you. Please call before going to see if medications are available.
Vaccination clinics are set for today and Friday.
A clinic will be held in Rockdale at the Medical Clinic today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone 12 and older is eligible. First doses and boosters will be given.
A clinic is set for Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Davilla at the Davilla Community Center. Anyone 12 and older is eligible. First doses and boosters will be given.
The Health Department is now providing booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Boosters are available to anyone. The immunocompromised are also eligible for additional shots, which are not the same as boosters. Those that are immune compromised and interested in that additional shot, should contact the Health Department. Remember, these shots may not keep you from getting the virus but they are very efficient at protecting you from hospitalization and death.
Appointments are required. 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 3 p.m. at the former Rockdale clinic and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cameron Fire Station. Governor Greg Abbott received a briefing from state medical and emergency response experts on the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s ongoing response to the virus on Tuesday.
The Governor was briefed by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, the University of Texas Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs John Zerwas, MD, DSHS Deputy Commissioner Kirk Cole, and Chief State Epidemiologist Jennifer Shuford, MD.
The doctors discussed current positivity trends from other countries and states. Dr. Hellerstedt noted Texans must still be very aggressive in voluntary prevention measures and staying home when sick.
Dr. Hellerstedt said that vaccines have played a remarkable role in reducing the number of hospitalizations, and that while the vaccination rate continues to increase, many Texans are still eligible for the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Governor Abbott, Dr. Hellerstedt. and Dr. Shuford noted the importance of sharing accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine with the public—it is safe, easily accessible, and reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and severe disease.
Dr. Hellerstedt and Chief Kidd then discussed the medical staffing situation in communities across the country, noting that the state is surging medical staffing to hospitals across the state and that this surge will continue in order to support health care workers on the frontlines of mitigating the virus. Governor Abbott and the leaders then discussed the importance of securing more testing resources. They also discussed acquiring monoclonal antibodies from either a private supplier—as Texas has done—or the federal government, which now fully controls the distribution of monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Hellerstedt said that while the Regeneron antibodies are not effective against the Omicron variant, it continues to make a remarkable difference for those diagnosed with other variants of COVID-19. Dr. Hellerstedt also discussed the efficacy of Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, and how its anticipated availability in the coming weeks will continue to help reduce hospitalizations and severe cases.
Chief Kidd then outlined the amount of testing supplies currently in possession of the state, and pointed out that the state’s personal protective equipment supply is strong. Additionally, Chief Kidd stated that Texas continues to get allocations of testing supplies every week and the State is continuing to order more tests.