Milam County now has 7 diagnosed cases of COVID-19
Milam County’s COVID-19 count is now up to seven cases, doubling in about 12 hours.
Three new cases were identified from Monday night into Tuesday morning. An additional case was identified on Tuesday night.
“We now have six confirmed cases of the virus in Milam County,” Milam County Judge Steve Young said. “Yesterday afternoon (Monday) around 5 p.m. we were notified by local health authorities of a fifth case in the county. This morning (Tuesday) around 9:30 a.m. we were informed of two additional cases.”
Young said all three of these individuals are Milam County residents.
They are at home and now self-quarantined.
The seventh case identified is someone who tested positive in March, self-quarantined and has already recovered. Young said county officials were not notified until Tuesday evening.
“Our Milam County Health Department is investigating who these infected individuals had contacted,” Young said. “Those who have had contact will be notified by the Milam County Health Department.”
Young said he will keep county residents posted of future developments.
“In the meantime, stay home if you can! If you must get out in public, cover your nose and mouth and keep your distance,” he said. “There is no cure for the virus and our only protection is to not interact with others. The virus is respiratory and it is spread by water droplets from another person. Thus, it is imperative that you not mingle with others.”
He is reminding everyone to please not go inside area restaurants if you pick up food. Order ahead and allow the restaurant to bring the food to you or use the drive-thru.
“Remember our new shelter in place order went into effect yesterday, which specifically prohibits social gatherings and many other activities,” he said. “If you have questions about the order, call or write.”
In a Facebook post Milam County Health Department Director Robert Kirkpatrick answered the question of how the department determines who has come in contact with someone with COVID-19.
“We received a very good question to one of our posts and to ensure everyone sees the answer we’re making this question its own post,” Kirkpatrick wrote. “How do you know who we come in contact with? We’ve all been too stores, grocery shopping, pharmacy, Dollar Stores, restaurants. How do we really know? Just asking.”
Kirkpatrick said that first and foremost, in order to reduce the above-mentioned potential exposures everyone should follow the guidelines of the stay at home or shelter in place order of your city or county and only travel if it is essential. Per CDC guidance and the current Milam County Shelter in Place order it is recommended that you wear a mask, a cloth mask, your scarf, or other material that covers your mouth and nose.
“Let’s define a potential exposure: A potential exposure is at least ten minutes of contact and within six feet of an individual who has a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result and has not been deemed recovered,” he said. “When you consider the above-mentioned locations and take into consideration how much direct contact you may have, it is typically less than one minute with anyone except the cashier and that is typically less than five minutes. These are considered a low to no risk exposures, therefore these types of stores have been allowed to stay open. This is also why restaurants have been told to close their dining areas. We encourage everyone to practice social distancing, staying at least six feet away from another individual, only having one family member go shopping or to pick up orders from restaurants.”
Kirkpatrick said the health department staff, taking all the above-mentioned information into consideration, conducts a contact investigation.
The assigned staff member asks questions to jog one’s memory and then determines the level of risk for certain interactions (potential exposures). Once interactions have been accessed and risk levels assigned the staff member begins contacting the individuals who are determined to be at a medium or high risk. This is where monitoring of contacts begins typically for 14 days.
Shelter in Place extended
The Milam County Commissioners Court met in an emergency online meeting on Monday and extended the Shelter in Place order until at least May 4.
The orders have already been in place for nearly two weeks in an effort to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19.
Per the new orders: residents must shelter in place and maintain social distancing when possible, businesses deemed non-essential must close, public and private gatherings of any number of people outside of a household or living unit are prohibited, non-essential travel is prohibited, a curfew is in place for those 18 and under from 9 p.m. until 8 a.m. unless accompanied by parent or guardian or lawfully working, and public and private schools will remain closed. All courts are also closed until further notice, though these orders will not alter, amend, or change child custody in any way. This means visitation orders remain in force unless agreed by the parties or modifications are made by court order.
Exemptions to these orders include essential activities defined as: tasks for health and safety to the family or household, obtaining medical supplies and medication, obtaining services or supplies for the family or household (such as groceries, etc.), engaging in outdoor activity such as walking or bike riding, performing work deemed essential, or caring for family members or pets in another household.
Exemptions to these orders include essential businesses defined as: healthcare operations, emergency services; grocery stores; farmers markets; convenience stores; food banks; food cultivation such as farming or livestock; businesses that provide food, shelter, and services to the economically disadvantaged; newspapers, TV, radio, and media; gas stations; auto-supply, auto-repair and related facilities; banks and financial institutions; hardware and construction supplies; plumbers, electricians, and exterminators; businesses providing mail services; laundromats and dry cleaners; restaurants and food industry that are drive-through, pick-up, or delivery only; business suppliers; businesses that ship or deliver groceries and goods; taxis and private transportation providers related to essential activity; home based care for seniors, adults, and children; residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, or children; professional and legal services; childcare facilities abiding by certain restrictions; utilities and telecommunications; trash collection; janitorial, cleaning, and maintenance services; funeral industry; defense industry; space and technology industry; tech support; science research; maintenance and construction of communication infrastructure; engineers, technicians, and personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration; office personnel to maintain central offices, data centers, and network facilities; data centers; engineers, IT personnel, and software engineers; and religious services performed at healthcare operations.
Essential travel is defined as being related to essential activities or functions.
COVID-19 Case Update from Milam County Health Department:
Case #1 - Recovered, Case Closed
Case #2 - Recovered, Case Closed
Case #3 - Contact investigation complete. Individual self-isolating and monitoring has begun.
Case #4 - Contact investigation complete. Individual self-isolating and monitoring has begun.
Case #5 - Contact investigation in-progress. Individual self-isolating
Case #6 - Contact investigation complete. Individual self-isolating and monitoring has begun.
Case #7 - Recovered, Case Closed
Individuals being monitored - 12