Abbott announces actions to mitigate rise in COVID cases
Governor Greg Abbott on Monday announced a series of actions the State of Texas is taking to mitigate the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services will be utilizing staffing agencies to provide medical personnel from out-of-state to Texas health care facilities to assist in COVID-19 operations.
The Governor has also sent a letter to the Texas Hospital Association asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures, for which a delay will not result in loss of life or the deterioration of a patient’s condition, in order to increase hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients.
Abbott is directing the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and DSHS to open additional COVID-19 antibody infusion centers in communities across the state. These infusion centers will treat COVID-19 patients who do not need hospitalization with therapeutic drugs that can prevent their condition from worsening and requiring hospital care.
These centers also help increase bed capacity in hospitals so that resources are available for the most ill patients. The existing infusion center in Lubbock will expand capacity this week, and DSHS will launch five new centers throughout Texas beginning with a facility in San Antonio tomorrow. The State deployed similar measures in early 2021 to communities across Texas. Patients must meet certain criteria and have a referral from a doctor.
The Governor is also directing TDEM and DSHS to increase vaccination availability across the state and encourages all Texans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Texans can visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a provider near them. Texans can also utilize TDEM’s State Mobile Vaccine Program by calling 844-90-TEXAS and selecting Option 3 to schedule a mobile vaccine clinic to vaccinate groups of of friends, families, employees, volunteers, and more. Homebound Texans can also call 844-90-TEXAS and choose Option 1 to request a mobile vaccine team to come to their home.
“The State of Texas is taking action to combat the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and ensure that our hospitals and communities have the resources and support they need to mitigate the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “Texans can help bolster our efforts by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it is our best defense against this virus. Texans can visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near them.”
In Trauma Service Area L, which includes Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, and Mills counties, 223 patients diagnosed with the virus were hospitalized Monday, filling more than 20 percent of available beds and accounting for about 24 percent of all patients hospitalized.
In Trauma Service Area M, which includes Bosque, Falls, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties 122 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized Monday, filling more than 19 percent of available beds and accounting for about 25 percent of all hospitalizations.
An average of 37 percent of residents 12 and older in both TSAs are fully vaccinated against the virus.
Statewide more than 53 percent of residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
The spike in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Delta variant of the virus “is putting extraordinary pressure on our hospitals, emergency departments and our healthcare professionals,” Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center and Ascension Providence said in a joint statement Monday.
“The Delta variant is the most contagious and dangerous strain we have seen to date, leading to exponentially increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization,” the hospitals said in the statement.
Most of the patients in the two hospitals are not receiving treatment for COVID-19, the statement said, but both hospitals are seeing “a sharp increase in the number of patients needing hospitalization for COVID-19.”
COVID cases have risen dramatically since July 1 in Milam County. As of July 1 there were six active cases in the county. As of Tuesday there were 120 active cases in the county.
Last week the county tested 105 individuals and of those, 35 were positive, including seven minors.
Milam County will continue to vaccinate as follows: Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 – Buckholts Community Center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 – Cameron Health Department 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be free COVID-19 testing at the Cameron Fire Department on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.