COVID-19

The 2020 Maskat Shrine annual Oil Bowl Classic has been canceled. The event was scheduled to be the 83rd annual and hosts all-star games in football, volleyball and boys/girls basketball.

“It’s just disappointing for all the kids,” said Lady Blues volleyball coach Marci Faulk. “It was going to give them one last opportunity to play together. A lot of the athletes, especially in volleyball, have competed with and against each other for a long time in club as well as in high school.” Faulk was selected in February to coach the east team in both big and small school volleyball.

To help practice and maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th Annual Run for the Children has gone virtual. Participants will be able to run or walk anywhere, even on a treadmill, during the weekend of May 16.

“It is imperative that those participating comply with CDC guidelines to maintain social, or, physical, distancing during this time,” said run organizer Dori Cawley.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday, May 5 that hair salons, barber shops, nail and tanning salons may reopen Friday, May 8. On May 18, gyms will be allowed to start letting in a limited number of customers who must wear gloves and maintain six feet of distance. Showers and locker rooms at gyms must remain closed.

Non-essential businesses were allowed to reopen on May 1 with limited capacity, as ordered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. On April 27, Gov. Abbott issued Executive Order GA-18, which provides for an expanded reopening of the state’s economy as part of a “safe, strategic plan to Open Texas” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse announced this week during a Facebook livestream that the district has received permission to host live high school graduation on its originally scheduled date, May 22.

After canceling all elective procedures due to COVID-19, Graham Regional Medical Center announced Friday that they have resumed non-emergent, clinically necessary elective procedures and surgeries beginning on Monday, April 27.

GRMC CEO, Shane Kernell, in a press release stated the hospital has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and has decided to open facilities for non-emergency, non-COVID-19 healthcare.

As the hospital begins to reopen certain services, GRMC will still be working closely with health officials, ensuring the community is safe.

In the wake of COVID-19, the state of Texas has modified its SNAP program to better assist needy families during the pandemic.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced it is waiving renewal requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid clients. The state of Texas is also waiving SNAP interview requirements.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday, April 27 that Phase I of ‘Re-Open Texas’ will begin on May 1 and includes opening all retail, restaurants, movie theaters and malls under limited capacities and allowing Executive Order GA-14 to expire.

Abbott spoke during a press conference on Monday, announcing that he will allow GA-14 to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, April 30. This executive order is the statewide shelter-in-place that went into effect on April 2.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott activated the Texas National Guard on April 20 to assist communities with COVID-19 testing using mobile testing teams, specifically those counties designated as hotspots or viewed as more rural. Young County was selected as a mobile testing site for April 29, where community members can receive a free COVID-19 test by appointment if they have one or more of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) symptoms.

Editor’s Note: Some amendments in Judge Bullock’s order do not follow Gov. Abbott’s current order. Until Gov. Abbott makes an announcement to open certain businesses, citizens should continue to follow the order from the state. Texas’ current order can be found at https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-16_Opening_Texas_COVID-19_FINAL_04-17-2020.pdf