Two positive cases recover from COVID-19 in county

County leaders met Thursday to host a livestream keeping the community informed on updates regarding COVID-19 and to address local questions. The recovery of two local patients was announced by Dr. Pat Martin.

Joining the meeting were Graham Regional Medical Center CEO Shane Kernell, Young County Local Health Authority Dr. Martin, Graham Mayor Neal Blanton, Young County Judge John Bullock and Graham City Manager Brandon Anderson. Dr. Martin updated the group by saying the county has had four cases, with no new cases as of Thursday afternoon.

“The four patients that we have had that have tested positive, two of them are now released by both the state and local officials and two are still being treated, both at home,” Martin said. “None of our patients have had to be in the hospital, none of them have been seriously ill and those people have done a super job of quarantining. They have been very good at that and they have kept our town from having a spread. The whole town of Graham has also done a great job I think of social distancing and that’s really helped us keep our numbers from ballooning when it looked like we might.”

Despite the positive outlook on the patients who have been released in the community, Martin said the peak for the state is just around the corner and the community should stay vigilant in their social distancing procedures.

“We are not out of the woods yet,” Martin said. “Texas is still set to peak about April 21, and (…) rural communities in Texas will probably peak within a week after that. The numbers in Texas went up by about 15% yesterday, up over 1,000 new cases yesterday alone and they have gone from 3,000 cases April 1, to about 10,000 cases now, so we are starting to climb up a little bit more rapidly which is what we expect. But, overall Texas has done pretty good, much better than some of the eastern states. Hopefully, that trend will continue.”

Blanton said he was surprised with the number of people tested within Young County as compared to other surrounding counties. Martin said the area medical centers have done everything to make sure testing is available to the community.

“We have done a good job of testing early and I think that having a way to test maybe without having to go inside of a building has prompted more people to come through and get tested,” Martin said. “I think people are reluctant to come sit in a waiting room and wait when they’re sick and when other people might be sick. I think having a drive-thru place has been good and also every clinic in our county is testing and both hospitals are testing also.”

Martin reiterated his feelings from the previous meeting on the community wearing masks following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

“Masks in public are now recommended by the CDC and we in Graham agree with that,” Martin said. “We have been recommending masks from the start. If you can get a mask it is helpful to wear it. It’s important that once you put your mask on, you try to keep your hands off of it and away from your face. So, if you are going to the grocery store, or something like that, put your mask on, wash your hands after you put your mask on and then as you are in the store or out in public don’t fiddle with your mask with your mask, if you can help it. Don’t touch it, don’t move it and then when you get home take off you mask and wash your hands again and hang your mask preferably where it will get UV light or sunlight.”

Martin said masks are in short supply and several church groups and private citizens within the community are making masks. He said homemade masks are more effective than having nothing.

“If you need a mask and you haven’t been able to get one, if you want to call our office at (940) 521-5500, we will try to have a list of people who might be able to get you a mask to wear in public,” Martin said.

Kernell updated the community and said the hospital is still doing daily posts on their Facebook account with county-wide numbers regarding COVID-19. He said the hospital remains ready in case of an emergency situation.

“The hospital remains in a state of preparedness as far as supplies and personnel,” Kernell said. “We still have the visitor policy in place of one visitor only per patient. We still are not doing any elective procedures as far surgeries are concerned or elective imaging procedures.”

Anderson thanked all of the medical professionals who have stepped up during this time and said, along with medical professionals, those within our local stores have stepped up as well.

“Another group of unsung heroes are the kids and adults that work in our grocery stores and the service they have provided this community during this time,” he said. “I know we all get frustrated, and maybe one of these days we will get more toilet paper in Graham, I am not sure. But, we get frustrated, but man they have stepped up and had to adjust some hours, but those people are putting themselves in harms way every day so obviously social distance, so don’t pat them on the back, but give them a word of encouragement and tell them how much we appreciate the efforts they have done during this time.”

Anderson mentioned the IRS said it will be distributing the government stimulus package starting Thursday, April 9.

“The checks that will go out first are the ones that you have (…) your bank account is where they can just automatically wire you those funds. So, if you paid by wire or if you received your refund by wire, that will be coming in to your account automatic,” Anderson said. “After that, the mail ones will start processing. I am not really sure how quickly those will start processing out, but that will start after this first series of stimulus (funds) have gone out.”