Coronavirus hitting milestones in Falls County
Falls County is hitting all-time highs of coronavirus cases, set to reach 1,000 cases within the next week.
According to Falls County Judge Jay Elliott, those numbers are skewed by the Hobby Unit, the women’s prison in Marlin.
“Only 500-something is ours,” he explained to commissioners on Dec. 21. “You have the jail over there and it messes up our numbers.”
A resident of the Hobby Unit was recently confirmed as having died from COVID-19 related problems. Ashley Rodriguez, 32, passed away on Nov. 1 after being diagnosed with the virus on Sept. 19. Autopsy results show that the offender had pre-existing medical conditions, but that her death was ultimately due to complications of coronavirus.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Monday reported seven cases involving inmateS and 14 cases involving employees at the William Hobby Unit in Marlin where 272 inmates were restricted and seven were isolated, and 13 cases involving inmates and 10 involving employees at the Marlin Transfer Unit where 122 inmates were medically restricted and 13 were medically isolated.
The Fall County Courthouse had its own dose of illness as well. On Dec. 10, nine employees were sent home due to concerns. It is unconfirmed whether there was a diagnosed case versus purely exposure, but the Falls County District Attorney’s Office was still empty on Dec. 21. The Tax Office in Rosebud, the Falls County DA’s Office, and the Falls County Judge’s Office were affected. No other information was available on the subject.
There have been more than 850 recoveries thus far, with 16 deaths, and nearly 200 cases currently active. The Texas Department of State Health Services has also added another data point to their repertoire; probable cases. According to their website, these are defined as cases whose status have been surmised with various context clues. Those having taken an antigen rapid test, which can show traces of the virus within the body, or those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 while having been recently exposed, would fall under that category. Falls County is reported as having 47 probable cases on Dec. 21.
COVID-19 patients accounted for almost 33 percent of all hospitalizations and occupied about 26% of available beds Monday in Trauma Service Area M, which includes Bosque, Falls, Hill, Limestone, well above the 15 percent ceiling, which triggers capacity reductions under orders Gov. Greg Abbott issued on Sept. 17 and Oct. 7.
Abbott is also under fire from the White House Administration, who sent him a letter requesting that he move the state towards stricter mitigation procedures. Abbott claims that federal officials were unaware of the processes in place when the letter was sent and that discussion has been cleared up in the planning process for vaccine distribution, which began earlier this month.
Texas is one of few states drifting from the CDC’s recommendations on priority of distribution. The standard is that teachers, first responders, and essential workers receive doses after the first group, which is made up of healthcare workers, those in long-term care facilities, and EMS personnel, but Texas has projected that the next group to be focused on will be those 65 years or older and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Phase 1-B is set to begin on Monday Dec. 28 in Texas. Texas Phase 1B COVID-19 Vaccine Priorities are as follows: People 65 years of age and older; People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to: Cancer; Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,) Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies,,Solid-organ transplantation, Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher,) Pregnancy, Sickle cell disease, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. For more information head to coronavirus.gov.