Falls County sees largest increase to date

Falls County now has a total of 44 coronavirus cases. This is a jump of nine cases in one day, after Falls County sat in the low thirties for a few days. This at a total of 2.65 percent per 1000 people and a 41.9 percent increase in positives since July 1. Based on estimations by DSHS (where active and recovered cases are updated the date after recording) adding nine active cases to the 13 recorded yesterday, gives 22 active and 22 recovered cases.

County testing numbers have gone up by 86 percent since the start of the month, but this may be due to a backlog of tests. According to a representative from Falls Community Hospital, the medical facility has been awaiting past results for a long while.

There have been a total of 2,065 tests administered. In regards to testing, 13.6 percent of the total population or 2.65 percent per 1000 individuals have been tested. 

In respect to the five surrounding counties, Falls County has one of the lowest percent increases in positive tests, but the lowest percent increase in the number of tests administered.

Surprisingly, McLennan County has the lowest increase in tests, yet has the largest increase in cases, one of 113.6 percent, totalling 2044 cases on July 8. Cases in the other counties have increased by less than half of that amount. Testing in the county only increased by 3.6 percent in that time.

Robertson County has seen the next largest increase in positive cases, seeing a total of 77 cases, up 48.1 percent from the 52 recorded on July 1. Testing has increased similarly, totalling 1213 given, which is up 49.2 percent.

Limestone County now has 74, up by 42.3 percent so far this month. Testing has increased by 14.5 percent, totalling 1150 given. Falls County falls just behind Limestone in both aspects.

Milam County is next, with a 36.4 percent increase in one week, totalling 120 cases and 1957 tests given. For testing, that's a 15.2 percent increase since July 1. 

Bell County has had the least percent increase in cases of the six counties, at only 31.8 percent. There are a total of 1,734 cases reported as positive. Testing has gone up by 23.7 percent from the 24,231 tests given by July 1. There has been a total of 29,979 administered.

The State of Texas had a very similar increase to Bell County in the last week, at 31.2 percent. There are a total of 220,564 cases, which was previously 168,062. Testing in the state has only increased by 16.2 percent since July 1, totalling out at 2,526,940 tests administered. The state beat it’s daily case record not twice, but three times in that week. July 1 had 8,076 new cases, followed only three days later with 8,258 new cases. July 7 saw 10,063 new cases. This is the first time the state has had a one day increase of a five digit number.

The United States has seen an increase of 11.8 percent in the last week, breaking the record for daily cases as well, but only two times. July 1 had 54,357 new cases, beating the record set the week prior. Only two days later, that record was superseded, with a total of 57,718 new cases recorded. On July 8 there were a total of 2,982,900 cases in the country.

Citizens are encouraged to continue following the social distancing guideline set forth by the Center for Disease Control. Masks are required for entry into any business and in public places, per Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order released on Thursday July 2. The order requires Texans living in counties with more than 20 active coronavirus cases to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth while in a business or other building open to the public, as well as outdoor public spaces, whenever social distancing is not possible. But it provides several exceptions, including for children who are younger than 10 years old, people who have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, people who are eating or drinking, and people who are exercising outdoors. 

Counties with 20 or fewer active cases can be exempted , but only if they opt out. County judges must submit an application to be exempted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Earlier in the week, Falls County would have been given the option to apply, but with the latest information, there are more than 20 active cases in the county.

For more information about coronavirus prevention or what to do if you are sick, head to www.coronavirus.gov. Follow cases in Falls County by going to the COVID-19 dashboard found at  www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus.