Falls County women affected over men

Falls County now has a total of 50 coronavirus cases. 

This comes after a record breaking week for Falls County. Wednesday saw a total of nine new cases, the highest recorded in a single day. Two more cases were identified yesterday and four more today. This at a total of 3.01 percent per 1,000 people and a 61.3 percent increase in positives since July 1. Based on estimations by DSHS (where active and recovered cases are updated the date after recording) adding four active cases to the 24 recorded yesterday, gives 28 active and 22 recovered cases.

Occurrences seem to be overwhelmingly impacting the female population in the county over the male population. In total, 35 cases have been female and 15 cases have been male. They are split about three to two on both sides of the county, with 21 recorded West of the Brazos River and 29 East of it.

County testing numbers have gone up by 97 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. Minimal tests have been done in the last week, with a single test recorded on July 8.

There have been a total of 2,183 tests administered previous to July 9. In regards to testing, 13.1 percent of the total population or 131.5 people per 1,000 individuals in the county have been tested. 

Testing numbers on the dashboard seem to be corrected daily, as some counties’ have decreased from day to day.

In respect to the five surrounding counties, Falls County has a middle of the road percent increase in positive tests, but the highest percent increase in the number of tests administered.

Mclennan County has had the highest increase in positive test results this month, but has one of the lowest testing increases in testing numbers. There 138.6 percent increase in cases, totalling 2,283 cases on July 9. Cases in the other counties have increased by less than half of that amount, though a couple come close to hitting the halfway point. Testing in the county only increased by 20.1 percent in that time. McLennan has had a total of 14 fatalities due to COVID-19.

Surprising most, Bell County has both the lowest increase in tests and the lowest increase in cases. Testing has increased by only 4 percent, but cases have increased by nearly 41 percent. The County is up to 1852 cases, with 13 fatalities recorded.

Robertson and Limestone Counties have seen an identical increase in cases, but differ in testing increases. Both have 86 as of July 9, which is more than a 65 percent increase from the 52 cases each county recorded on July 1. Robertson testing numbers have increase by about 59 percent, but Limestone has only seen about half of that amount; a 28 percent increase

Milam County has seena 69 percent increase in cases, totalling out at 149 on July 10. Testing has increased just less than that, at 58.5 percent. 

The State of Texas has had less of an increase than Bell County this month, at 37 percent. There were a total of 230,346 cases on July 9, where there were 168,062 recorded at the start of July. 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 three times over as well. 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, nearly 65,000 cases were reported nationwide, bringing the country to more than three million cases. That’s nearly a quarter of the total cases recorded globally. Experts expect that if trends continue the way they have, the United States will have over four million cases before the end of the month.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. 

Today, Governor Abbott also extended the Declaration of Disaster for the state. Originally issued March 13, the proclamation was renewed due to the sharp increase in cases over the last month.

"Extending this Disaster Declaration helps ensure that Texas has the resources and flexibility needed to effectively respond to COVID-19," said Governor Abbott. "To further mitigate the spread of the virus and overcome this challenge, Texans should continue to do their part by wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home if possible."

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.