HHS Reports COVID-19 Cases Among Employees, Residents At Local Assisted Living Facility
After two days without reports of any new positive COVID-19 cases, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at 5 p.m. Aug. 20 announced 5 new positive COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County. That increasing the total number of active cases in Hopkins County to 32. There were no new recoveries to report on Aug. 20.
There have been 73 new cases and 94 recoveries reported through Aug. 20. That’s 12 more cases and 72 more recoveries than on the July 20, and 16 fewer cases and 46 more recoveries than were reported during the whole month of July.
Since midMarch, the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Hopkins County is 225, and total recoveries is 193 recoveries.
Officials reported there were 5 patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Aug. 20. That’s two more than were reported on Aug. 17, the last day local emergency management officials reported any new cases, two still two less than reported on Aug. 2, Aug. 13 and Aug. 15.
State Reports For Hopkins County
Texas Department of State Health Services‘ COVID-19 dashboard on Aug. 20 continues to show three COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County, on July 17, July 23 and Aug. 2. Hopkins County Emergency Management officials have adamantly denied any official notifications of any Hopkins County residents dying as a result of COVID-19 since the state showed the first death last month.
Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission’s reports do show there have been no COVID-19 deaths reported for either residents or employees of Hopkins County nursing and assisted living facilities.
HHSC does report an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among staff and patients at an assisted living facility in Sulphur Springs earlier this month, with a total of 3 cumulative employee and 8 cumulative resident cases reported on Aug. 6, the most recent date for which the state has information.
On Aug. 4, the assisted living facility reported 3 active cases among employees. As of Aug. 6 the facility still had 3 active cases among employees. The facility Aug. 4-5 had 6 active resident cases and 1 resident had recovered from COVID-19. On Aug. 6, the facility reported 7 active cases among residents, and still just 1 resident who has recovered, according to the HSSC Assisted Living COVID-19 Self-Reported Case Count reports.
Among nursing home facilities in Sulphur Springs, there had been no reports of residents testing positive for COVID-19 and no new employee cases reported as of Aug. 6. One nursing home previously reported 3 employees had tested positive for and had also recovered from COVID-19, according to the HHSC Nursing Facility COVID-19 Self-Reported Case County report.
Data for nursing and assisted living facilities is typically 2 weeks behind. It is self-reported by facility staff to HHSC, and is then reviewed for data entry and transcription errors. HHSC investigates every assisted living facility that reports a COVID-positive case for compliance with health and safety regulations. Data on any resident after discharge from a facility would not be reflected in the state report, according to HHSC.
Sulphur Springs Fire Chief David James said while the reopening of nursing homes and assisted living facilities for limited visitation, provided the facilities meet state guidelines, is up to the individual facilities. He said if a facility that had a COVID-19 case requested assistance, the fire department would be available to advise and help.
Free Testing Offered
Free COVID-19 testing is also being offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Friday, Aug. 21, at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs.
“They’ve been doing testing in counties around us and do it for about 2 weeks at a time. It kicked off today at 1 p.m. and starting tomorrow, it’ll be offered every day except Sundays,” Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Coordinator/Police Chief Jason Ricketson said.
Testing will be by oral swab and will coincide with the start of the new school year for county school districts last week and this week, on Sept. 1 for Sulphur Springs ISD.
Children will be able to be tested at the Sulphur Springs location as long as there is a parent or guardian present.
COVID-19 symptoms are not required for testing. Online registration at GoGetTested.com is required for the free COVID-19 testing in Sulphur Springs, but should only take about a minute to complete.
Results are expected to be returned in 48-96 hours, according to information released from state and local emergency management officials.
Anyone who receives a positive result will receive a medical consultation from a health provider.
To register for the test or for more information, go online to GoGetRegistered.com
