COVID-19 Update
Cass County continues to show a spike in Covid cases bringing a total of 50 new cases this month and no new fatalities according to the Texas Health and Human Services website. However, there has been reported at least one that Covid at least contributed to the death of a local Cass County man. With cases on the rise “State health officials are urging Texans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid an ‘alarming’ surge of the virus-driven by the highly contagious Delta variant,” the Dallas Morning News reported.
As of yet the Piney Woods RAC region which includes Cass County has reported none of the highly contagious Delta variant cases. However, there have been a total of 10 Alpha variant cases. According to the BBC, there are thousands of different variants but four main variants they health officials are highly concerned about Alpha (B.1.1.7), first identified in the UK but which spread to more than 50 countries; Beta (B.1.351), first identified in South Africa but which has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including the UK; Gamma (P.1), first identified in Brazil but which has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK and the Delta variant.
The Delta variant, according to the Texas DSHS “the symptoms and the emergency warning signs are the same because Delta is a variant of the same virus—SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID 19. However, some variants may spread more easily or may cause more severe symptoms and illness. Because of this, scientists are actively monitoring and studying these variants to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they make people more or less sick, and how well they respond to existing vaccines, treatments, and tests.”
“Hospitalizations are rising at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, state epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Shuford said Wednesday. They’re spiking among all age groups, including children. Most patients are not vaccinated,” the Dallas Morning News went on to report.
In response, Governor Abbott set an action plan to “Mitigate Rise In COVID-19 Cases In Texas.” Among those steps included “Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will be utilizing staffing agencies to provide medical personnel from out-of-state to Texas health care facilities to assist in COVID-19 operations. The Governor has also sent a letter to Texas Hospital Association asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures, for which a delay will not result in loss of life or the deterioration of a patient’s condition, in order to increase hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients.”
Lastly the governor “is also directing TDEM and DSHS to increase vaccination availability across the state and encourages all Texans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Texans can visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a provider near them. Texans can also utilize TDEM’s State Mobile Vaccine Program by calling 844-90-TEXAS and selecting Option 3 to schedule a mobile vaccine clinic to vaccinate groups of friends, families, employees, volunteers, and more. Homebound Texans can also call 844-90-TEXAS and choose Option 1 to request a mobile vaccine team to come to their home.”
“The State of Texas is taking action to combat the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and ensure that our hospitals and communities have the resources and support they need to mitigate the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “Texans can help bolster our efforts by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it is our best defense against this virus. Texans can visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near them.”
Many of our local pharmacies, clinics and hospitals continue to offer a variety of the three approved vaccines with more vaccines seeking approval including the AstraZeneca and Novamax vaccines.