Local hospitals, health agencies seek support from area residents

Hospitals and emergency management officials in Texarkana released Thursday a joint announcement seeking the public’s support in combatting COVID-19.

Jason Rounds, President, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Thomas Gilbert, President, Wadley Regional Medical Center, Matt Young, M.D., Bowie County Health Authority and Jerry Stringfellow, M.D., Miller County Health Authority issued the joint announcement. Printed in its entirety below.

“The number of COVID-19 patients in the Texarkana and surrounding region has increased significantly in the past weeks, resulting in rising hospitalizations,” responded. “Like area residents, we are concerned about this trend. First, we want to assure our community we have been and will continue to work together to respond to this pandemic.”

Both hospitals have worked diligently to ensure safe and accessible healthcare for all in need. We communicate regularly and are confident in our abilities to provide safe care to all with compassion and professionalism.

However, we need your help. Reducing the spread of COVID-19 requires everyone to participate in safe practices throughout our daily lives—every day, every time. It is proven people wearing face masks in public, social distancing by maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet from others and practicing frequent hand hygiene reduces the spread of the virus.

We are writing this unified message to ask the people of Texarkana and surrounding counties to do these three simple things to help us save lives and prevent further surge of COVID-19.

Face masks are required upon entering both hospitals in order to keep staff, physicians, patients and essential visitors safe and healthy. Screening is also required of all who enter. We appreciate the understanding and adherence to this important effort to help minimize exposure.

We applaud businesses as well as individuals who have supported and practiced the proven measures as a means of being part of the solution. Our citizens and neighbors have been resilient throughout the history of our community, unifying to overcome challenges, and now we need each and every one of us to step up again.

The initial efforts on both sides of Stateline were successful in flattening the curve in the number of cases. The reopening of the economy undeniably has been critical but has added challenges, and we have witnessed increasing COVID-19 cases. It is important we continue to work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for our health and our economic situation.

We strongly believe the people of this community can, and should, be able to continue the practices needed to earn a living and support our economy. But, for future success, we need everyone to engage in all of the needed steps to limit your risk of exposure as well as protect those around you.

Masking, physical distancing and hand washing—these things work and can help impact the current trend of increasing COVID cases. Thank you for your support. We stand together to serve you and your family today and always.”

Bowie County Emergency Operations Center reported Friday a total of 353 positive COVID-19 cases with 181 recoveries and 26 deaths. Cass County reported a total 57 cases with 39 recovered and three deaths.

Judge Becky Wilbanks posted Sunday on Facebook that Cass County is no longer exempt from GA-29 due to the number of active cases within the county.

Wilbanks shared a notification her office received from the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

“As of July 12, 2020, CASS COUNTY is no longer exempt from GA-29 due to the number of active cases in CASS COUNTY reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services as of 4 p.m. today.”

GA-29 requires counties with more than 20 active cases to enforce the wearing of face masks in public.

The Bowie County Joint Operations Center is still conducting contract tracing on positive cases. Those who test positive are urged to contact the Local Health Authority at (903) 255-5560.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued Saturday a proclamation extending his Disaster Declaration for all Texas counties in response to COVID-19. Originally issued March 13, the Disaster Declaration provides the state resources to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

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

Abbott suspended Thursday elective surgeries in hospitals in all counties located within 11 Trauma Service Areas in Texas (see map).

Previously, surgeries were suspended at hospitals in the counties of Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo, Nueces, Travis and Webb.

“By expanding this directive to include the counties within these 11 TSAs, we are freeing up more resources to address upticks in COVID-19 related cases”, Abbott said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported July 11:

10,083 hospitalizations—a 25% increase over the previous week.

10,351 new cases of the 39,835 tests reported Friday, July 10.

3,112 deaths—99 more than the previous day and 504 more than the previous week.

Visit txdshs.com for current data.

As of July 13, the current count in Cass County is: Total - 62; Recovered - 35; and Active - 25.