58 tested for COVID-19
news@wood.cm
The mobile COVID-19 test site conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services drew 58 people to the Mineola Civic Center on Friday, May 1.
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58 tested for COVID-19
The mobile COVID-19 test site conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services drew 58 people to the Mineola Civic Center on Friday, May 1.
The Civic Center was closed to regular traffic, and the Army National Guard was well organized and prepared for a crowd with three checkpoints to be screened and tested.
Wood County residents were given a 24-hour notice to register online for an appointment, but there was a procedure in place for those that weren’t able to make an appointment.
Without an appointment, people were directed to a parking lot where they made a call and were screened for symptoms. The call center then contacted the guardsmen with confirmed information, and the patient was allowed to proceed to the testing site. It was a wait of 10-15 minutes.
The 49 patients with an appointment and identification flowed through in a steady stream.
County Judge Lucy Hebron stated that, although mobile testing is going on in locations all over the state, last Friday may have been Wood County’s one and only shot to have a drive-through test.
“We’ve been asking about it and was glad that we even had it available,” she said.
The test results will not be available for a few more days, and while positive cases in Wood County have been low, there could be a spike in confirmed cases after the results are sent.
“We’re not going to be like Dallas County, but we are anticipating higher numbers,” Hebron said. “I would like for everyone to be back to business as usual, but we don’t know if that will happen soon. I feel obligated to protect the health and safety of Wood County.”
She and other Wood County leaders are considering and relying on recommendations from the local health authority before making decisions for the county.
Hebron said she feels the overwhelming majority of citizens are very conscious about the vulnerable populations, and she is thankful they are willing to make sacrifices to protect others.
Not including Friday’s tests, the state had reported 94 tests of Wood County citizens as of Monday.
