COVID restrictions continue as virus spreads

Posted 12/31/20

Wood County and the surrounding counties remain above the threshold for returning to higher business occupancy rates due to the spread of COVID-19.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

COVID restrictions continue as virus spreads

Posted

Wood County and the surrounding counties remain above the threshold for returning to higher business occupancy rates due to the spread of COVID-19.

Under the governor’s order in September that allowed bars to reopen and businesses to increase capacity to 75%, any trauma service area that experiences seven straight days with hospitalizations above 15% (COVID-patient beds as compared to total beds), the occupancy rate must drop back to 50% and bars must close.

That threshold was reached for Trauma Area G on Monday, Dec. 21, and the new restrictions went into place Tuesday, Dec. 22 at midnight.

Since then the area has remained above the 15% mark. It reached a high of 18% on Dec. 25 and was still at 17.75% as of Dec. 27.

In order to return to the higher occupancy rates, the area must drop below 15% for seven consecutive days.

Since Dec. 15 the area has remained above the 15% mark.

The latest report from the Northeast Texas Public Health District on Monday showed Wood County with 1,988 total cases of COVID-19, with 1,160 confirmed and 828 probably based on an antigen test.

There were 62 new cases reported over the Christmas holiday, though only six of those were confirmed.

Of the 527 active cases, 222 were confirmed and 305 probable.

The county death toll has remained as 56, including 47 confirmed, according to NETHealth, although the state department of health services lists the county with 64 deaths.

Th state reports there have been 13,397 COVID-19 tests administered to county residents since March.

The cases, which include confirmed and probable, reported by ZIP code, include 580 in Mineola, 406 in Quitman, 389 in Winnsboro, 186 each in Alba and Hawkins, 160 in Yantis, 55 in Holly Lake ranch and 13 in Golden.

There have been 1,140 females and 846 males contract the disease.

In a recorded video message Monday, Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron thanked county residents for doing their part. She said she has lost a friend to the disease and that she thinks his message would be to not let your guard down and to wear a mask.

On Monday the Mineola Country Club reported it would be closing bar for at least 14 days for quarantine due to a positive COVID-19 test of an employee.