COVID-19 Update

Publishers Note: As the Covid-19 restrictions have eased up and the active cases continue to dwindle we have not provided a regular update. With the significant CDC mask change this week we felt it was important to provide an update. Though the numbers have dropped off and the restrictions have eased, health organizations continue to encourage regular hand washing, and common sense social distancing to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other seasonal illnesses. It is also worthwhile to note that as a community we should respect one another’s comfort level when it comes to masks and vaccinations, coming from varying viewpoints. As this situation is fluid things continue to change quickly, please treat one another with grace and respect.

On May 13 the CDC issued their “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.” giving their recommendation that now “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”

Furthermore, the CDC recommended, “that fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.”

Upon the CDC’s announcement, President Biden touts the new recommendations as “a great day for America.” While appearing maskless during remarks in the White House Rose Garden, Biden said, “You have endured all this. When your country asked you to get vaccinated, you did. The American people stepped up. You did what I consider to be your patriotic duty. That’s how we have gotten to this day,” reported CNN.

Here in Cass County, we now have eight new confirmed cases in May bringing a total of 1158 reported cases with 82 fatalities attributed to the virus and two active cases.

As of May 12, 2021, there has only been one person in the Cass County area who has been shown to have a Covid-19 variant. That person traveled outside the county.

According to the Texas Health & Human Services (DSHS), “Because viruses constantly change through mutation, new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are expected to occur. Multiple variants have been documented in Texas and the United States that may spread more easily or cause more serious illness. Current scientific evidence indicates that available vaccines are effective at protecting people from severe illnesses caused by these variants. Public health officials at the federal, state and local levels continue to study them, monitor their spread, develop strategies to slow their spread and test how variants may respond to existing therapies, vaccines and testing.”

Texas DSHS has also reported that Texas Public Schools has had 143,979 students and 72,282 staff cases reported. Here in Cass County, all schools have eased the mask mandate for students. All county schools have been open for in-campus learning for some time now while other schools around the state remain open virtually.

DSHS has also reported that a significant number of people in our county have been vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. See below.

This worksheet above is updated weekly (Mondays) by 4 p.m. CST with data as of 11:59 the previous night.

Zip code is the zip code of COVID-19 vaccine recipient as reported by providers to the Texas Immunization Registry, ImmTrac2. Some zip codes may be invalid or fall outside of Texas because of the following: zip code is unknown, there was a data entry error by the reporting provider, the recipient’s address is not current, or the recipient lives in another state but was vaccinated in Texas. The discrepancies may also account for the information therein since the Journal-Sun has noted vaccination numbers are higher than the number of residents within that Zip Code.

Vaccine doses administered are defined as the number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered to individuals living in this zip code. Health care providers have 24 hours after a dose is administered to enter information into ImmTrac2, the Texas Immunization Registry. The data comes from vaccination records submitted by health care providers as of 11:59 Sunday night.

About the above chart, the number of people vaccinated with one dose is defined as the number of people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The number of people fully vaccinated is defined as the number of people who have completed the full series consisting of two doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, as outlined by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

“As of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, everyone 12 years old and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations. All vaccines are authorized for people 18 years old and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 12 years old and older.” Reports Texas DSHS.

Pharmacies in Walmart in Atlanta, TX 75551 CVS Pharmacy, Atlanta, TX, Powers Pharmacy, Linden, TX have reported having vaccines available. Other clinics, mobile clinics, and area hospitals report regular vaccine clinics and availability. Check on websites and call for more information.