COVID-19 Near Miss, Disaster Order Extended
Jackson County dodged a proverbial bullet last week. Reports on Wednesday, March 26, 2020, indicated that Jackson County may have had its first positive case of the coronavirus, aka COVID-19, when a 65-year-old Jackson County woman tested positive at a Harris County hospital. However, subsequent investigations by Texas Department of State Health Services determined that the disease was contracted elsewhere and the woman had no contact with any Jackson County resident.
“The female tested positive after being hospitalized for an unrelated medical issue. The investigation as to the probable origin of exposure is currently ongoing. The person is currently experiencing mild symptoms and is hospitalized in Harris County but is expected to isolate at home once she is released,” said Jackson County Hospital CEO Bill Jones early on Wednesday.
Jackson County Judge Jill Sklar promised to keep citizens informed as the investigation unfolded.
“We want our citizens to be informed and we urge everyone to refer to official public media outlets for timely and correct information,” said Judge Sklar.
She and the citizens did not have to wait long. Later that afternoon, Texas Department of State Health Services investigation had concluded that the patient’s exposure to the virus occurred while the patient was outside Jackson County. Additionally, the patient had no contact with anyone in the Jackson County community since the exposure. The patient is currently isolating at home.
Prior to the positive COVID-19 scare, the County Commissioners voted last week to extend the county’s Local State of Disaster Declaration indefinitely.
Originally issued on March 18, 2020 by Judge Jill Sklar, the declaration granted Jackson County access to a regulatory process that opens the door for the county to obtain resources should they become necessary. The judge’s declaration was valid for seven days and commissioners were required to officially extend it or allow it to expire. Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Janica told the commissioners that he did not recommend any changes in policy at this time.
“Unless it (number of coronavirus cases) rises drastically, we should continue doing what we’re doing.”
Some commissioners voiced concern that lifting the declaration might send the wrong signal to the public that there was no longer a cause for concern.
Judge Sklar advised that, if commissioners voted to extend the declaration without an actual termination date, it could be rescinded at any time.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, as of March 29 at 6 p.m., there had been at least 2,552 people in Texas who had tested positive for the virus. There were 34 reported deaths that have a connection with COVID-19. At least 25,483 people have been tested. Positive cases have been reported in 118 counties in Texas.
In the Jackson County area, positive cases have been identified in El Campo, Port Lavaca, Victoria and Yoakum.
All schools and UIL-sanctioned events have been postponed and county and city leaders are urging ‘social distancing’ to minimize the spread of the virus.
While some counties have issued ‘shelter-in-place’ orders for residents, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott has shied away from a statewide lockdown, instead deferring to the local governments to determine their own need to shut down.
“I am governor of 254 counties in the State of Texas,” said Gov. Abbott at a recent press conference. “What may be right for places like the large, urban areas may not be right (for rural counties with no coronavirus cases) at this particular point in time.”
On March 25, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Texas, which makes federal emergency aid available for the State of Texas to supplement the state, tribes and local recovery efforts.