Texas reopening, county cases soar to 155, Cove mobile testing set for Monday

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

The positive cases of COVID-19 virus in Coryell County jumped to a total of 155 as reported on Thursday by Coryell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Harrell. 

Of those 155 positive cases, 111 are located within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities located within the Gatesville area, with the remaining 44 within the county. 

On Monday, May 4, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Copperas Cove Fire Station #2, located at 2401 F.M. 1113, will serve as a mobile testing site for COVID-19. 

Access to the testing site will be from the Grimes Crossing entrance to the Fire Station.  

Registration for testing begins no earlier than Sunday May 3, at 8 a.m. 

Registration may be done at txcovidtest.org or by calling 512-883-2400. Persons who meet the screening criteria, must register and receive an appointment time. 

Positive cases in the state of Texas reached 27,054, with 732 fatalities, and an estimated 12,507 patients recovered, according to Texas DSHS. There are 1,686 presently being treated for COVID-19 in Texas hospitals. So far, 314,790 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 in the state. 

Nationwide as of Thursday noon there were, 1,031,659 positive cases and 60,057 fatalities according to the Centers for Disease Control. 

The Coryell County commissioners met on Monday morning and voted to extend the county’s disaster declaration through May 25, prior to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement that he would let his Executive Order GA-14 expire on April 30.

“Although Governor Abbott’s order supersedes the county’s current orders, the extension of the county’s declaration ensured the county remained eligible for all Federal and State aid and grants,” Coryell County Judge Roger Miller stated in a press release on Monday afternoon. “New county orders consistent with the Governor’s order and guidance will be forthcoming.”

On Thursday, the Copperas Cove city council voted to extend Copperas Cove’s disaster declaration through May 15. 

Highlighting the governor’s orders are the option for retailers, who are not identified as essential critical infrastructure workforce, to re-open with restrictions, and the shift from stay at home to minimize gatherings/minimize in-person contact. 

Additionally, dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, museums, and libraries may re-open and operate at 25% of capacity with other restrictions being met. Detailed information and specific guidelines may be found in the Governor’s Report to Open Texas and the Minimum Health Standards Protocols for COVID-19 from DSHS.

Social distancing and the use of hand sanitizer and hand washing are still encouraged.