Nationally, COVID-19 continues to impact the health, economy and individual lives of our country. The steps we have taken as a nation, state and in our local community appear to be making a positive impact. In two major “hotspots”, New York and California, the rate of new cases is slowing, the number of inpatient cases is fewer and the number of patients on ventilators has also decreased.
This is not the time, however, to loosen the guidelines about Social Distancing, Staying at Home and Gatherings for non-essential individuals. Since it appears these guidelines are working to minimize COVID-19 cases, the next 2-3 weeks will be critical in keeping the number of cases down. This is especially true for Gatherings. From a healthcare view and in support of this community, there should be no Gatherings of any size outside your home.
As you know, we have taken many steps to protect the community, patients, residents in the nursing home and assisted living facilities, including:
- Checking each visitor to the hospital and clinic for fever, and having them sign in
- Allowing only one visitor for each inpatient
- Implementing a Drive Through Clinic for patients with symptoms
- Canceling all elective surgery
- Following state directives regarding no visitors to the nursing and assisted living facilities
- Following state directives to have all nursing facility and assisted living staff in masks
- Closing the fitness center and gift shop
We continue to operate all facilities and departments in the Seminole Hospital District (exceptions above). The physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, clinical staff and administrative staff remain on duty to serve this community. We are pleading with the community to follow the guidelines of Social Distancing, Staying at Home, No Gatherings, and Self-Quarantine at Home should you develop symptoms.
In the state of Texas, as of today (4/7/2020), we have experienced the following:
85,357 individuals tested
7, 276 tested positive for COVID-19 (8.5% positive rate)
1,153 individuals admitted to hospitals as inpatients
140 fatalities
157 of the 254 counties in the state have reported at least one positive COVID-19 case
In Gaines County, as of today, we have tested 5 individuals for COVID-19. 3 individuals were negative, 1 was positive and 1 is pending. There have been no inpatients with COVID-19. Test kits remain extremely limited and all entities (federal, state, CDC, health department and Seminole Hospital District) are following the published guidelines for testing: fever, cough, shortness of breath, known exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and travel outside of the U.S. In addition, CDC has published a document showing how tests will be prioritized (attached). So far, we have avoided a major outbreak of COVID-19 in our community. We thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Larry Gray
Seminole Hospital District