1 more test given, results pending
By Melinda L. Lucas
After a week of working to abide by a shelter-in-place order, Shackelford County residents were among the 73 Texas counties that didn’t have a confirmed case of COVID-19 as of press time.
Since last week’s publication, two more test results have come back negative, and an eighth test was administered, with results pending.
Confirmed cases have been reported in adjacent counties except for Haskell and Throckmorton counties, said Albany mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery.
“It takes so much effort and commitment to stay the course for the health and protection of our citizens,” said Montgomery. “Almost everyone is abiding and cooperating with the orders that the governor has set for us, and we appreciate it so much.”
The mayor believes that sheltering in place as much as possible has proven beneficial, and that most Albany residents are doing what they can to isolate their families.
“We encourage the use of face masks, and I have seen more people wearing them this week,” she said. “Any kind of face covering is better than nothing at all.”
No Curfew
Although there have reportedly been several local residents pulled over by law enforcement officers in the last week, county sheriff Ed Miller and city manager Billy Holson both emphasized that there is not a formal curfew except for the usual 10:00 p.m. park closing.
Golf Course
One change from the information in last week’s issue is that the local golf course, along with courses across the state, is not closed as was verbally recommended in Gov. Abbott’s March 31 phone conference.
The state has since said that golf courses can be open.
There are some stricter rules in place for players, however, at the local facility. The course is open to members only, and the management has taken steps to reduce contact.
A complete list of rules is posted at the clubhouse.
Facebook Page
After discussion, Albany officials decided not to establish a city Facebook page for dispersing information.
“The Albany News is where you can get accurate information, and we feel that a Facebook platform would be difficult to keep updated and would just invite irrelevant remarks about other subjects,” said Montgomery. “If there is an immediate need to get news out, we will use the city’s call alert system.”
The mayor thanked the city manager and emergency management coordinator Carrie Holson for their continuing efforts.
“We are getting a lot of mixed messages about this disease and what we should or shouldn’t do about it, and sometimes that advice is confusing and conflicting,” said Montgomery. “What we do know with absolute certainty is that COVID-19 is crippling our nation and our world, and the sooner we get it under control, the sooner we can control our own lives again.”
