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Active COVID cases still under 20

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By Melinda L. Lucas

The official number of active county-wide cases is still under 20, and the county continues to qualify for an exemption from occupancy reductions and other state mandates, even as the Shackelford County Health Clinic (SCHC) staff reports a significant number of recent positive COVID-19 tests. 

Hospital district administrator Jera Fairley said Tuesday morning that there have been 11 new positive cases out of 23 tested at the clinic since last Thursday, Dec. 16, with another two positive cases recorded in the last week by ResourceCare’s clinic. 

ResourceCare does not have testing equipment at their Albany facility, and sends many of their symptomatic patients to to Stephens Memorial Hospital’s testing center for rapid tests. 

Because SCHC providers are not sure that more tests can be obtained, the clinic staff is testing only those who are actually symptomatic, along with high risk patients known to have been exposed. Asymptomatic patients, along with those who need negative tests to return to work, are often sent to Stephens Memorial Hospital, which because of its hospital status is able to order more tests.

Fairley said Monday that no information has been sent to the clinic about when vaccines might be available for local healthcare workers and others at risk.