Local COVID spike continues

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the number of positive COVID-19 cases steadily growing over the past two weeks, local health care and school officials are paying close attention to the numbers.

A total of 103 tests were administered last week by the two local health care clinics, with a total of 28 positive cases recorded, according to an update released Tuesday morning by Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton.

Further, the Shackelford County Health Clinic administered 27 additional tests on Monday and Tuesday this week, with 10 more positive results.

On Tuesday, school nurse Lisa Russell said Albany ISD has had a total of 15 positive cases among staff and students since the first day of classes on Aug. 18. However, Russell does not know how many of those cases are included in the totals reported by the county judge.

Both the local clinics and the school are required to report cases to the State Department of Health Services.

“We encourage parents to report any positive results to us so we have that information quickly,” Russell said. “Regardless of where a test is conducted, the health department will contact the positive cases, so it will eventually get reported to us either way. It would be very helpful for staff members or parents of students testing positive to let us know as soon as they can to limit the spread if possible.”

Guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency requires staff members to report positive cases and cases of close contact, but parents of students who may have had close contact are allowed to make the decision of whether to self-quarantine.

“It is up to parents to report cases of close contact to us and choose whether to keep their students home,” superintendent Jonathan Scott said on Tuesday. “We can’t keep a student from attending classes – that is a parental decision.”

Parents who decide to keep students at home who had close contact need to call the school rather than their students just not showing up to classes.

“We are monitoring the numbers day to day,” Scott said. “We are recording all cases as required and keeping up with test dates and possible return dates.”

Staff members who have been in close contact have more strict requirements including being tested every two days with rapid tests for a total of 10 days, or have antibody blood tests administered to prove the presence of antibodies against the virus.

Russell reported that the district was dealing with a total of seven new cases on Monday and Tuesday, including two staff members and five students.

Scott said that there is a plan in place if and when the school reaches 10 percent of the school population concurrently.

“Last year, we had a total of 38 cases, but I think we will shatter that this year,” Scott said. “We aren’t tied to any number,” he said. “We will use common sense if we need to consider cancelling classes for a period of time.”

The school only cancelled one day of classes in September last year. However, volleyball team members did quarantine for a few days after a few players contracted the virus.

The school nurse pointed out that students 12 years old or older are now able to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is available in Abilene,

The local clinics only have the Moderna vaccine on hand.

Anyone needing to be tested or vaccinated should contact one of the local clinics to make an appointment. The Shackelford County Health Clinic can be reached at 325-762-3661, and the phone number for the ResourceCare Community Health Center is 325-762-2447.

The Shackelford County EMS Station is offering free COVID-19 testing, which available by appointment only. Call 325-762-2447.