Mobile testing planned Sunday
By Donnie A. Lucas
Despite Albany and Shackelford County not registering an official case of COVID-19 thus far, a free mobile testing unit will be in Albany on Sunday at the Law Enforcement Center located on Hwy. 180 West.
Operated by Texas Department of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Texas Military Department Mobile Testing Squad, drive-through testing will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The measure was requested through the county judge’s office on behalf of local health authorities.
Residents wanting to avail themselves of the free testing must call ahead for an appointment, 512-883-2400, or make an appointment online at https://txcovidtest.org at least 24 hours prior to the starting time on Sunday.
The tests are voluntary and persons tested do not have to be exhibiting symptoms. However, officials are asking that only one person per household be tested.
According to an email announcing the program sent out by county judge Robert Skelton, “The thinking is if one person in a household is positive, we will assume that the rest of the household will be positive.”
Persons requesting a testing appointment will be called or emailed back with a confirmation that the appointment has been made.
Skelton warned that persons using the telephone request line might experience heavy call volume and are asked to remain on the line.
First responders will have priority for testing if appointment times become limited.
During the interview to set up the appointment, persons requesting the test may be asked about insurance information to determine if their insurance company will help with the cost. Also, questions about symptoms may be asked when setting up the appointment, but having symptoms is not required.
Persons who receive a confirmation will be administered the nasal swab test while remaining in their vehicle. Entry to the LEC’s “Sally Port” can be gained by entering through the gate to the far right (west) side of the jail and circling around through the “Sally Port” or garage area. Following the test, persons can exit forward into the parking lot.
It was also noted that children under age five can not be tested.
Skelton said that he knows that the Sunday testing time is not ideal since it is Mother’s Day, but that was when the opportunity for local testing was available.
COVID-19 Numbers
There has been confusion over the numbers reported last week on the DSHS website for the county.
The website was posting numbers in excess of 430 tests administered in the county. However, Skelton said this week that he had the opportunity to speak with the Deputy Regional Director for the DSHS about the discrepancy.
“I talked with the director about the numbers being reported and she was able to get that fixed,” the county judge said. “She said there had been some kind of glitch in the computer software system that has since been corrected.”
Currently the official website is listing 11 tests administered, with no positive cases.
“As far I know, there are no positive cases in the county according to the website,” Skelton said. “If we have a case that is positive, it will be reported to Dr. Joel Massey, the Regional Director for the Texas DSHS in Arlington.”
He added that tests administered in other counties to Shackelford County residents will eventually be assigned back to their place of residence.
Last week, a case that was reported to the City of Albany as confirmed turned out to be positive for antibodies, but not positive for an active virus.
Anyone with information about a positive case should contact the judge’s office in the courthouse at 325-762-9405.
City of Albany mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery said that she has had only favorable reports about the easing of restrictions that started last Friday as authorized by Gov. Greg Abbott.
“Everyone seems to be complying with the 50 percent occupancy,” she said. “We need to remain diligent about social distancing, wearing face coverings, and hand washing so that we can continue down this track. If the numbers go up locally or in the state as a whole, then we might be faced with closing things down again.”
During a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Abbott announced that beginning Friday, May 8, beauty salons, barber shops, and nail salons are allowed to open as long as social distancing of six feet is maintained between customers. It was also suggested that salons work on an appointment basis to control the number of clients present at a time.
Abbott said that gyms and exercise facilities can open at 25 percent of capacity starting Monday, May 18.
Montgomery said that local city parks are now open for residents to use, but she urged using safety precautions.
“The city is disinfecting the playground equipment at Webb Park every other night,” she said.
The mayor pro tem also noted that city officials will notify the public as soon as they are made aware of a case or cases when they come through an official medical channel such as the Texas DSHS.
“We are going to have to rely on our official medical sources to relay that kind of information,” she said.
