With nine new positive cases reported to the Wharton County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Monday, the agency announced that there will be five days of testing at three locations throughout the county, including:
- Monday, June 15 — El Campo Civic Center
- Tuesday, June 16 — Wharton Civic Center
- Wednesday, June 17 — American Legion Post 226 in East Bernard
- Thursday, June 18 — Wharton Civic Center
- Friday, June 19 — El Campo Civic Center
This will be the first time testing is available in East Bernard, Wharton County OEM Director Andy Kirkland told The County Gin.
The testing sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pre-registration is required by calling (512) 883-2400 or visiting www.txcovidtest.org.
Citizens may call to request an appointment 24 hours prior to the opening of each testing location.
‘The recent upward trend in positive cases means we must remain diligent in our social-distancing and hygiene efforts. Now is not the time to let up on our social-distancing practices.’
According to today’s report from the Texas Department of State Health Services, there were also two recoveries.
With the nine additional positive cases, the total who have tested positive for COVID-19 is now 94 in Wharton County, with 44 reported cases who have recovered and one death.
Wharton County currently has 49 active cases.
The distribution of positive cases, as reported to the OEM by the TDSHS, is as follows:
• Gender:
Female — 58
Male — 36
• Age:
0-19 — 10
20-39 — 37
40-59 — 32
60+ — 15
• Location:
Wharton — 41
El Campo — 35
East Bernard — 12
Hungerford — 3
Louise — 3
Kirkland addressed the Wharton County Commissioners Court during its regularly-scheduled meeting last Monday for an update on COVID-19.
He explained that 3% of Wharton County citizens have been tested as of June 8.
“A lot of (the increase in positive cases) was related to the testing of the nursing homes after the governor’s plan (was implemented) to test 1% of the population,” Kirkland told commissioners. “Some were residents and an equal amount were staff. They were asymptomatic, but the governor required testing in all nursing homes.”
Following the report released Monday, the agency stated, “The recent upward trend in positive cases means we must remain diligent in our social-distancing and hygiene efforts.
“Now is not the time to let up on our social-distancing practices. Continue to avoid crowds, wear masks when it is required or you feel it is in your best interest to do so and use good common sense when out in the community to avoid spreading disease.”
For updates, visit the Wharton County OEM website or its Facebook page.
