ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – There are no new positive cases of COVID-19 in Abilene Friday, and so far, 184 people have recovered from the virus.

There are still 228 positive cases of COVID-19 recorded by the City, and 4,339 tests have been administered. Thirty-nine cases are still active.

This number varies drastically from the 350-odd cases reported just weeks ago because the State of Texas recently requested the City of Abilene stop including positive results from the prison units, which are in Jones County, and results based on antibody tests.

Currently, city officials are working to recalculate demographic information, so statistics about the patients’ ages, common symptoms, and more are not available at this time.

Three patients are currently hospitalized, though nothing has been disclosed about their current conditions.

Five deaths are also being attributed to COVID-19 in Abilene. The number was initially 6, but one of the deceased patients resided in another county.

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The city of Abilene and the Taylor County Health Department report 2 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing up the total to 210.

The city says 3,109 tests have been conducted and 7 patients are hospitalized.

“Please note hospitalizations is now the total number of patients hospitalized in Taylor County with COVID-19, no matter their county of residence,” said the city in a social media post.

Officials say the number of tests conducted may not be accurate because antibody tests are still included in the county’s total, even though the positive results from those tests are not.

A change in reporting requirements that removed totals taken from antibody tests and positive tests by inmates from local prisons on Wednesday saw the previous totals drop significantly.

Demographic information on the cases is being recalculated as a result of the new reporting requirements, the city says.

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The City of Abilene and Taylor County Health Department have reported one new case of COVID-19.

This brings the newly-revised total to 207.

A change in reporting requirements that removed totals taken from antibody tests and positive tests by inmates from local prisons on Wednesday saw the previous totals drop significantly.

The city says 3,048 tests have been conducted, but that the number may not be accurate because antibody tests are still included in the county’s total, even though the positive results are not.

A city official says the number of tests is down from Wednesday’s because they removed the number of tests previously conducted at the prisons.

Demographic information on the cases is being recalculated as a result of the new reporting requirements, the city says.

By: Joey Hollingsworth

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, delivers remarks during a press conference on April 21, 2020, updating the public on the state’s response to COVID-19. (Nexstar Photo/Wes Rapaport)

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, will provide an update on the state’s response to the coronavirus.

The press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CDT from the Texas Capitol.

It will be Abbott’s first briefing in more than a week. At his last news conference, he announced the details of his first phase of reopening Texas restaurants and retailers, which allowed qualifying businesses to open at 25% capacity.

Abbott put part of his plan into motion near the end of April, with a “retail to-go” model that allowed curbside service for stores that were previously considered non-essential.

He will be joined by Texas Health and Human Services Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, as well as his usual companions, Dr. John Hellerstedt of the Texas Department of State Health Services and Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Abbott said Phase II of his plan to reopen the Texas economy could come as early as May 18 and may include hair salons, barbershops, bars and gyms, which were left off the initial round of reopenings. The timeline of the next phase would depend on the spread of COVID-19 during the first phase. Phase II would allow businesses to bump capacity up to 50%.

“Everybody desperately wanted those hair salons open,” Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, said. “That was an announcement that we wanted to make on Monday (4/27), but the medical professionals just flat would not sign off on that happening.”

Abbott’s “Open Texas” plan includes some details on the state’s new contact-tracing system and associated benchmark goals.

Abbott allowed his “stay-at-home” order to expire April 30, with a caveat.

“Now, more than ever, Texans need to practice social distancing,” he said.

While some business owners say he should open the state up entirely right away, the Governor has faced some push-back from others who say communities are not prepared for a spike in COVID-19 cases that could come.

“Honestly, I don’t think we’re ready,” State Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, said, referring to the El Paso region. “We’re still going to be very vigilant about staying at home.”

Abbott eliminated the mandatory 14-day quarantine for road travelers from Louisiana, but kept in place required self-quarantines for air travelers from California; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Washington State; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI, and Miami, FL.

He also loosened some restrictions on non-emergency surgeries.

Abbott’s Tuesday press conference will be streamed live in this article and on our Facebook page.

By: Wes Rapaport

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Border officials working on long-term plan to stem return of coronavirus and face future health emergencies.

Cashier Nancy Alvarez wears a protective mask as she works behind a plastic shield at the Presidente Supermarket during the new coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, April 21, 2020, in Hialeah, Fla. All employees are required to wear masks which are provided by the company. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — COVID-19 is yet to peak in the borderlands, and local officials are focusing on pressing challenges like discouraging Mother’s Day gatherings that could boost the spread of the virus.

But as they emphasize social distancing and stepped-up testing, El Paso County officials are working behind the scenes on a long-term plan to drastically change the way government employees interact with each other and the public.

“We have to get into a different kind of mindset,” said Nicole Ruiz, public policy analyst for county government. “We have to reshape the future to protect the health of our employees when we do return to work.”

That includes not just encouraging clean desks, frequent handwashing and social distancing, but ultimately redesigning work areas, allowing some employees to continue working from home and the fostering of new habits.

“For example, it’s not just keeping 6 feet away from other employees; we’re recommending that instead of walking to another office to ask a question, send an email or make a phone call,” Ruiz said Monday at a briefing of the El Paso County Commissioners Court.

And while working remotely became a necessity after city and county issued stay-at-home orders, it could become a long-term opportunity to free up the office space to enable proper social distancing for those whose physical presence is required, she said.

The El Paso County Courthouse (photo by Julian Resendiz/Border Report)

Both County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and Commissioner Precinct 4 Carl Robinson are suggesting placing shields at cashier’s windows to protect both the customer as well as the employee. Some are already being used. “Shields seem to be non-intrusive. If that shield never came down, we would understand,” Samaniego said.

Other actions in the planning stage include the purchase of an adequate supply of masks and thermometers and the crafting of an “early warning” system that will allow the county judge to make quick, informed decisions to close departments or buildings should COVID-19 return or a new health emergency surfaces.

El Paso City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said the latter is a possibility that cannot be overlooked.

“We continue to see a rise in the numbers; this pandemic is very dynamic in the way it behaves,” Ocaranza told the Commissioners Court. “Once we start seeing a decline we still have to be careful with the way we observe social distancing. […] This coming winter is flu season and people are susceptible. We can’t let our guard down.”

El Paso as of Sunday had confirmed 998 cases of COVID-19 and recorded 22 fatalities. Nearby Juarez, Mexico has had 400 cases and 80 deaths.

“We have a difficult situation ahead,” Samaniego said. “We have Mother’s Day and graduations coming up. […] Social gatherings is one of the most difficult things we are going to face. If you look at the numbers, We had Easter and then increase in deaths and so forth, so we are going to ask you to stay home.”

By: Julian Resendiz

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – 7 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Taylor County, bringing up the total number of confirmed cases to 356.

According to the city, a total of 2873 tests have been administered, 129 people have recovered, and 5 deaths have been confirmed.

The COVID-19 testing numbers from the Abilene Taylor County Public Health District for May 4, 2020 show 10 new recoveries, bringing the total number of current active cases down to 222.

Most Abilene COVID-19 patients are in self-isolation, however, several are hospitalized and five are deceased.

A report from the New York Times showed Abilene as having one of the fastest-growing COVID-19 case rates.

Abilene had the 4th highest growth rate in the nation and the number one spot in Texas, beating out the only other city listed in the Lone Star State – Amarillo.

Free COVID-19 testing will be taking place in Taylor County for the next three days. Mobile testing will be available in Merkel on May 5, Buffalo Gap on May 6, and Lawn on May 7, for those who pre-qualify.

AbiMar Foods became a hotspot for the virus and contributed to the increase in positive cases. Since March 31, 10% of their entire workforce tested positive for COVID-19. All 500-600 employees were tested. The company resumed operations on April 21 after closing for one week.

Other Abilene locations connected to COVID-19 include DRI, the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, Walmart on Southwest Drive, and the Robertson and Middleton Prison Units.

Locally, there has been an outbreak among first responders, with 41 Abilene Fire Department members testing positive and 13 Abilene Police Department members testing positive.

By: Martin Mercado

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

FILE – This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, U.S. health regulators OK’d the first coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home, a new approach that could help expand testing options in most states. The sample will still have to be shipped for processing back to LabCorp, which operates diagnostic labs throughout the U.S. (NIAID-RML via AP)

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A report shows Abilene has one of the highest growth rates of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The New York Times report, released earlier this week, projects Abilene to be a potential hotspot for the virus in the coming weeks, due to how quickly the number of cases grows each day.

In the report, Abilene is attributed an 11% growth rate, with the number of cases doubling every 6.8 days.

This is the fourth highest growth rate in the country and the top in Texas, beating out Amarillo, the only other Texas city on the list, by two spots.

The data, due to the delayed nature of reporting, is a little dated, so for some perspective, when the chart was made, Abilene had 270 reported cases and now has 319. Amarillo had 637 cases and now has 806.

Mayor Anthony Williams says Abilene’s growth rate is so high compared to other similar-sized Texas cities because more tests are being administered here.

Updated numbers on COVID-19 cases in Abilene are released each afternoon. Stick with BigCountryHomepage for the latest.

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The number of COVID-19 cases in Abilene has surpassed 300 as restrictions in City and across the State begin to lift.

Thursday, city officials reported 319 positive cases in Abilene, an increase of 28 from the day before.

Most patients are self-isolated or have already recovered from the virus, but several people are currently hospitalized in unknown condition and five, including a correctional officer from the Middleton Unit in Abilene, are deceased.

The highest number of cases is currently being reported among the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups, though the 50-59 age group has a large number of cases as well.

A recent outbreak among first responders has resulted in 36 members of the Abilene Fire Department and 11 members of the Abilene Police Department testing positive for COVID-19.

Abi-Mar Foods has also become a local hot spot, with 50 of their 500+ employees testing positive for the virus.

Friday, malls, movie theaters, restaurants, and in-person retail sales will be open in Texas and Abilene if they operate at 25% capacity.

Additional restrictions are expected to lift in a couple weeks as Governor Greg Abbott works to Re-Open Texas.

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Taylor County Commissioners’ Court has extended the continuation of the Disaster Declaration due to COVID-19.

The Disaster Declaration set to expire on April 30 has been extended for 30 more days. The Taylor County Commissioners’ Court also passed a resolution to continue limited public access during a regular session held this morning.

According to County Judge Downing A. Bolls, Jr, the court will meet in a special called meeting on Friday to discuss and make any changes or directives for the county, reviewing Governor Abbott’s executive order which allows businesses to re-open under certain conditions.

“This discussion will include steps on how to open out Taylor County facilities to the public in a safe manner for our employees and our citizens,” said Judge Downing A. Bolls, Jr.

By: Martin Mercado

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, delivers remarks during a press conference on April 21, 2020, updating the public on the state’s response to COVID-19. (Nexstar Photo/Wes Rapaport)

AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott on Monday revealed his plan to re-open Texas. Abbott said his previous “Stay Home” executive order was set to expire on April 30, and he will allow it to expire.

The May 1 List, Phase 1 is:

• Restaurants
• All theaters
• Malls

They may reopen on May 1 with no more than 25 percent occupancy. Abbott said his order supersedes all local orders. Businesses are allowed but not required to reopen.

Museums and Libraries may also re-open with no more than 25 percent occupancy and no hands-on exhibits. Phase 2 would be 50 percent instead of 25 percent.

Abbott said small counties with five or fewer cases can increase capacity to 50 percent instead of 25 percent on May 1.

Outdoor sports may resume with no more than 4 people at once, such as golf or tennis. Licensed healthcare professionals, such as dentists, may return to work

Barber shops, gyms, and nail salons are still closed on May 1, but hopefully might reopen by mid-May, Abbott said.

By: newsweb@everythinglubbock.com

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The City of Abilene reports six new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 191.

According to numbers released by the city on Thursday, 57 people have now recovered from the virus, up from just 30 on Wednesday.

The increase of six new cases comes on the heels of two consecutive days of at least 20 new positive results.

There have been three COVID-19 related deaths in Abilene.

For available demographic information, see the graphic provided by the City of Abilene below:

By: Joey Hollingsworth

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — AbiMar Foods says they have resumed operations just more than a week after closing and testing all employees for COVID-19.

According to a news release issued late Tuesday afternoon, the company started a gradual resuming of operations at 7 a.m. April 21.

AbiMar says they will implement a first phase with a small group of workers to allow them to “validate the prevention measures implemented,” with plans to gradually increase production.

The news release states that the company created a social agreement where they and the employees recognize the importance of safety guidelines provided by the City of Abilene and Department of Health, and intend to adhere to said guidelines.

The decision to resume operations was already shared with the City of Abilene and the Abilene Health Department, according to the news release.

At time of publication, 52 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

The entire news release reads as follows:

" Abilene, April 21, 2020. After the voluntary closing of operations last Monday, April 13 for a massive COVID-19 testing, AbiMar Foods announces its decision to gradually resume the operation starting at 07:00 am, today April 21, 2020.

The company will implement a first phase, with a small group of workers, which will allow the company to validate the prevention measures implemented. As safety conditions are validated the Company will keep gradually escalating production.

Based on the guidelines provided by the City, the Department of Health and the actions defined to resume operations, the company generated a social agreement, where the employer and employees mutually recognize the importance of said measures and express their intention to thoroughly adhere to them in the workplace, family and community settings in order to jointly help contain the spread of the virus.

This decision to reopen was already shared with the City and the Abilene Health Department, in line with the permanent communication and coordinated work scheme that the company has maintained with local authorities.

Apart from being employees of AbiMar Foods, our collaborators are members of a community that needs them as an example and a benchmark to help care for the health of the entire Abilene population. We thank all of them for their positive attitude throughout this process.

AbiMar Foods is determined to continue managing the impact of COVID-19 with the greatest sense of humanity, while being clear that people and the care of the health and life thereof are of outmost importance. "

By: Joey Hollingsworth

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The City of Abilene reports a total of 164 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 in Taylor County, 52 of whom are employed at AbiMar foods.

The demographics presented by the City not including AbiMar’s positive cases show 2 of the COVID-19 patients have died in Abilene but 28 have recovered. Most patients are currently in self-isolation at home, though some are hospitalized. Their current conditions have not been disclosed.

An outbreak of COVID-19 at AbiMar Foods in Abilene has led to the testing of all 500-600 employees, revealing 10% of the company’s workforce is positive for the virus.

During a press conference Monday morning, the City of Abilene addressed the outbreak, saying AbiMar has been proactive in fighting COVID-19, even before their first positive case.

As of Sunday afternoon, 511 AbiMar employees had been tested, and 80 of those tests were still pending.

Disability Resources, Inc. has also had several cases, one of which has been fatal, and the City of Abilene confirmed a Southwest Drive Walmart employee and customer tested positive for the virus earlier this month.

According to the Texas Department of Justice website as of April 18, two inmates from the Robertson Unit have tested positive, and there are two test results still pending. 111 are in medical restriction and 4 in medical isolation.

A Limited Shelter in Place Order is currently in effect through April 30, shutting down non-essential businesses and only permitting people to leave their homes for essential activities.

By: Martin Mercado

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Abilene State Park was open for business Monday, reflecting directives by Gov. Greg Abbott for businesses in the state begin reopening.  

The park joined others now open for day use only as part of a broader effort to begin "reopening the state of Texas," according to a statement from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

A few regulars had already returned for their daily strolls, said Candyce Johnson, assistant superintendent at Abilene State Park, Monday morning.

 "They're all retired people, and they come out here and go for a walk in the park every day," she said.

Johnson expected much more public use on Saturday. 

One of the many scenic trails at Abilene State Park. (Photo: Reporter-News file photo)

There has not been a date given for when parks will allow camping, she said.

A number of guidelines will be imposed on visitors to maintain safety. Among them:

•  Visitors must wear face coverings.

•  No groups of more than five people are allowed.

•  Social distancing of at least six feet must be maintained from people not in one's individual group.

If park personnel see large groups congregating, "we will tell them they need to break it up," Johnson said.

•  Advance day pass reservations are required. Those may be reserved online or by calling 512-389-8900.

If possible, Johnson said, visitors are being asked to print out their day-use permits at home.

Visitors to any Texas State Park should check the system's Alert Map regularly for the latest information about the status of individual parks.

As parks open, employees will maintain policies for their own safety, such as wearing face marks and minimizing contact with the public, Johnson said.

By: Brian Bethel

Copyright © 2020, Abilene Reporter News. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The City of Abilene reports a total of 144 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 in Taylor County, 47 of whom are employed at AbiMar foods.

The City clarified that the number of known AbiMar related positive cases has changed from 50 to 47 as 3 positives were accidentally attributed to AbiMar in the April 19, 2020 report.

The City of Abilene has administered COVID-19 tests, most of which have been negative. However, results from tests are still pending.

3% of the COVID-19 patients have died in Abilene but 29% have recovered. Most patients are currently in self-isolation at home, though some are hospitalized. Their current conditions have not been disclosed.

An outbreak of COVID-19 at AbiMar Foods in Abilene has led to the testing of all 500-600 employees, revealing 10% of the company’s workforce is positive for the virus.

During a press conference Monday morning, the City of Abilene addressed the outbreak, saying AbiMar has been proactive in fighting COVID-19, even before their first positive case.

As of Sunday afternoon, 511 AbiMar employees had been tested, and 80 of those tests were still pending.

Disability Resources, Inc. has also had several cases, one of which has been fatal, and the City of Abilene confirmed a Southwest Drive Walmart employee and customer tested positive for the virus earlier this month.

According to the Texas Department of Justice website as of April 18, two inmates from the Robertson Unit have tested positive, and there are two test results still pending. 111 are in medical restriction and 4 in medical isolation.

A Limited Shelter in Place Order is currently in effect through April 30, shutting down non-essential businesses and only permitting people to leave their homes for essential activities.

BigCountryHomepage will continue to provide the latest information about COVID-19 in Abilene. Check back for any updates.

By: Martin Mercado

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – An outbreak of COVID-19 at AbiMar Foods in Abilene has led to the testing of all 500-600 employees, revealing 10% of the company’s workforce is positive for the virus.

During a press conference Monday morning, the City of Abilene addressed the outbreak, saying AbiMar has been proactive in fighting COVID-19, even before their first positive case.

On March 17, the AbiMar CEO attended a meeting with the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health Department to learn more about how to keep their employees safe during the pending COVID-19 pandemic.

In the following days, they implemented more than 50 measures to follow CDC recommendations, including screening all employees, cleaning and sanitizing every third shift, and moving 90% of their employees to telecommute.

The first positive COVID-19 case was confirmed at AbiMar Foods on March 30, and by April 10, there were 5 cases, with the virus present at both their north and south locations.

Prior to April 10, the Health Department says AbiMar Foods had been proactively working to identify and isolate employees who were potentially exposed to the virus or had contact a positive case.

By the time the business closed until further notice on April 13, more than 100 employees were quarantined at home with full pay.

Once an outbreak was identified at AbiMar Foods, the Abilene Diagnostic Clinic approached the CEO, and he agreed to pay for testing for all 500-600 AbiMar employees.

50 total employees tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 19.

Now, City Manager Robert Hanna says AbiMar is going to follow a tentative tiered plan for reopening, which will begin with cleaning and sanitizing both factory locations, followed by resuming operations with a reduced workforce.

Employee screenings will also continue and all new hires will be tested for COVID-19 before entering the factories. Masks, gloves, and in certain cases even face shields will be provided and required.

If there are additional positive cases after reopening, AbiMar Foods and the City will work together to establish a different plan.

AbiMar Foods’ potential reopening date has not been determined.

A total of 144 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the City of Abilene, with testing numbers being updated each afternoon.

BigCountryHomepage will continue to provide information about COVID-19 in Abilene. Check back for the latest.

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) – Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday a complex executive order that is designed to re-open Texas in several waves over the next several weeks.

Strike Force

The order created a statewide strike force comprised of business and medical leaders from around the state, including Matress Mack and Ross Perot Jr.

It will also be headed by Texas’ top political leaders such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen, and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Abbott stressed that while he is beginning a re-opening in Texas, it “must occur in stages.”

Re-openings

Beginning on Monday, April 20, all state parks will be allowed to re-open. Visitors will still be required to wear face masks, stay six feet away from people that do not live in the same home, and a ban on groups larger than five.

On Wednesday, April 22, current restriction on medical procedures and surgeries will be loosened. Abbott claimed that hospitals have “plenty of capacity” and that the state had a large supply of protection gear for doctors.

An example of a procedure that will be allowed to restart is a diagnostic to test for cancer.

By Friday, April 24, all retail stores in the state will be allowed to operate as “retail-to-go.” It will operate the same way as restaurants have been doing takeout service since the social distancing restrictions went into effect back in early March.

Abbott did not mention when restaurants and bars would be able to re-open for full, in-house service.

A revised plan for a potential second wave of re-openings will be announced in 10 days on April 27. Abbott said that if the curve begins to go back up, restrictions will go back in place.

Schools

A key point of Abbott’s announcement was that all schools in Texas are ordered closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Teachers will be allowed back into their classrooms to clean out supplies or to prepare lesson plans for potential summer classes.

Pressure has been growing from conservatives on Abbott and governors statewide to begin the process of allowing people to go back to work at the start of May.

Abbott’s stay-at-home directive is set to expire April 30 as are many orders around the country.

In Tyler, Representative Matt Schaefer (R) said that it would be on individual Texans to practice social distancing and protect those who cannot physically protect themselves.

On Thursday, Tyler Mayor Martin Heines urged residents to take social distancing seriously and to not rush in returning to normal routines.

Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran also said he wanted to begin a “responsible restart” as soon as possible, but that his decision “would not be emotionally based.”

In East Texas, there are nearly 600 confirmed cases throughout the region. Here is the most recent tally:

• Smith County – 112, 2 deaths
• Nacogdoches County – 72, 6 deaths
• Bowie County –70, 5 deaths
• Gregg County – 49
• Shelby County – 46
• Harrison County – 36, 2 deaths
• Panola County – 33, 3 deaths
• Rusk County – 27, 1
• Angelina County – 23
• Polk County – 14
• Henderson County – 12
• Van Zandt County – 11, 1 death
• San Augustine County – 11, 1 death
• Cherokee County – 10, 1 death
• Upshur County – 9
• Titus County – 8
• Cass County – 8
• Anderson County – 6
• Wood County – 6
• Camp County – 6
• Hopkins County – 4
• Marion County – 4
• Trinity County – 4
• Morris County – 3
• Marion – 4
• Rains – 2
• Franklin County – 1

By: Patrick Cunningham

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — An Abilene man has become the city’s second COVID-19 related death.

According to a news release from the City of Abilene, a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions died at Hendrick Medical Center on Wednesday.

The man contracted COVID-19 through community contact, according to the news release.

This death is not related to cases at Disability Resources, Inc., the release states.

A female in her 40s was the first in Abilene to die after contracting the coronavirus on April 4.

The entire news release reads as follows:

"ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Taylor County Public Health District reports the second COVID-19 related death for Taylor County on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

The deceased patient was a male in his 70s, with underlying health conditions, who was being cared for at Hendrick Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit. The deceased patient’s infection was acquired through community contact. This case was not related to Disability Resources, Incorporated.

The City of Abilene extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased patient.

This and all future COVID-19 related deaths in Taylor County will be reported through the City’s daily testing numbers report that can be found at www.abilenetx.gov/covid19, the City’s website homepage, and its Facebook and Twitter social media pages.

The Abilene Taylor-County Public Health District urges area residents to slow the spread of COVID-19 by:

– Practicing social distancing, and staying home as much as possible

– Wearing a mask when away from home

– Washing or sanitizing hands often, and avoid touching your face

– Covering sneezes and coughs

– Staying home if you are sick

– Routinely cleaning commonly touched surfaces

Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

If you may be showing symptoms for COVID-19, call your medical provider, the Abilene Taylor-County Public Health District at 325.692.5600, Abilene Regional Medical Center at 325.428.1000, Abilene Diagnostic Clinic at 325.437.8602, or text covidhelp to Hendrick Health System at 325.216.4824. Please do not arrive at a medical facility without first making contact by phone and receiving instruction."

By: Joey Hollingsworth

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Source: Taylor County Commissioner's Court

TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas — Taylor County Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday that extends the closure to public access to the Taylor County courthouses and offices until April 30.

The commissioners cite the extension as taking "extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of [COVID-19] in our community."

Public correspondence with the County will be handled exclusively by phone, mail, online or appointment for the next 15 days.

Original Story (March 20):

ABILENE, Texas — Taylor County Commissioners voted unanimously Friday to make access to the courthouses -- and all county offices -- "by appointment only" due to the coronavirus.

Judge Downing Bolls said there were several incidents that prompted the decision.

The most alarming of those was a person from "a county west of here," who showed up Thursday for a hearing that had been canceled. They asked a bailiff about it and then left.

On their way home, the person was notified that a family member tested positive for the coronavirus.

The bailiff was told to contact the health department who cleared them to return to work because the bailiff was feeling well and did not come within 6-feet of the person.

"What were doing right now is not sufficient," said Bolls.

The new courthouse, old courthouse and Taylor County Plaza will all be by appointment only through at least April 3.

Bolls said they could extend that if necessary.

Once there is a positive case of coronavirus in Taylor County they will declare a state of emergency.

Starting Monday, Taylor County Courthouse visitors will be asked screening questions before being allowed past security.

1. Have you recently traveled outside of the United States or to any place known to have documented cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
2. Have you had any contact with a suspected COVID-19 case?
3. Has the individual had a fever within the last seven (7) days?
4. Does the individual have a cough, cold, or flu like symptoms?

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office is asking you to stay everyone that needs to conduct business at any Taylor County building to please stay home if you are sick.

If you are sick and have court, please contact your attorney before coming to court.

If you do not have an attorney, please call the court directly, explain your situation, and ask for instructions.

By AJ Gersh

Copyright © 2020, KTXS12 ABC. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The City of Abilene reported seven new cases of COVID-19 Monday, pushing the total number of positive cases to 68.

The city reports 1028 tests have been conducted, with 156 test results still pending, and 804 negative results.

New positives include:

• Case 62: M, 30s, self-isolated, contact w/ confirmed case
• Case 63: M, 20s, self-isolated, pending investigation
• Case 64: M, 30s, self-isolated, pending investigation
• Case 65: M, 50s, self-isolated, pending investigation
• Case 66: M, 20s, self-isolated, pending investigation
• Case 67: M, 20s, self-isolated, pending investigation
• Case 68: M, 20s, self-isolated, pending investigation

Another person has recovered since the last data was released, bringing the number of recoveries in Abilene to 12.

There has still only been one COVID-19 related death reported in the Key City.

By: Martin Mercado

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Taylor County reports two new cases of coronavirus on Easter 

The Abilene Taylor County Public Health District on Sunday reported two new cases for the coronavirus COVID-19, bringing the total to 61.

Four new cases were reported Saturday.

The two new patients' ages, treatment and possible cause of exposure are:

• Male in his 30s, self-isolated, pending investigation.
• Male in his 60s, hospitalized, pending investigation.

Eleven patients have recovered from the illness, nine currently are hospitalized and 40 are self-isolated. 

The age distribution of the 61 patients who have tested positive are:

• 0-19: 3
• 20-29: 15
• 30-39: 12
• 40-49: 9
• 50-59: 7
• 60-69: 6
• 70-plus: 9 

The transmission causes for the 61 patients are:

• Travel: 7
• Local: 22
• Contact with confirmed case: 17
• Pending investigation: 15

Coronavirus by the numbers

Abilene (updated 4/12):

• Tests conducted: 978
• Positive results: 61
• Negative results: 756
• Pending: 161

Texas: Cases, 13,484; Hospitalized, 1,338; Fatalities, 271; Total tests, 124,553; Recovered (estimated) 2,014. 

Big Country counties with reported confirmed cases: Brown, 10;  Comanche 3, Eastland, 3; Jones, 2; Scurry, 2; Callahan, 1; Howard, 1;  Knox, 1; Mitchell, 1; Stephens, 1. 

Select West Texas counties: Lubbock, 270; Potter (Amarillo), 70; Randall (Canyon), 64; Wichita (Wichita Falls), 56; Ector (Odessa), 41; Tom Green (San Angelo), 35; Midland, 32.

Updated 3:50 p.m. 4/12

Source: City of Abilene, Texas Department of State Health Services, Comanche County, Mitchell County Hospital, Stephens Memorial Hospital, San Angelo Standard-Times, Scurry County

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Coronavirus by the numbers

Abilene (updated 4/11):

• Tests conducted: 971
• Positive results: 59
• Negative results: 754
• Pending: 158

Texas: Cases, 12,561; Hospitalized, 1,514; Fatalities, 254; Total tests, 120,533; Recovered (estimated) 1,617. 

Big Country counties with reported confirmed cases: Brown, 10;  Comanche 3, Eastland, 3; Callahan, 1; Howard, 1;  Jones, 2; Knox, 1; Mitchell, 1; Scurry, 2; Stephens, 1. 

Select West Texas counties: Lubbock, 249; Potter (Amarillo), 66; Randall (Canyon), 60; Wichita (Wichita Falls), 54; Ector (Odessa), 40; Tom Green (San Angelo), 35; Midland, 31.

Updated 3:20 p.m. 4/11

Source: City of Abilene, Texas Department of State Health Services, Comanche County, Mitchell County Hospital, Stephens Memorial Hospital, San Angelo Standard-Times, Scurry County

By: Laura Gutschke

Copyright © 2020, Abilene Reporter News. All Rights Reserved

Gov. Gregg Abbott addresses COVID-19 (SBG file photo)

AUSTIN, Texas - Gov. Abbott announced Sunday he is extending his Disaster Declaration for all Texas counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to a press release, Gov. Abbott initially issued the Disaster Declaration March 13, providing the state a number of resources to serve Texans effectively. 

"By extending my Disaster Declaration, we are ensuring the state of Texas continues to have adequate resources and capabilities to support our communities and protect public health," said Governor Abbott. "I urge all Texans to continue practicing social distancing and abide by the guidelines laid out by the CDC and my Executive Orders to slow the spread of COVID-19."

Currently, Gov. Abbott has not given a set date as to when the newly renewed Disaster Declaration is set to expire. 

This is a developing story and will continue to update as more information becomes available.

By SBG San Antonio

Copyright © 2020, KTXS12 ABC. All Rights Reserved

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (purple), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.NIAID

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WLNS) – A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 has begun.

The first participants in the trial are from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

COVID-19 is usually a respiratory infection, but it can damage multiple organ systems including the heart and lungs.

“Effective therapies for COVID-19 are urgently needed,” said James P. Kiley, director, Division of Lung Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Hydroxychloroquine has showed promise in a lab setting against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and preliminary reports suggest potential efficacy in small studies with patients. However, we really need clinical trial data to determine whether hydroxychloroquine is effective and safe in treating COVID-19.”

Currently, no therapies have been demonstrated to prevent the progression of COVID-19 to severe illness, but several medicines available in the United States have been proposed as potential therapies.

“Many U.S. hospitals are currently using hydroxychloroquine as first-line therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 despite extremely limited clinical data supporting its effectiveness,” said Wesley Self, M.D., M.P.H., emergency medicine physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and PETAL Clinical Trials Network investigator leading the ORCHID trial. “Thus, data on hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 are urgently needed to inform clinical practice.”

Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat malaria and rheumatoid conditions such as arthritis. The drug has shown antiviral properties which modify the immune system which leads researchers to believe it may also be a useful treatment of COVID-19.

The drug does have risks even in the short-term such as causing cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and hypoglycemia.

The National Institutes of Health also recently launched a trial to study Remdesivir as a possible treatment for COVID-19.These two trials will provide data on the effectiveness and safety of each agent versus placebo in the urgent race to find effective therapies for treating COVID-19.

For more information about the study, visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for NCT04332991.

By: Ronnie Das

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

The combination of job losses, social isolation and mounting anxiety connected to the coronavirus pandemic could hit veterans especially hard in the coming weeks and months, according to a report from the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

“COVID-19 could create a ‘perfect storm’ of developments that could threaten the mental health of many veterans,” said Rajeev Ramchand, a research fellow at the Bob Woodruff Foundation and author of the research paper.

About one in every seven veterans employed in America today works in an industry considered high-risk for layoffs in the coming weeks, according to a report by Military Times.

In addition to the financial worries, veterans already facing mental health difficulties could see those problems aggravated by public health efforts to stop the outbreak.

“There is likely to be a surge in demand for mental health care services, but even before COVID-19 the nation was only meeting a quarter of the demand,” the report states.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has resources available to help you manage the stress, fear, anxiety or feelings of depression you may be experiencing.

The MVAA is available for veterans, family members, and caregivers at 1-800-MICH-VET or visiting michiganveterans.com. For the latest VA updates on COVID-19, visit va.gov/coronavirus.

There are nearly 600,000 veterans in Michigan and Ingham County has the state’s ninth-largest veteran population with about 14,000 veterans.

By: Ronnie Das

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

A rendering of coronavirus via the CDC.

Researchers are working on a drug that interferes with the coronavirus’s ability to make copies of itself, according to a report by National Public Radio.

Scientists from Emory University in Atlanta, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville first tested the drug known as EIDD-2801 in cells cultured in the laboratory.

They then gave mice that had been infected with coronaviruses that cause either SARS or MERS, and showed that it reduced the amount of virus in their bodies.

The researchers say they were unable to test EIDD-2801 in mice infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 because right now most mice are not susceptible to infection with that virus.

Timothy Sheahan of the University of North Carolina said in a press release that “in normal times, testing in non-human primates would be the obvious next step on the road to human testing. Since these are not normal times, this could be skipped and evaluated under compassionate use and established clinical trials in people. The goal is to directly attack the virus, lessen symptoms, decrease pathogenesis and save lives.”

By: Ronnie Das

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved