Archives for July 2020

The Texas National Guard will hold a local drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Clarendon College on Tuesday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Donley County Judge John Howard, MD.

Those wishing to be tested for the coronavirus will need a valid ID (such as a driver’s license) and are urged to call ahead to get a testing time.

Howard said the guard will open a call center 48 hours prior to the testing, but details on that were not available at press time. Those who don’t call ahead will be able to register onsite for the test.

More information about this testing opportunity will be published as it becomes available.

Clarendon Mayor Sandy Skelton issued a letter last Friday authorizing local Saints’ Roost Celebration activities this weekend following the latest executive order of Gov. Greg Abbott.

The governor took several steps to respond to rising COVID-19 cases around the state, including closing bars and banning most public gatherings of 100 people or more. Rodeos were exempted, however, and Abbott allowed other events to proceed with the permission of local authorities.

Officials have urged, but not required, citizens to wear masks at this weekend’s events and to observe social distancing requirements.

Until this past weekend, Donley County had not had a confirmed new case of COVID-19 since June 3. Posts by family members on social media Sunday reported that another Donley County person had tested positive for the disease in an Amarillo hospital, which would bring the local COVID-19 count up to 28.

As of Tuesday, that case had not yet been reported to the county by the state, so the official tally remains at 27 for this week’s Enterprise.

Four more patients were tested at the Clarendon Family Medical Center since last Tuesday. Two of those tests were negative and two are still pending. That brings the total local tests to 129 with 107 negatives.