Clinic reports 15 active COVID-19 cases

The number COVID-19 cases in Donley County spiked upward Tuesday afternoon with 15 active cases now being reported under the care of the Clarendon Family Medical Center.

Eight new positive cases were reported as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday alone with the overall number of positives being reported by the local clinic rising by 14 over the last week. A clinic spokesperson said they are seeing cases in young school children as well as college students.

Tuesday’s information brings the total confirmed cases in Donley County to 87.

The clinic also this week began using a rapid test that can return COVID-19 results in 15 minutes.

Last Friday, Clarendon CISD quarantined its fourth grade classes with 25 students in all after an individual who had been in contact with those students tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Superintendent Jarod Bellar said he was informed about the positive test late Thursday afternoon, October 8, and decided to quarantine that grade level to be safe.

“We wanted to be pro-active and see if anyone developed symptoms over the long weekend,” Bellar told the Enterprise.

Fourth graders who were not exhibiting symptoms were expected to be back at school Tuesday.

Clarendon CISD also announced Monday that the school was notified Saturday evening that a lower elementary grade level teacher had a presumptive positive test for COVID-19. However, Bellar told the Enterprise that due to precautions that had been taken in the teacher’s class, the school did not think it was necessary to quarantine that grade.

The school says currently grades 5-12 are the only grades required to wear masks during the day, but younger grade levels are welcome to wear masks as well.

Donley County Judge John Howard, MD, did not have an update this week from state or area officials to add to the local clinic’s count but did say officials are seeing a “mini-outbreak” among students.

“We’re seeing a cluster of positive cases at the school, and I think we’re responding appropriately,” Howard said. “We’re also seeing a predictable increase at the college.”

Speaking late Tuesday, Howard said the last thing he wants to see is the school shut down, but that quarantining grades or classes is a possible course of action.