COVID cases dropping in Donley County

COVID cases in Donley County are on the decline, local officials are reporting this week.

Clinic spokesperson Marsha Bruce said Tuesday that there are 16 active cases under the care of CFMC, down from 32 last week and 37 two weeks ago.

“It looks like we are slowing down a bit,” Bruce said.

The clinic has posted 67 positive cases in the month of September, including 13 new cases in the last week.

Clarendon CISD Nurse Debbie Thompson also reported lower numbers of COVID cases in the public school.

“I’ve only had one positive test in the last week,” Thompson said.

Testing overall has come down at CCISD, and Thompson said she has had about 20 tests over the past week, compared to an average of 100 tests each of the previous three weeks. Tests conducted at the school are often re-tests as school officials try to stay on top of students and staff who have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

“It’s getting much better,” Thompson said.

As of Tuesday, the school reported about five students and/or staff absent because of active COVID-19.

Meanwhile, vaccination rates among Donley County residents is slowly rising.

Bruce said CFMC is seeing about 20 people per week getting vaccinated and said they are having people do that at the Donley County Activity Center every Thursday starting at 9 a.m.
The Texas Tribune reports this week that 32.3 percent of Donley County residents are fully vaccinated. That represents a total of 1,053 people, up from 1,039 one week ago.

The Moderna vaccine is available at no charge at the local clinic for everyone ages 18 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is available in Amarillo for children 12 and up.