COVID still circulating in Donley County

COVID-19 is still present and circulating in Donley County with four active cases listed this week.

Clarendon Family Medical Clinic conducted 42 COVID tests during the month of July with nine of those coming back as positive. Two of those positives were residents of another county, Donley County Judge John Howard, MD, said.

Donley County went from April 23 through early June with no active cases of the virus before the disease emerged again.

“It seemed to have gone, but now it’s back,” Howard said. “It’s still out there, and people are reintroducing it.”

Howard said there will be no mandates this time if the virus continues to surge.

“The governor has issued some serious restrictions on local governments’ ability to issue limitations,” Howard said.

Executive Order GA-38 provides that no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or implement a policy to require documentation of a vaccine to receive any service or enter any place. The Order also prohibits any operating limits or mask requirements by local governmental entities and imposes a $1,000 fine on any local official who violates these provisions.

Howard urges everyone to protect themselves from the virus.

“My recommendation is that everyone get the vaccine,” Howard said. “It is readily available and free.”

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 ages 12 and over.

Clinic spokesperson Marsha Bruce has reminded people that “exposure” is being within six feet of someone with the virus for longer than 15 minutes without a mask.

“If they have had confirmed COVID in the last three months or are fully vaccinated, they don’t have to quarantine if they are exposed,” Bruce said. “If they are high risk, It’s a good idea to continue wearing a mask because most of the positives we have seen this summer are the younger adults working in the public.”

The Texas Tribune reports overall only 28.1 percent of Donley County residents – a total of 938 people – are fully vaccinated as of August 3. That’s an increase of 45 people from June 15 when 26.7 percent local residents were vaccinated.