To the Citizens of Fannin County:
A summary of the week ended June 5, 2020, is as follows: There have been nine new cases of test-proven COVID-19 reported to the County Medical Authority during the past week.
One of these was self-reported, three more were reported by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), two by a nursing home in the county, and three new prison inmates were reported by the county jail. With these additional nine COVID-19 cases, the total of test-proven cases in the county since the beginning of the pandemic is now 54.
Of those, only four have involved nursing home residents and 11 total cases have involved the County jail Notably there are now two deaths of nursing home residents that have links to the SARS-2 Coronavirus.
As previously reported, both residents who are deceased were female and neither resident had symptoms. Both were tested as a part of a required mass screening at the Mullican Care Center in Savoy sponsored by the State. The two residents, ages 89 and 90 both died prior to the return of their test results. Both were asymptomatic and therefore neither was suspected as having COVID-19 prior to the return of their results on Monday, June 1st. Both died on Sunday, May 31st. Though there is room for debate, the County Medical Authority has been informed that both deaths should be officially listed as due to COVID-19.
Fannin County jail authorities confirmed that 3 new inmates have tested positive for the SARS-2 virus. The three new cases raise the total of inmates at the jail with COVID-19 to 9. Sheriff Johnson and Warden King also reported that 2 guards were infected with the virus last week but no new employees this week. The three newly reported inmates are all male and aged 39, 44 and 47. They are isolated and doing well. The six previously infected inmates have recovered and returned to the prison general population.
DSHS has reported three additional individuals with COVID-19 this week. They are listed as a 17-year-old male from near Trenton, a 39-year-old male from the Bonham area and a 60-year-old female near Savoy. A self-reported individual is a male, 64 years old, and living outside of Trenton. He is a worker at Tyson Foods in Sherman and was found to be positive at a mass screening there. He is recovering at home.
As a follow up to last week’s report, the 90-year-old male transferred from Bonham Nursing Center to the Leonard (Nursing Center) COVID-19 Specialty Unit has returned to Bonham Nursing Center in excellent condition.
Also, the 77-year-old male Veteran residing at the Clyde Cosper State Veterans Home has also returned, is in good condition, and is completely recovered according to staff.
There are no other reported new cases in any other nursing home in Fannin County or the State jail or State prison. Strict procedures that have been applied at our county institutions where large populations are held in close quarters have reduced the opportunity for infections to occur.
All jails, prisons, and long-term care facilities should be commended for such excellent jobs done by their workers and administrators during this extremely difficult time.
Nationwide there is a slowing of infection numbers and deaths have dropped but the United States still leads in cases and deaths by far. Please remember that despite the warmer weather and lower infection rate, the greatest danger continues to be when people cluster together, especially indoors where aerosols such as cough and sneezes may linger. Please wear masks and practice smart distancing when indoors and in crowds.
Thank you for your continued vigilance and contributions to good public health in Fannin County.
James E. Froelich, D.O., FACOFP County Health Authority Fannin County, Texas
PrintFriendly
