Fannin County officials on Monday said a second coronavirus related death was reported for the Fannin County Health Authority by the Texas Department of State Health Service on Friday, May 15.
“The deceased is a 76-year-old Trenton man whose case was first reported on April 30 and his death date reported as of May 11,” said Fannin County Health Official J. E. Froelich.
As with the previous DSHS COVID-19 fatality reports, minimal information was contained in the notification.
Of the two deaths in Fannin County residents, both are male; one was 77 one was 76.
“As noted earlier this week, a 76-year-old female survived the virus and returned home but she continues to require oxygen. Previous to her protracted illness she was regularly walking several miles per week for exercise,” said Froelich.
According to reports, as of May 16 DSHS reports that there have been about 500 tests collected and completed in Fannin County, however, that number may be closer to 600.
“The reason for the discrepancy is multifold including tests performed outside of the county on Fannin residents, tests not reported to the state, and a lag in overall reporting from a very meticulous DSHS epidemiology team.”
Known specimen collection (“tests”) for acute infections in the county include at least the following:
- More than 200 collections have been made by local physicians on their private patients.
- In two drive-through collection events (sponsored by the state and administered by Texas National Guard) a total of 59 tests were performed on private citizens, mostly from Fannin County.
- In late March, 36 tests were done by the state on employees and residents of Seven Oaks Nursing Home, another large number of tests were collected at Clyde Cosper State Veteran’s Home earlier this month.
- 164 test were done by the DSHS in early May on the V.A. Nursing Home population as well.
The V.A. tested several employees over the past month and, last week targeted testing was done at the Fannin County Jail after an inmate was found to have COVID-19. Testing at both the Buster Cole State Jail and the Choice Moore State Prison have been ongoing.
Froelich continued, “An unknown number of tests have been collected through TMC-Bonham lab and E.R. and a large (and difficult to estimate) number of tests have been collected from Fannin County citizens who had testing done by doctors outside of the county.”
“All-in-all this means that a large number of tests done on our county’s population have discovered 29 laboratory-confirmed infections that resulted in 2 deaths so far. Considering that our county borders one of the counties with highest infection rates in the state (Collin) and is 60 miles from the true epicenter of COVID-19 in Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth), we are weathering the deadly Coronavirus storm exceedingly well.”
Froelich encouraged citizens to not relax their guard prematurely as Texans transition back to normal and thanked all Fannin residents who have made efforts to protect their fellow citizens.
“Special thanks to our brave first responders, medical personnel and health care workers. Keep up the great work.”
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