County COVID-19 cases count surpasses 100

Gonzales County surpassed 100 confirmed cases Tuesday night with Gonzales County Emergency Management’s Jimmy Harless reporting nine additional cases and one probable case, bringing the total to 104 total cases of COVID-19 since testing began.

“The probable case is located at a residence that has a current active case but the patient has not been tested,” Harless wrote on the Gonzales County Emergency Management Facebook page. “This is a new category the state is using for such an occurrence.”

“Three of the nine cases show probable addresses, but numerous attempts have been made to contact them and have been unsuccessful,” he added. “Local law enforcement has made those attempts. One case is located within the city limits of Gonzales. Three cases are located within the city limits of Waelder and two cases are located in the unincorporated area of Gonzales County.”

Hours before, the county reported a total of 62 patients have recovered from COVID-19, with one still hospitalized and two fatalities.

Given the increases in community spread throughout the United States, all individuals are at some risk of exposures to COVID-19. Everyone should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19, practice social distancing, and stay home if they become sick, except to seek necessary medical care. The Texas Department of State Health Services is supporting Gonzales County in identifying any close contacts of the patient, so they can be isolated, monitored for symptoms, and quickly tested, if needed.

●Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

●Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

●Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

●Stay home when you are sick.

●Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then wash your hands.

●Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Minimizing exposure is especially important for people who are 65 or older or who have an underlying health condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. People in those groups have a higher risk of developing severe disease if they do get COVID-19, and the safest thing for them during an outbreak will be to stay home as much as possible and minimize close contact with other people. To get ready, they should talk to their doctor about getting additional prescription medications and have enough household items and groceries on hand to stay home as needed.

The public can find up-to-date coronavirus information at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. For more information about COVID-19, call 2-1-1 option 6.