Covid-19 concerns causes concerns

As concerns about COVID-19 spread, local officials have created a task force to address potential problems while shoppers continue to stock up on toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
For the past seven weeks, local health officials have been meeting and closely monitoring information about the COVID-19 Virus that has spread through several areas of the world.
“We  are monitoring the changes daily and adjusting our workflow to meet the recommendations of the CDC,” Cogdell Memorial Hospital Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Goodwin said.
The Scurry County Coronavirus Task Force is meeting multiple times a week and consists of more than 15 professionals including physicians and staff members from Cogdell Memorial Hospital, EMS, Scurry County Health Unit and Snyder ISD. 
 “This is a county-wide effort. We are all pooling our resources to be prepared,” said Dana Hartman, Director of the Scurry County Health Unit.
“Just as with the flu and other respiratory illnesses hand washing, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, disinfecting high-touch surfaces,  and staying home when you are sick, are simple but effective measures of prevention,” Kristen Perez, Infection Prevention Nurse for Cogdell Memorial Hospital, said.
According to a statement from Cogdell’s Valerie Morris, an employee of Cogdell Memorial Hospital was tested for the COVID-19 virus and the results were negative.
The employee recently traveled to an area in the United States where COVID-19 cases were later confirmed.  The employee had no known exposure to any of these cases. However, out of an abundance of caution, the individual self-isolated and was tested for the COVID-19 virus. 
 “The test results were received today (Thursday) and we have confirmed the individual tested negative for the virus. There was no COVID-19 virus exposure to the public from this person,” said Dr. Bid Cooper, local Health Authority for Scurry County.
Scurry County Judge Dan Hicks said he has spoken to the governor about the situation.
“ We have had a conference call with Governor Abbott and other top officials, as well as regional cities, counties, hospitals and health officials. The same information is coming from all.  COVID-19 is spreading but if you follow the guidelines set out the spread should not be too severe.  COVID-19 is similar to flu in that it affects the elderly and chronically ill hardest.  Children don’t seem to be affected as much as the elderly.  Most folks will have flu-like symptoms, Covid-19 will run its course and most people will be fine,” Hicks wrote in a statement.
Local nursing homes have taken some steps to help ensure that the virus isn’t transmitted at their facilities.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Angie Gonzalez, at Snyder Oaks, said they are checking-in and screening visitors.
“We’re having our visitors sign in, taking temperatures, getting information about if they’ve had any kind of cough or fever, or if they’ve travelled anywhere or been in a facility that has had a person diagnosed (with COVID-19). We’ve cut our visiting hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we’re getting temps on everybody that comes into the facility,” she said.
At Goodlife, administrator Buffie Herrera said they are taking similar precautions.
 “We’re allowing family, doctors, nurses and home health. We’re making sure that we have hand sanitizer, gloves, making sure everybody’s washing their hands, we’re wiping down counters — everything,” she said. “We’re making sure that (visitors) haven’t been out of the country in the last two weeks. If they’ve been out of the country in the last two weeks, then they’re not coming in the facility.”
Jessie Edwards, service manager at United Supermarket, said the store has placed limits on some items.
“We have limits on items just to make sure that we are being able to provide to each and every one of our guests in the community. We’re trying to keep stock as full as possible. We’re also making sure that we’re keeping sanitizer available at all of our registers to make sure that everybody is protecting themselves as well as our guests, and we’re doing our very, very best to make sure we’re taking care of our team members as well as our guests during this craziness, to say the least,” she said.
Manager Avan Ceballos said the store isn’t rationing anything, but shoppers have reported shortages of items like toilet paper.
“We’re not rationing. The biggest thing I can tell you is, we’re doing everything possible to take care of our customers. That is what our focus is, our priority is, to take care of our customers and our associates. That’s coming down from the top. That’s what we’re trying to do. But as far as rationing, everything we’re getting, we’re putting out,” he said.