COVID-19 PERIODIC UPDATE

MAY 20, 2020

Greetings from the offices of the Bee County Judge and the Mayor of the City of Beeville. In an effort to reduce the length of this update, we have removed information on previous daily updates. Please know that you can access the full text of all prior daily updates on our Bee OEM facebook page.

This is the first Update since May 8, 2020. Yesterday afternoon, Bee County was verbally notified of additional cases, the official press releases were received this afternoon and are published with this Update. Specific information regarding the new cases is included in the By the Numbers section at the end of this report. Also included in that section is a discussion that will clarify the eight (8) cases we now have.

But first, as the State continues to re-open, we continue to encourage our fellow citizens to practice and follow social distancing guidelines handed down from the State and the Federal governments. Even with the new cases, COVID-19 has still minimally impacted our community and that is due, in large part, to the efforts of everyone, not only our first responders and essential employees, but all of us. Believe us, we want COVID-19 to be a distant memory as much as everyone else, and if we continue to do our part, that time will come soon.

FREE TESTING, AGAIN, MAY 30, 2020

As many of you are aware, on April 25-26, May 9-10 and May 16-17, the Texas Military Department conducted free COVID-19 testing out at the Expo Center. We keep having good turnouts, so they are coming back May 30, 2020.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

1. As early as May 28, 2020, interested persons may either call (512) 883-2400, or visit www.txcovidtest.org for an appointment—if you do not have an appointment, you will not get tested;

2. testing is completely free; 3. photo identification is required; 4. First Responders and Healthcare Workers may receive testing even if

they have no symptoms; 5. all persons that are not first responders or healthcare workers may

receive testing provided that they pass the screening test when calling the number listed above, or when filling out the application at the website listed above;

6. the testing will occur at the Expo Center at 214 S. FM 351, Beeville, Texas 78102.

We also recommend calling rather than using the website if you are a first responder, healthcare worker, government employee or private employee that deals with the public and has continued to report to work during this crisis, or if you believe you may be asymptomatic.

EXECUTIVE ORDER GA-23

On May 18, 2020, Governor Abbott signed Executive Order GA-23, which continues the measured re-opening of the Texas economy that began with GA-18 and from which GA-21 followed.

GA-23 authorized the immediate re-opening of massage establishments, any other personal-care/beauty-care businesses and child-care services (other than youth camps).

Beginning Friday, May 22, and as applicable to Bee County, dine-in restaurants may operate up to 50%, bars may re-open at 25% capacity, bowling alleys may re-open at 25% capacity, rodeos and equestrian events may occur at 25% capacity restrictions at the facility.

Beginning May 31, and as applicable to Bee County, practices for youth sports programs (no games until June 15) may resume, and youth camps are allowed too.

All re-opened services/businesses and their customers are still required to adhere to the social distancing and hygiene guidance from the State, located at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/opentexas.aspx.

We are certain that our local businesses and their customers will do their dead level best to abide by the guidance issued by the State, and we are happy to provide clarification upon request, but we would request that any person seeking clarification first obtain the guidance at the link above as the written guidance will likely answer any questions.

BY THE NUMBERS

Summary

Case by Case

Date TotalCasestoDate ActiveCasesReleasedfromQuarantine

5/20/2020 8 5 3

CaseNo. AgeRange SexDateofInitialPositive

Notification Transmission1 40s F 4/7/2020 Community2 40s M 4/9/2020 Travel3 70s F 4/11/2020 Community4 70s F 4/16/2020 Community5 40s M 4/16/2020 Community6* 40s M 4/29/2020 Community6 30's F 5/19/2020 PendingInvestigation7 20's M 5/19/2020 Community8 50's F 5/20/2020 PendingInvestigation

Note *OriginalCase6wasre-assignedtoLiveOakCounty.

Testing Info

Additional Clarifications

1. On May 8, 2020, we reported our 6th case. Yesterday, we were informed that TX DSHS re-assigned that case to neighboring Live Oak County. Apparently the individual’s driver’s license reflects a Bee County address, but the individual actually lives in Live Oak County. So, our 5/8/20 Case No. 6 is no longer Case No. 6, our 5/19/20 Case No. 6 (the “New 6th Case”) is our actual 6th case. Online data from TX DSHS may or may not reflect this revision. In addition to the New 6th Case, we were also notified of Cases 7 and 8. The TX DSHS press releases for each of these three cases are also being published today.

2. Governor Abbott issued a mandate for COVID-19 testing of all patients and staff at all nursing homes in the State. Bee County has two nursing homes; both have complied and, so far, no positive cases have been reported.

TestingSource TotalTestsPositiveBee

County

Re-testedBeeCountyPositive1

PositiveOutofCounty Negative Indeterminate Pending

Drive-thru@Expo 190 3 3 1 176 0 7

PrivateClinics2 19 1 0 0 17 0 1

Military@Expo 326 3 Unknown 4 170 1 148

NursingHomes3 288 0 N/A N/A 251 0 37

UnknownSource4 Unknown 2 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Notes 1.Priorpositivesretestedandcamebackpositive.2.NotallClinicsarereporting.3.State-mandatedtestingforallNursingHomePatientsandStaff4.TXDSHSreportedthesecasestous.

PRESS RELEASE Reference: COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, Bee County On May 19, 2020, Bee County has received confirmation for their Six (6) COVID-19 positive case. The case is a Female in her 30’s and transmission mode is under investigation. The patient is currently isolated. DSHS is supporting Bee County in identifying any close contacts of the patient so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 is reminding the public that it is conducting contact investigation on persons who have tested positive to determine possible exposure to others. If the health department has not contacted you, there is no need to take any action at this time. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 and Bee County continue to work together against COVID-19. We are vigilant and reporting results for COVID-19 in the region. We are also working together to educate and promote social distancing and staying at home. In order to share facts and not fear, we continue to emphasize the importance of prevention and there are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent spreading the virus: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. • If soap and water are not available, use a 60% 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 throw the tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. • Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away • Stay at home and stop the spread of coronavirus

The public can find up-to-date coronavirus information and what to do if you're sick, testing information at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus Sincerely,

Dr. Emilie Prot, DO, MPH Regional Medical Director, Region 11 Department of State Health Services

PRESS RELEASE Reference: COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, Bee County On May 19, 2020, Bee County has received confirmation for their seventh (7) COVID-19 positive case. The case is a Male in his 20’s and transmission mode is community acquired. The patient is currently isolated. DSHS is supporting Bee County in identifying any close contacts of the patient so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 is reminding the public that it is conducting contact investigation on persons who have tested positive to determine possible exposure to others. If the health department has not contacted you, there is no need to take any action at this time. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 and Bee County continue to work together against COVID-19. We are vigilant and reporting results for COVID-19 in the region. We are also working together to educate and promote social distancing and staying at home. In order to share facts and not fear, we continue to emphasize the importance of prevention and there are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent spreading the virus: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. • If soap and water are not available, use a 60% 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 throw the tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. • Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away • Stay at home and stop the spread of coronavirus

The public can find up-to-date coronavirus information and what to do if you're sick, testing information at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus Sincerely,

Dr. Emilie Prot, DO, MPH Regional Medical Director, Region 11 Department of State Health Services

PRESS RELEASE Reference: COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, Bee County On May 20, 2020, Bee County has received confirmation for their eighth (8) COVID-19 positive case. The case is a Female in her 50’s and transmission mode is under investigation. The patient is currently isolated. One (1) confirmed case has been removed from Bee County’s case counts as their place of residency was not accurate at the moment of the case investigation. All cases are being followed by DSHS. The grand total of confirmed cases will remain at eight (8) cases as this new case would’ve been case (9). DSHS is supporting Bee County in identifying any close contacts of the patient so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 is reminding the public that it is conducting contact investigation on persons who have tested positive to determine possible exposure to others. If the health department has not contacted you, there is no need to take any action at this time. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 11 and Bee County continue to work together against COVID-19. We are vigilant and reporting results for COVID-19 in the region. We are also working together to educate and promote social distancing and staying at home. In order to share facts and not fear, we continue to emphasize the importance of prevention and there are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent spreading the virus: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. • If soap and water are not available, use a 60% 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 throw the tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. • Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away • Stay at home and stop the spread of coronavirus

The public can find up-to-date coronavirus information and what to do if you're sick, testing information at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus Sincerely,

Dr. Emilie Prot, DO, MPH

Regional Medical Director, Region 11 Department of State Health Services