Willmann addresses commissioners court as positive cases are on the rise
President and CEO of Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Adam Willmann gave commissioners an update of COVID-19 during Monday’s meeting.
“Two weeks ago we were averaging about 50 tests a week with a 3% positivity rate,” said Willman. “Last week we did over 120 tests with a 30% positivity rate.
Willmann said patients are asked to answer a questionnaire when being examined and the majority of positive cases are coming from those who are unvaccinated.
“That’s what we’re seeing across the nation, too, is that our positive cases are from the unvaccinated,” said Willmann.
Willmann said as of last week they are seeing more people coming in for vaccinations, and GWH currently has about 1,100 doses of Moderna on hand.
Willmann encouraged anyone who wants the COVID-19 vaccine to come into the clinic to receive the shot. Walk-ins are welcome.
“We are also seeing hospitalizations,” said Willmann. “We currently have five patients in house with a positive test, and our region is running about 8.14% in hospitalizations, which is up over the last few weeks as well.”
Willmann said the increase in hospitalizations has caused difficulty transferring patients to Waco and some were being routed to the Dallas area for higher levels of care.
Willmann also said the rise in hospitalized patients had trended younger, with people being in their 30s and 40s.
“The majority of vaccines we gave out were to populations over 65,” said Willmann.
Willmann is encouraging residents to be diligent.
“If you want a vaccine, now is the time to get it,” said Willmann.
Willmann said a majority of those who are testing positive for COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine have mild symptoms similar to allergies or are asymptomatic altogether.
Willmann also told the commissioners the hospital has been asked if they can tell the difference between COVID-19 and the new variant.
“Our lab equipment and the majority of lab equipment out there for hospitals as of right now just tell you if you have COVID or not…we do not have the capability right now, and I don’t know when that will be, to determine which variant you have,” said Willmann.
Willmann said the State of Texas has been going into areas to re-run samples to see which variant of COVID-19 is present.
“Our positivity rate has taken a huge jump just in the past few weeks,” said Dr. Justin Squyres from Goodall-Witcher Clinic in Clifton, echoing Willmann’s statement. “This new strain is likely the “delta variant” of the coronavirus.”
Squyres said he believes this version of COVID-19 is much more contagious than the previous version because they have seen an increase in cases more rapidly than before, and large gatherings and extended periods of close contact have not been root causes to spread the virus. He also believes it’s more contagious because people who have received the vaccine and getting it.
“However, this does not mean the vaccine is not effective,” said Squyres.
“When the original coronavirus spread and no one was vaccinated we had a very large number of patients, especially those over 65, who were hospitalized and even died from COVID at a high rate, up to 20% in those 80 and over,” said Squyres. “This time, with most of the high-risk population being vaccinated we are not observing those vaccinated patients having to be hospitalized at a high rate due to the virus and so far I have not had anyone who was vaccinated and contracted COVID die from the infection.”
Squyres also said the population hit the hardest are those from 20 to 50 years old who have not been vaccinated.
“This outbreak is in the early stages and there may be new developments in the next several weeks,” said Squyres. “The main takeaway is that the virus is real, and it can be life threatening.”
Squyres encourages everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and especially those who are considered at high risk.
“If you choose not to get the vaccine then continue to practice social distancing measures and wear a mask when in close contact with others,” said Squyres. “Just remember, you may contract the virus and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread it to others you come in contact with.”
From July 15 to July 25, 166 patients were tested for COVID-19 at GWH. Of those tested, 35 were positive – a rate of 21.1%. 28 patients are residents of Bosque County while the other seven are from surrounding counties.
Governor Greg Abbott said he will not impose another statewide mask mandate even though new cases of COVID-19 have risen across Texas.
“There will be no mask mandate imposed, and the reasons for that are very clear,” Abbott told KPRC-TV in Houston last week. “There are so many people who have immunities to COVID, whether it be through the vaccination, whether it be through their own exposure and their recovery from it, which would be acquired immunity.”
Abbott went on to say it would be “inappropriate to require people who already have immunity to wear a mask.”
Echoing his statement in March of this year when he lifted the mask mandate, Abbott said Texas is past the point of government mandates and people should instead practice personal responsibility.
As of Monday, July 26 at 7:26 a.m., the Texas DSHS reported 1,414 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bosque County with 321 probable cases, totaling 1,735. 33 cases remain active while 1,665 people have recovered. To date, 33 people have died in relation to COVID-19 in Bosque County.
As of Monday, July 26 at 12:30 p.m., the Texas DSHS reported 7,099 people in Bosque County had received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 6,269 people, or 38.91%, were fully vaccinated. In Texas, 52.17% of the population 12 and older have received the COVID-19 vaccine.