Hays County releases regular updates on the number of confirmed cases and other local statistics related to COVID-19.
And the most recent data of new reported positive cases shows Hays County might have reached its peak during the first couple of weeks in April.
On Tuesday, May 12, Governor Greg Abbott extended his March 13 COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for all Texas Counties.
The disaster declaration provides the state with a number of resources to effectively serve Texans as the Lone Star State continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The declaration states that the novel coronavirus poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in Texas.
“By extending my Disaster Declaration, we are ensuring the state of Texas continues to have adequate resources and capabilities to support our communities and protect public health,” said Governor Abbott. “I urge all Texans to continue practicing social distancing and abide by the guidelines laid out by the CDC and my Executive Orders to slow the spread of COVID-19.
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today announced that local fire departments in Texas are partnering with local public health authorities to provide testing in nursing homes throughout the state.
This partnership has been developed and is being implemented through an ongoing collaboration between TDEM, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Costs associated with providing these tests are eligible for federal reimbursement.
“This partnership builds upon our efforts to expand COVID-19 in the Lone Star State, especially among our most vulnerable Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank our local fire departments for continuing to serve their fellow Texans throughout the COVID-19 response. By serving their communities in this new capacity, we will continue to contain the spread of this virus and protect the health and safety of all Texans.”
Rise In Cases Comes As State Employs Targeted Testing Strategy
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today released a statement and detailed the ongoing containment plan for the COVID-19 outbreak in Amarillo that is reporting over 700 positive cases today. On Monday, May 4th, Governor Abbott deployed a Surge Response Team (SRT) to Amarillo consisting of Medical Incident Support Team personnel from the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF) and 70 members of the Texas National Guard.
These teams conducted a site survey of high-risk areas to begin testing employees in meatpacking facilities. Today, Texas is seeing the results of those tests and will continue to see these results in targeted areas over the next two weeks.
In addition to the SRT, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), BCFS Health and Human Services, and local officials are all responding to the outbreak.
Plants with widespread outbreaks have temporarily shut down for thorough disinfection. Individuals with a positive test who cannot otherwise isolate are offered area hotels, and DSHS is maintaining an alternate care site for patients that do not require hospitalization. Furthermore, the Governor is sending an additional allotment of remdesivir to the Amarillo area.
“As Texas continues ramping up its testing capabilities, there will be an increase in positive cases as the state targets the most high-risk areas: nursing homes, meatpacking plants and jails,” said Governor Abbott. “That is exactly why I established Surge Response Teams. By immediately deploying resources and supplies to these high-risk areas, we will identify the positive cases, isolate the individuals, and ensure any outbreak is quickly contained, which is the strategy being deployed in Amarillo.”
Amarillo Region Healthcare Capability:
These actions follow the Governor’s May 2nd deployment of mobile testing teams to provide free COVID-19 testing for Amarillo and surrounding communities. Since their inception, these mobile test collection teams, supported by TDEM, Texas Military Department, DSHS, and the EMTF, have tested over 34,500 Texans in 212 counties across the state.
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received more than $3 million in federal funding to provide shelter and services to survivors of family and domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This federal funding will support the 78 HHSC-funded local family violence centers that provide survivors with immediate shelter, supportive services, and access to community-based programs.
These funds are made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and will be administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.
“As we respond to COVID-19, the Lone Star State remains committed to supporting survivors of domestic and family violence and keeping Texans safe,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank our federal partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for administering this funding to the state of Texas, and I am grateful to the organizations within HHSC’s Family Violence Program that continue to provide Texans with these crucial services.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenging obstacles and uncertainty for many survivors of family violence across the state,” said Dee Budgewater, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Health, Developmental, and Independence Services. “This grant is a significant investment that will connect vulnerable Texans to critical services, shelter, and move them toward a life free of violence.”
This new funding will provide direct support to 78 HHSC-funded local family violence centers working with survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will also support a wide range of supportive services that are instrumental in helping survivors become self-sufficient.
These services include temporary 24-hour shelter, counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, peer support, rental assistance, and relocation expenses. The funding also assists family violence centers to cover the costs of providing remote services to those in need.
The HHSC Family Violence Program promotes self-sufficiency, safety, and long-term independence of adult and child victims of family violence and victims of teen dating violence.
Through a network of service providers, the program provides emergency shelter and supportive services to victims and their children, educates the public, and provides training and prevention support to various organizations across Texas.
In 2019, 71,637 clients were served through the Family Violence Program.
For more information, visit the Family Violence Program webpage. Texas residents can dial 2-1-1 to learn about HHSC programs and services.
AUSTIN —Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today announced today that Karey Barton, Associate Deputy Comptroller for Tax, won the Federation of Tax Administrator’s (FTA) Harley T. Duncan award for leadership and service.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated sustained and significant service in the practice and administration of state taxes.
“Karey’s ability and commitment are major assets to this agency and to the industries and taxpayers of our state,” Hegar said. “He is absolutely essential to our operations, and I am proud and grateful to know him. I can think of no other person in Texas state government who better deserves this award.”
As the agency’s associate deputy for tax since 2015, Barton has full responsibility for more than $50 billion in annual tax collections that support Texas state government.
He has established specialized audit teams, including experienced auditors, tax policy staff, and hearings attorneys, for specific industries such as telecommunications and oil and gas production.
Under his leadership, the agency has exceeded legislative performance benchmarks, while also reducing the agency’s inventory of contested cases from about 2,700 in fiscal year 2016 to 1,800 in fiscal 2019.
Barton has also been a frequent speaker on state and local tax issues, presenting at the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, the Council on State Taxation, the Texas Society of CPAs, and multiple Western States regional FTA conferences.
This is Barton’s second stint at the Comptroller’s office. He began his career here in 1985 and served the agency for almost 15 years, rising to senior positions including assistant chief revenue estimator and manager and director of the agency’s tax policy division.
Barton left the agency in 2000 and entered the private sector, providing tax consulting services and legislative, regulatory, and policy analysis to many types of businesses.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is seeking input on the housing needs of people with mental health conditions, substance use histories, and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
HHSC understands that most people are currently focused on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but we believe it is important to distribute the survey at this time because housing is a critical component of a person’s health and well-being. Keeping this in mind, we encourage you to take the time to complete this important survey.
HHSC is seeking input from people in this target population, their families/caregivers, providers, service agencies, and organizations. You can take the survey and encourage others to participate.
All answers are anonymous and will help HHSC plan and improve access to affordable housing. The survey is open and will end on June 15, 2020. Questions can be sent to OMHChousingchoiceplan@hhsc.state.tx.us
TAKE THE SURVEY https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5381252/Housing-Survey-2020
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