New Coronavirus Totals In Texas, News From Governor Abbott And Texas Health And Human Services

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State and federal officials are working to keep residents informed as they continue working to protect Americans from Coronavirus.

According to the Center for Disease Control, coronaviruses are common throughout the world and can infect people and animals.

The World Health Organization has now qualified the coronavirus as an international pandemic. And says the large family of viruses can cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe conditions.

A novel coronavirus is a new strain and has not been previously identified in humans.

Like the flu, people with severe chronic medical conditions and who are over the age of sixty are at a higher risk of getting sick and developing more severe conditions.

Federal and state officials are working continuously to ensure outbreaks do not occur in U.S. communities.

The following updates are only intended to keep Texas communities informed.

Not only for your protection but the safety of others, please follow this list of guidelines

What’s the difference between a Person Under Investigation, a Presumptive Positive or a Laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19?

Updated on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 12:18 PM

The Case Numbers Are Release By Texas Department of State Health Services

NOTE: The positive results in Texas communities, include both presumptive and confirmed positives. They don’t include people repatriated from China or cruise ships on U.S. government flights.

DSHS distributes additional medical supplies for COVID-19 response

At the request of the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas has received a share of personal protective equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. DSHS is distributing the medical supplies to hospitals and health care providers across the state through the state’s Hospital Preparedness Program.

These supplies will support Texas’ health care workers as they work to respond to and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Texas.

Items began arriving at a San Antonio warehouse on Saturday, March 14, and DSHS is immediately sending supplies on to its local partners, which will distribute them to health care facilities and providers in their areas. DSHS will continue to work with the same organizations to distribute remaining supplies to areas where they are needed most.

“We’re using a system Texas has used before in times of disaster to get supplies where they’re needed,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “This will ensure that decisions are made in the communities affected on how best to use these important resources.”

“Our health care professionals are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response, and the supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile will provide additional resources to help care for patients in our communities,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “I thank our federal partners for their swift response as well as the Department of State Health Services for their ongoing work to deliver these supplies around the state.”

“Texas is no stranger to preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters. We will continue to use the tried and true methods we have used successfully in the past to respond to this event,” said Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “We will continue to work with and support our local government partners to ensure they are able to access the full range of resources available to them.”

The equipment provided includes surgical masks, respirators, face shields, surgical gowns, and gloves.

The Strategic National Stockpile is a national repository of medications and other medical supplies maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and designed to be sent to states during a national emergency.

DSHS is posting the latest information on COVID-19, advice for the public, health care providers and others, and updating case counts daily at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus.

HHS Provides Expanded Guidance to Nursing Facilities to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Texas

AUSTIN – To protect older, medically fragile individuals from COVID-19, Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued updated, expanded guidance to nursing homes that now includes restricting facility access to staff, certain medical professionals, and other providers of essential services.

“At the direction of Governor Greg Abbott and effective immediately, we are now requiring nursing facilities to prevent non-essential visitors from access given the significant health and safety risk to residents posed by COVID-19,” said David Kostroun, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Regulatory Services. “These measures are precautionary and based on the state disaster declaration made by Governor Abbott, as well as new federal guidance.”

Until further notice, nursing facilities are encouraged to use alternate means of communication such as FaceTime, Skype, or other video or audio systems for residents to maintain contact with family and friends. “We understand how difficult these new restrictions will be for residents and their families and loved ones,” Kostroun said. “First and foremost, we must all share the goal of protecting the people who are proving to be most vulnerable to this new virus.”

Nursing facilities must also implement screening protocols for anyone entering their facility. They must screen staff, medical professionals, and other essential visitors for COVID-19 using guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Only under certain compassionate care situations, such as a resident’s end-of-life, can non-essential visitors be allowed in a nursing facility, and the facility must follow all CMS protocols.

Texas HHS is working closely with the Office of the Governor, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and other state and federal agencies to monitor and assess the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

Additionally, HHSC staff are conducting targeted inspections of facilities with a history of infection control deficiencies in the previous three years.

Long-term care facilities in Texas are required to maintain strong infection prevention and control programs to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. If a facility believes a resident, visitor, or employee might have been exposed or infected with COVID-19, it is required to immediately report it to their local health department or to DSHS.

Texas HHS is also requiring facilities to post signs at the entrance about access restrictions; check for fever of visitors, staff, and residents; suspend group gatherings; continue to monitor and isolate residents with fever or acute respiratory symptoms; provide infection control training to staff; execute frequent handwashing, and provide personal protective equipment to residents or staff as needed. For more information, visit the CDC’s site.

During this rapidly evolving situation, the agency will be issuing updated and additional infection control guidance for other licensed entities such as general and psychiatric hospitals, child care operations, and long-term care facilities. Providers are encouraged to stay up-to-date on the latest guidance by visiting the Texas HHS COVID-19 page.

Texas HHS licenses and regulates 1,222 nursing facilities throughout the state. For health-related information and general precautions on COVID-19, visit the DSHS website and the CDC page.

Governor Abbott Waives Regulations To Ensure Students In Work-Study Programs Receive Critical Funding During School Closures

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has waived regulations to ensure students who are enrolled in work-study programs will continue to receive critical funding while campuses close due to their response to COVID-19.

As campuses across the state move instruction online, critical work-study programs that ensure students receive the financial assistance they need to pay their bills would have been put at risk without this waiver.

“While the State of Texas works to respond to the coronavirus and protect public health, it is important that we also do all we can to help college students stay on track to earn their degrees,” said Governor Abbott. “Students who rely on work-study programs to pay for their education are uniquely affected by disruptions in core campus operations, and with today’s action we are ensuring these students will be able to pay their bills and remain on track with their education.”

Governor Abbott Waives Laws To Allow Trucks From Alcohol Industry To Deliver Grocery Supplies

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today waived state laws that prohibit trucks from the alcohol industry from delivering supplies to grocery stores. This will provide grocers with another private-sector option to keep their shelves stocked.

“This is yet another example of the private sector stepping up and Texans helping Texans as we all work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission for its assistance in this effort. By waiving these regulations, we are streamlining the process to replenish the shelves in grocery stores across the state. We are all in this together, and I want to remind all Texans that hoarding resources is neither necessary nor productive. Texas has the supplies to meet the needs of Texans, and we will continue to expedite the flow of groceries to stores across the state.”