Taylor County adds 54 cases Friday; vaccination clinics this weekend

The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District reported 54 new cases of COVID-19 and 125 recoveries on Friday.

Of the 54 new cases, 13 are based on polymerase chain reaction tests.

Active cases total 1,744 (584 PCR cases and 1,160 cases based on antigen testing). A week ago, there were 2,099 active cases.

Hendrick Health reported 70 COVID-19 hospital patients at its three hospitals on Friday, including 25 in intensive care. There were 70 total COVID-19 hospital patients as of Friday, including 26 in intensive care.

The breakdown by facility on Friday was 63 inpatients in Abilene hospitals (25 in intensive care) and seven in Brownwood Hospital (four in intensive care).

Of the 70 Hendrick COVID-19 hospital patients, 61 were not fully immunized, while 24 of the 25 intensive care patients were not fully immunized.

Following: Taylor County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 40% of people fully vaccinated

The percentage of COVID-19 hospital patients in the Abilene trauma ward area was 8.91% on Thursday, compared with 9.36% on Wednesday and 10.39% on Tuesday, according to the Department’s COVID-19 database. ‘State of Texas.

The Abilene trauma service area, made up of 16 counties, had 88 COVID-19 hospital patients on Friday, up from 99 on Wednesday, the state reported. All currently hospitalized patients are adults.

COVID-19 vaccines available this weekend

The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District will have two free COVID-19 vaccination clinics this weekend.

Health district staff will administer the vaccine during the Business Mercado from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 North Sixth St. The free event is hosted by the Hispanic Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of ‘Abilene.

Following: Abilene businessman calls Business Mercado a networking opportunity for everyone

The second clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Minter Lane Church of Christ, 2502 Minter Lane.

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available. Children 12 to 18 years old can receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Participants can make an appointment and register online at abilenetx.gov/vaccineschedule. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Abilene Zoo strives to tame COVID-19 in its animal population

The Abilene Zoo recently set out to tame the beast that is COVID-19 in its most vulnerable animal populations, a group that includes lions, jaguars, hyenas and giraffes.

Of the 850 animals that the zoo takes care of daily, 48 of its collection have been designated vulnerable to the virus.

The animals received their first dose of the Zoetis vaccine on October 1, with boosters expected in two weeks.

The line-up included primates such as howler monkeys, colobus monkeys and lemurs, and mustelids, the carnivorous family of mammals that includes the zoo’s otters and ferrets.

“Everyone is doing great, with no side effects,” zoo veterinarian Stephanie Carle said in a video statement.

The vaccine was primarily used in mink before being distributed to the general zoo population.

“A lot of research has gone into this vaccine,” Carle said, while the zoo wanted to “do everything possible to provide the best health for our animals”.

Animals at the Abilene Zoo are part of a study of the vaccine ahead of its release as an FDA-approved vaccine, Carle said.

“We are really lucky to be able to use this vaccine to protect our animals and to contribute to the science of zoological medicine,” she said.

Denise Ibarra, general curator of the zoo, said that “the health and safety of our animals is of the utmost importance”.

“If there are opportunities to better protect the members of our collection, we take those opportunities,” Ibarra said.

– Brian Bethel, Reporter-News

The coronavirus in figures

Abilene / Taylor County (updated Friday): New cases, 54; PCR cases, 9,304; cases of active PCR, 584; total probable antigen cases, 12,697; total cases of active antigen, 1160; total PCR recoveries, 8,532; total antigen recoveries, 11,245; Total number of deaths, 480.

Texas (updated Friday): Total number of cases, 3,428,193; New cases, 6,094; Active cases (estimated), 199,845; Hospitalized, 7,117; Death, 65,057; New deaths, 367; Total tests, 42,998,906; Retrieved (estimated), 3,831,969.

Number of active cases estimated in large countries (followed by state): Howard, 174; Brown, 162; Jones, 145; Stephens, 109; Erath, 82; Courage, 68; Nolan, 44 years old; Coke, 29; Eastland, 27; Callahan, 26; Comanche, 21 years old; Coleman, 18; Mitchell, 10; Alleyways, 9; Haskell, 8; Fisherman, 7; Stone wall, 6; Shackelford, 3; Kent, 2; Knox, 2; and Throckmorton, 0.

Some counties in West Texas have estimated active cases: Lubbock, 3,251; Randall (Canyon), 1,552; Wichita (Wichita Falls), 1378; Potter (Amarillo), 1367; Midland, 1316; Ector (Odessa), 1,177; Tom Green (San Angelo), 685; Hale (Plainview), 93; Moore, 43.

Sources: City of Abilene, Texas Department of State Health Services (count PCR cases only)

SELECTED PRISONS (Thursday update)

Daniel (Snyder): Staff case – active, 0. Case of detainees – active, 1, medical isolation, 2.

Havins (Brownwood): Staff case – active, 5; Case of detainees – active, 0, medical isolation, 0.

Middleton (Abilene): Staff case – active, 1; Case of detainees – active, 129, medical isolation, 129.

Robertson (Abilene): Staff case – active, 3; Case of detainees – active, 1, medical isolation, 3.

Sayle (Breckenridge): Staff case – active, 3; Case of detainees – active, 98; medical isolation, 98.

Wallace (Colorado City): Staff case – active, 3; Case of detainees – active, 0, medical isolation, 0.

Source: Texas Department of Criminal Justice COVID-19 website.

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Abilene ISD: Reported Thursday 13 new student cases. New cases per campus: 10 students at Ward Elementary School, two students at Martinez Elementary School and one student at Abilene High School.

Active cases total 117 (102 students, 15 staff), up from 124 on Wednesday. As of August 3, the district has reported 1,048 cases (861 students, 187 staff).

Wylie ISD: Three student cases (two students and one staff member) reported Friday, for a total of 27 active cases, three fewer than Thursday.

Active cases by campus: two students at East Elementary, two students at West Junior High, one student at West Elementary, one student at West Early Childhood, two students and one staff member at East Junior High, two students at West Intermediate and 15 students and a staff member from Wylie High.

Christian University of Abilene: Reported on Friday two active cases and zero new cases for a fourth consecutive day. Two people are in quarantine due to possible exposure. Of the active cases, 50% were not vaccinated. The cumulative cases since August 17 total 149.

Following: COVID-19: Taylor County adds 66 cases and 141 recoveries on Thursday

Laura Gutschke is a general assignment journalist and food columnist and manages online content for The Reporter-News. If you enjoy local news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.