COVID-19 cases remain flat in Wichita County
The number of active cases of COVID-19 remains at 15 in Wichita County this week, with a total number of positive tests now at 85 since March 18 in the county.
Iowa Park accounts for 25 of the total cases.
As of Tuesday night, 5,161 residents of Wichita County have been tested for COVID-19, with 4,477 tests returning negative and 517 remain pending.
The new cases in the past week include:
Case 85
The patient is 70+ and is currently at home in isolation recovering. This is a travel-related case.
Nursing Homes
On May 11, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered all residents and employees at nursing home facilities in Texas be tested by the Texas Department of Emergency Management, which has been carried out at 13 long-term facilities in Wichita County.
Monday the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health Unit received tests back from two facilities, Sheridan Medical Lodge and Evergreen Healthcare Center, both in Burkburnett.
Both facilities had been tested May 23 and preliminary results showed that of the 274 total tested, 81 were positive results, all of whom were asymptomatic.
Lou Kreidler, Wichita County Public Health Director addressed the Wichita Falls City Council Tuesday morning about the unusual results and decision to retest the facilities.
Because of the unusual number of positive cases that were asymptomatic, Kreidler told councilmen the health unit retested 20 who were previously tested, and all of the tests came back negative. As a result, she said, the decision was made to retest all of the patients and employees at both facilities.
The results of the prelimary findings are not being added to totals in Wichita County until results on the new tests are back, presumably Friday or Monday.
The following statement was released Monday by the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health Unit regarding this:
Monday, May 11, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to test 100% of residents and staff in Texas nursing homes. That testing was performed in Wichita County during the last two weeks. Today, the Wichita Falls Wichita County Public Health District received initial information from two of the facilities that were tested. Within those two facilities, 274 total people were tested. The results showed 81 preliminary positive results, all of whom were asymptomatic. Twenty of those individuals were retested today, locally in Wichita County, and all results were negative. Therefore, retesting at the facilities will be completed by tomorrow, June 2. All facility staff have been assigned a case manager and are isolated at home. Their timeframe to return to work will be based on test results. These pending cases are separate and NOT counted in the total pending count. Both facilities have been fully cooperating with the Health District and state regulatory agencies. For questions or concerns related to a resident at one of the facilities, please call the facility directly.
Below are the priliminary results from Sheridan Medical Lodge and Evergreen; as well as those from Iowa Park Health Care Center, Electra Health Care Center and Texhoma Christian Care Center whose results came in Tuesday.
Sheridan Medical Lodge in Burkburnett Tested on May 25th 185 Total People Tested
Residents: 98 tested, 46 preliminary positives
Staff: 87 tested, 28 preliminary positives
Evergreen Healthcare Center in Burkburnett - Tested on May 25th
89 Total People Tested
Residents: 37 tested, 3 preliminary positives, 1 pending
Staff: 52 Tested, 4 preliminary positives
Iowa Park Health Care Center Tested May 23
Total Number Tested (All Wichita County Jurisdiction): 53
Staff Total Tested: 31
Positive: 0
Negative: 30
Pending: 1
Residents Tested: 22
Positive: 0
Negative: 22
Pending: 0
Electra Health Care Center Tested May 23
Total Number Tested: 59
Total Tested Wichita County Jurisdiction: 56
Staff Total Tested: 28
Positive: 0
Negative: 27
Pending: 1
Residents Total Tested: 28
Positive: 0
Negative: 26
Pending: 2
Texhoma Christian Care Center Tested May 28
Total Number Tested: 409
Total Tested Wichita County Jurisdiction: 397
Staff Total Tested: 221
Preliminary Positive: 1
Negative: 81
Pending: 139
Residents Total Tested: 176
Positive: 0
Negative: 24
Pending: 152
