Bastrop County reports fourth death linked to coronavirus

A 67-year-old man from Del Valle has died due to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, Bastrop County officials announced Wednesday.

“I am deeply saddened to receive the information of another life taken by this disease,” said Bastrop County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the gentleman’s family.”

The man’s death is the fourth attributed to COVID-19 since officials declared a state of emergency in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the second virus-related death in less than two weeks. On May 29, Bastrop County officials announced that a 62-year-old man from Elgin had died due to COVID-19.

Bastrop County announced its first known virus-related death — a 58-year-old man from Elgin — on April 6. Eleven days later, officials announced that a 56-year-old man from an unincorporated area had also died from the virus.

The state Health Services Department reported Wednesday that Bastrop County has 161 active coronavirus cases. As of Tuesday, Bastrop County had conducted 1,700 coronavirus tests, with a 16% infection rate, according to state data.

“The battle with COVID-19 is far from over,” said Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape. “We have our highest number of active cases now, and the numbers continue to increase. This is no time to let down on social distancing and personal hygiene. Please stay alert and vigilant to the spread of this deadly virus.”

The county announced on Wednesday it had 20 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total to 271. The new cases represent an 8% increase from Monday, when the county had 251 known coronavirus cases, and a 19% increase from a week earlier when the county reported having 227 cases on June 3.

Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Christine Files said the 20 new cases account for Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s counts as the state Health Services Department did not provide the county with a case report Tuesday.

“Our case numbers are climbing,” Pape said. “It is so important for all to remember that there is no proven treatment or cure for this disease. Please protect yourself and those you love.”

The county reported Wednesday that 105 COVID-19 patients had recovered from the virus, a 9% increase from Monday when the county reported that 96 people had recovered.

Staying the course

As businesses in Texas reopen amid the pandemic and their capacities to host patrons are expanded, Walkes is urging residents to continue protecting themselves and their families from the virus by continuing to observe social distancing recommendations, especially in large gatherings; limiting unnecessary trips; wearing face coverings in public; hand-washing often with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand-washing isn’t an option; and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

There have been nine known COVID-19 cases reported in Bastrop and Smithville since the virus outbreak began, 84 in Elgin and 169 in unincorporated areas as of Wednesday, according to county data.

This week, a spokesperson for the Elgin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s management company confirmed to the Advertiser that 31 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at that facility.

Regency Integrated Health Services, which owns and operates the nursing home at 1373 N. Avenue C in Elgin, said testing last month revealed seven employees and 24 residents had contracted the virus.

Files said coronavirus testing will be completed at all nursing homes in Bastrop County this week.

Bastrop County has the capacity to perform 25 coronavirus tests daily, but Files said the county will be ramping up its testing capabilities this week.

Two new drive-thru testing sites ‒ St. David Emergency Center in Bastrop and Ascension Seton clinic in Elgin ‒ will begin offering coronavirus and antibody testing soon, Files said. Acadian ambulance service is also expected to begin operating a mobile test site.

Bastrop County cases by ZIP code (as of Wednesday)

• 78602 (city) — 9

• 78602 (unincorporated) — 30

• 78612 (unincorporated) — 41

• 78616 (unincorporated) — 11

• 78617 (unincorporated) — 24

• 78621 (city) — 84

• 78621 (unincorporated) — 45

• 78650 (unincorporated) — 3

• 78653 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78659 (unincorporated) — 7

• 78662 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78941 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78942 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78945 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78953 (unincorporated) — 0

• 78957 (city) — 9

• 78957 (unincorporated) — 8

• 78959 (unincorporated) — 0