Three weeks ago, there were just four active cases of COVID-19 in Jasper County, but that number has increased by 25 times last week rising to 101 active cases.
The majority of these cases are in Buna, which was reporting 40, according to Jasper County Judge Mark Allen. Kirbyville was reporting 34, Jasper 19, Brookeland 4 and Evadale 3.
Allen said the Texas Department of Health Services believes the surge is because of the highly-contagious Delta variant.
In an attempt to curb the surge, Allen said the county will be increasing testing and vaccination efforts.
“We will hold a mass vaccination clinic on Saturday, Aug. from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the County Annex in Jasper,” he said. “We want to be sure that anyone especially those who work have access to the vaccinations.”
Nearly 60% of county residents 65 and older are fully vaccinated. Just more than 30% of those 12 years to 65 are fully vaccinated.
Allen acknowledged that other counties have had to close some public buildings in response to the surge. However, Jasper County hasn’t seen any employees test positive and, in part as a result, there currently are no plans to close any county buildings.
He also reminded residents that restrictions on businesses or masking and other mandates at this time can only come from Gov. Greg Abbott.
The Jasper County Health Department is working with local communities and school districts to identify opportunities for vaccination clinics. The vaccinations still are voluntary, and students of a certain age need parental permission to receive any vaccinations.
Jasper County recorded its last COVID related death two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 95 residents of the county have died — the majority of whom were 50 years old or older with pre-existing health conditions.
“People need to monitor their own health,” Allen said. “They must continue to practice good hygiene and get vaccinated if they are not.
“These are the things we did to battle the spread originally, and these are the same things that will combat this serge.”
Scott Loar is a
freelance writer.