ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The City of Abilene and the Taylor County Public Health District report 27 total new cases of COVID-19 and 37 additional recoveries.

Statistics released Monday show that of the 27 new cases, 17 came from PCR tests and 10 came from antigen tests.

There are 40 patients who remain hospitalized, and their current conditions are not known at this time.

To-date, 427 antigen tests have been reported positive since June 25. A total of 921 PRC tests have resulted in positive, bringing the total of COVID-19 cases reported in Taylor County to 1,348.

Further demographic information for Taylor County’s COVID-19 patients can be found in the graphics below:

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TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – There were 31 new cases of COVID-19 and the 11th death of a patient reported in Taylor County Thursday.

Statistics released Thursday afternoon show that of the 31 new cases, 20 came from PCR tests and 11 came from antigen tests.

The 11th COVID-19 related death in the county was a male in his 80s with pre-existing conditions.

Forty-three patients remain hospitalized, and their current conditions are not known at this time. A percentage of these hospitalized patients are in ICU and/or on ventilators.

To-date, 10,502 PCR tests have been administered for COVID-19, and 356 antigen tests have been reported positive since June 25.

Further demographic information for Taylor County’s COVID-19 patients can be found in the graphics below:

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — A change in the way the Abilene Taylor County Public Health District is reporting COVID-19 data has pushed the total number of cases to more than a thousand.

The City of Abilene is now reporting PCR results as well as antigen, antibody and probable positive results.

Taylor County has 26 new cases of COVID-19 and 1,174 total. Sixteen of the new positive results are from PCR tests, and 10 are from antigen and antibody tests, the city says.

There are 50 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, but some of those may not be Taylor County residents, according to the city.

The health district is reporting 110 new recoveries and 400 active cases from PCR tests. Active cases from antigen and antibody tests have not been disclosed.

A total of 13,703 tests have been conducted. Test numbers include all PCR tests, but only include antigen and antibody tests performed since June 25.

In May, the Texas Department of Health Services notified the Taylor County Health District that antibody tests would no longer be counted toward the county’s total, but city officials say the state is asking them to start reporting them again.

By: Joey Hollingsworth

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The Abilene Taylor County Public Health District is reporting 25 new positive COVID-19 results from PCR tests and 11 from antigen tests, and one new virus-related death.

The health district says a male in his 50s with underlying health conditions died Wednesday night, becoming the county’s seventh death from COVID-19.

The total number of active cases reported from PCR tests is now up to 288, and a total of 223 antigen tests have returned positive results since June 25.

There are currently 35 people in the hospital with the virus.

The health district says there have been 622 total positive PCR tests, along with 223 antigen positives, bringing the total number of cases up to 845.

A total of 9,441 PCR tests have been conducted, up from 9,312 on Wednesday. The total number of antigen tests that have been conducted is currently unavailable.

Further demographic information can be found in the image below:

By: Joey Hollingsworth

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Thirty new COVID-19 cases were reported in Taylor County Tuesday, and 21 patients are currently hospitalized.

Updated statistics show there are now 253 active cases of COVID-19 in the county.

The 30 new COVID-19 positives are all attributed to PCR testing, which has been the gold standard to determine active infections since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 573 PCR positives have been recorded in Abilene to-date.

A second type of test – known as antigen testing – is becoming more popular and is also accurate at determining active infections, so the Abilene Taylor County Public Health District has begun releasing statistics on those tests as well.

The Health District has received a total of 197 COVID-19 antigen test positives since June 25, 2020.

Between the two types of tests, there have been a total of 770 cases since the outbreak began.

BigCountryHomepage will keep track of local COVID-19 statistics each day. Check back for the latest information.

By: Erica Garner

Copyright © 2020, KTAB/KRBC Nexstar Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that requires all Texans to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth in public spaces, with exceptions.

According to the order, this applies to residents of counties with more than 20 positive cases of COVID-19.

Restrictions on outdoor gatherings are also included in the order. Gatherings can no longer be over 10 people and, with certain exceptions, groups over 10 must maintain six feet of social distancing.

Abbott said in the announcement:

“Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19. We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another—and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces. Likewise, large gatherings are a clear contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Restricting the size of groups gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe. We all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe. If Texans commit to wearing face coverings in public spaces and follow the best health and safety practices, we can both slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Texas open for business. I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public, not just for their own health, but for the health of their families, friends, and for all our fellow Texans.”

According to Abbott, the decision came after a surge in cases across Texas, with the Governor saying the daily number of positive tests statewide has quadrupled in a month — to 6,000 positives a day.

The Governor says that the consequences for violations are:

1. First Violation — A warning
2. Violations after will include penalties up to $250.

No one will be jailed for violations, however.

“Local law enforcement has the authority to enforce this safety standard,” says Abbott in his video announcement. “Just like they do when enforcing seat belt standards.”

By: Russell Falcon

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