Coronavirus: live updates for the Big Bend region

UPDATED 1/17 4:43 p.m.

(11/14 4:43 p.m.)
Officials have announced more public coronavirus testing sites in the tri-county. Those sites will be:

In Presidio on Tuesday, January 19, at the Presidio Fire Dept. at 100 East FM 170

In Alpine on Wednesday, January 20, at the Alpine Fire Station at 102 South Second Street

In Marfa on Thursday, January 21, at the Marfa Visitors Center at 302 Highland Street

In Fort Davis on Friday, January 22, at the Fort Davis Fire Station at 200 Court Avenue

Like the other sites in the tri-county, this one will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or until testing capacity is reached. ID is required. Appointments are preferred but not required. Preregistration can be made online at https://docshealthtesting.com or by texting “DOCSTX” to 41411. These will be saliva tests. Officials ask that residents please not eat, drink or use mouthwash or tobacco within 30 minutes of being tested.

The latest testing data from the Texas Department of State Health Services and Sul Ross State University:

*Sul Ross and Brewster data may share some overlap but officials are unable to provide definitive delineations between the data at this time. Not all Sul Ross cases are being counted in Brewster County because of students providing permanent addresses rather than school addresses.

At least 31,050 Texans have died from the virus and 1,794,545 have tested positive for COVID-19.

Nearby counties’ *active* case counts:
El Paso: 35,462
Hudspeth: 55
Culberson: 9
Reeves: 61
Pecos: 76
Terrell: 15
Crane: 0
Ector^†: 823
Midland: 2,408

^† Ector County health officials last week said they no longer had the resources to share local COVID-19 data. It’s not yet clear if or how this announcement is affecting state numbers for Ector County.

From the Governor: Texans are expected to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity, building or space open to the public, and in outdoor spaces where maintaining 6 feet of distance from others is not possible.

Here’s what else we know. You can also use the links below to skip to the relevant section:

Testing

Information from local, state and federal authorities

Schools, businesses, churches and non-governmental institutions

Precautions and staying safe

TESTING

In Presidio on Tuesday, January 19, at the Presidio Fire Dept. at 100 East FM 170

In Alpine on Wednesday, January 20, at the Alpine Fire Station at 102 South Second Street

In Marfa on Thursday, January 21, at the Marfa Visitors Center at 302 Highland Street

In Fort Davis on Friday, January 22, at the Fort Davis Fire Station at 200 Court Avenue

Like the other sites in the tri-county, this one will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or until testing capacity is reached. ID is required. Appointments are preferred but not required. Preregistration can be made online at https://docshealthtesting.com or by texting “DOCSTX” to 41411. Officials ask that residents please not eat, drink or use mouthwash or tobacco within 30 minutes of being tested.

INFORMATION FROM LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
Local

State

Federal

SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS

(11/15 4:03 p.m.)
Today, Marfa ISD Superintendent Oscar Aguero announced via an email to students, staff and parents that Marfa schools will go remote-only through November 20 and resume in-person on Monday, November 30 after the Thanksgiving holiday. Aguero cited the current positive COVID-19 cases, the testing positivity percentage and the requirement for “many students and staff members to quarantine” as reasons for the closure.

(11/12 10:44 a.m.)
Citing “our current positive COVID-19 cases, the testing positivity percentage and the requirement for many students and staff members to quarantine,” Alpine ISD has announced that they will switch back to all-virtual learning from today, Thursday, November 12, until after Thanksgiving, on Monday, November 30. Separately, Sul Ross State University today is reporting 32 new active cases on campus, including 25 new active cases among students and seven among staff and faculty.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marfa is live-streaming their 10 a.m. Sunday worship service on their Facebook page and is offering Zoom classes. Those who need errands run on their behalf can contact the church. The church itself is open 24 hours and is accepting food donations for the Marfa Food Pantry. Call Vicar Mike Wallens at 214-862-7292 or email stpaulsmarfatx@gmail.com.

Pastor Ernesto Zubia at Iglesia Cristiana Jesus es Rey church in Marfa is asking churchgoers to stay home if they don’t feel well.

In a statement, the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend said it will continue to provide resources to domestic-violence and assault survivors during the coronavirus crisis and asks that people please call ahead to make an appointment. The numbers for assistance and appointments are 432-837-7254 for Alpine, 432-229-4297 for Presidio and 432-371-3147 for Terlingua. The group’s emergency hotline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-834-8256.

PRECAUTIONS AND STAYING SAFE
Local health authorities are still advising that people keep six feet of “social distancing” between individuals who are not from the same household.

For individuals who worry they might have been exposed to coronavirus, health officials ask that people contact hospitals and doctors by phone rather than visiting in person. Health care providers will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether individuals should come in for care. Preventative Care Health Services clinics have separate entrances for anyone suspected of having the virus.

Check our homepage for the latest in depth reporting on the virus and our local community.