27 COVID-19 tests pending

Thirty-nine COVID-19 tests have been administered to Hood County residents with 12 negative results and 27 results pending.

In a press release Monday afternoon, Hood County Public Health Authority Dr. David Blocker said the numbers are voluntarily reported from local medical facilities.

Of the 39, 14 patients were tested at Lake Granbury Medical Center, 24 tested at Lakeside Physicians clinic locations and one tested in Fort Worth.

RESULTS PENDING

At LGMC, three tests were negative. Results are pending on the others. Hospitalized patents remain isolated. Patients not sick enough for hospitalization were sent home for self isolation – along with their close contacts – until results are available. This follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

Of the 24 tested at clinics, eight came back negative, while the other results are pending.

One additional Hood County resident was hospitalized at Cook Children’s Medical Center for respiratory illness last week. The patient was released over the weekend, without testing positive for COVID-19.

Every patient tested has been given a copy of the CDC recommendations to self isolate and minimize risk of spread to family and close contacts, Blocker said.

Tests in Hood County were sent to private labs.

“No tests have been processed for Hood County residents using public health laboratories,” Blocker said. “The Texas TXDSHS (Texas Health and Human Services) Region 2/3 is only tracking positive COVID-19 test results from private labs, so other tests may be in progress outside of my awareness.”

Lab turnaround time is beginning to improve, with some COVID-19 results in 48 hours, but many still take three to five days.

Patients are also being tested for influenza and other viral and bacterial illnesses.

Blocker said local testing is prioritized by the person’s medical history, severity of symptoms, and risk of complications from COVID-19 or other respiratory illness.

If any COVID-19 tests eventually return positive, the testing locations have collected information to report to TXDSHS for tracking and follow-up, as required by public health guidelines.

DSHS Region 2/3 is the resource for official infectious disease reporting and tracking. You can check for updates at https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/updates.shtm#coronavirus.

dschneider@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 255