The City of San Angelo held an emergency meeting Wednesday to continue the City's March 19 public health emergency declaration in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The declaration begins at 12:01 a.m. April 2 and will end at 11:59 p.m. April 30. It is subject to change, meaning it can be rescinded or extended, if necessary.
San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter said that individuals should take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to more people in San Angelo.
During the meeting, City Attorney Teresa James recommended San Angelo stay in line with Gov. Abbott's executive order timeline.
Council members asked several questions regarding testing and reporting of the COVID-19 cases in Tom Green County.
Dr. James Vretis, local health authority, said, "Someone goes to the drive-thru and the tests are sent to the lab. Test results are coming back in seven, eight, 11 days from the lab. New testing machines with five-minute results could be here mid-April."
"Things could get bad here in a hurry," Vretis said.
He also said while it breaks his heart to see businesses shut down, it would break his heart more to tell someone's family they'd died from this.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, COVID-19 tests performed in San Angelo yielded the following results:
- 495 total
- 237 pending
- 249 negative
- 9 positive
Case 1: male in his 70s who traveled
Case 2: male in his 20s who came into contact with a positive case within the state
Case 3: female in her 30s who had no known contact with a positive case, categorized as a case of community spread
Case 4: male in his 30s, close family member of case #3
Case 5: young boy, close family member of case #3
Case 6: female in her 20s who came into contact with a confirmed positive travel-related case
Case 7: preteen female, she and her household have been self-isolating since March 24
Case 8: man in his 50s from out of town who was here for work purposes - currently hospitalized in San Angelo
Case 9: man in his 70s - currently hospitalized in San Angelo
The PIO issued a clarification on Tuesday's order from the City's public health authority.
In order to align with Governor Abbott’s order we have made some clarifications to our order from yesterday.
Specifically, as it relates to walking, hunting, fishing, boating and golfing.
Clarifications taken from the March 31 order:
"Public boat ramps and docks may be used for launching boats but only members of the same household may be on a boat. There shall be no congregating at ramps, docks or parking areas.
Hiking, biking, and walking trails may remain open but at least six feet of distance must remain between people and congregating or activities other than walking, running or biking is strictly prohibited.
Golf courses may remain open for golf but all congregating and clubhouse and other facility activities must cease. There can be no more than two people from the same household in the same cart and proper social distancing must occur at all times between people from different households. Any club carts or equipment must be thoroughly disinfected between users.
Any other facilities not listed may remain open but must ensure no persons from different households can interact while at the facility.
Hunting, fishing, and other solo recreation is not limited by this order if it does not occur with people outside of a single household."
