(ROCKWALL, TX — April 14, 2020) The Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed an update yesterday from Rockwall County Judge David Sweet on the COVID-19 pandemic in a video conference.
Sweet provided the following updated numbers related to the virus outbreak in the state:
- 133,226 tests have been administered statewide
- 13,906 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Texas
- 1,409 Texans have been hospitalized with the virus
- 287 fatalities from COVID-19 in the state
- 2,269 Texans have recovered from the virus
In Rockwall County, there are currently 37 total confirmed positive cases – 23 in Rockwall, eight in Fate, two in Royse City, one in Rowlett, and two in Wylie (Rockwall County portion).
Sweet said within the first week of measures being taken by surrounding counties to prevent the spread of the virus, he appointed a Rockwall County Coronavirus Task Force to aid local communities in their response to the COVID-19 threat. The task force is headed by Chris Lynch, the county’s Elections Administrator, and includes representatives from all cities in the county: David Billings, Fate city councilman; John Beaman, Heath city councilman; Nathan Hodges, McLendon-Chisholm city councilman; Bennie Daniels and Trace Johannessen, Rockwall city council; Carl Alsabrook, Royse City City Manager; and local veteran and servant leader Mark Kipphut.
One major project currently in the works for the task force is the creation of a county health department.
The county does not currently have a health department, and currently receives support from the Texas Department of State Health Services department, which also serves many other counties in North Texas in providing the crucial data and reports on confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Commissioners Court also appointed the Chief Medical Officer of Texas Health Hospital Rockwall, Dr. Gary Bonacquisti, to serve as the Rockwall County Health Authority.
Sweet said the forming of a county health department would allow for a more updated, precise assessment of the spread of the virus in the county.
“What would come with that would be data that is more timely, accurate and more completely built around Rockwall County,” Sweet said.
Another key project of the task force is the phasing of getting back to business in the county – once it’s safe to do so. Sweet said he was a part of a conference call last week with 16 other county judges in the state, in which they each spoke to the individual efforts of their respective counties in creating strategies for getting business communities back on track.
Sweet said in the event that Texas Governor Greg Abbott does not end up addressing any type of phasing plan to get businesses back on track, he wants Rockwall County to be ready with its own strategies. The key date there, Sweet said, is April 30. Governor Abbott issued an executive order on March 31 effective until April 30th mandating that all Texans should stay at home unless conducting essential services or activities such as grocery store visits.
“I want us to be ready to be able to do address a phasing option in Rockwall County. And that’s what our task force is working on – what a phasing option for getting back to business in Rockwall County looks like,” Sweet said.
Speaking to the current state of the hospitals in Rockwall County, Sweet said both Texas Health Hospital Rockwall and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe have been exceptional in their preparation for the outbreak and are currently in good shape.
“Our hospitals have done an outstanding job. Communication has been exceptional, and they’ve really done a good job on the front end of this from a planning perspective,” Sweet said.
Katy Miller with Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe, who also serves as the Rockwall Chamber Executive Board of Directors Chair, spoke to community’s encouragement and support of local healthcare workers and members of the business community during the pandemic.
“I’m personally so thankful to be a member of the medical community here in Rockwall County. We feel the love and prayers you guys are sending every morning, and I’m especially grateful that your Chamber keeps finding new ways to connect and advocate for our Rockwall area businesses,” she said.
By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.
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