Health Authority: No Burnet County COVID-19 cases

Special to The Highlander
Juliette Madrigal, MD
Burnet County Health Authority

Citizens of Burnet County:

With so much misinformation and speculation surrounding COVID-19, we want to deliver as much factual information as we have today (Friday, March 13).

Currently, there have been no cases reported in Burnet County, and we wish to keep this a reality as long as possible!

Some facts about COVID-19:

• The virus is spread by droplet transmission (airborne) from people coughing, sneezing, or even talking to one another.

• It appears that about 50% of people who have the virus do not show symptoms.

• For every one person who gets the virus, he/she will give it to an average of four other people under normal circumstances.

• There is a 14 day incubation period, but 95% of patients show symptoms within 6 days.

• The mortality of this virus is between 1-3%

  • Mortality is significantly higher in the elderly

  • The Mortality rate is very low in young children

  • The mortality rate at this point is similar or maybe higher than the flu.

  • That being said, even young people can get extremely ill from this virus; and can transmit it accordingly.

Our goal at this time is to slow the spread or "flatten the curve" as much as possible.

We want to spread out the illness and make the timing of the cases more consistent and predictable.

By slowing it down, we are preserving medical resources, able to develop vaccines, drugs, and learn the best possible ways to protect ourselves.

Currently, there are only so many resources and only so many healthcare workers to try and contain this virus.

By putting restrictions on certain activities and cancelling others, we are doing our part and keeping our community safer. This is why many of the large sporting events were cancelled or postponed.

We understand that these efforts are not going to keep the virus from spreading altogether, however these measures have been proven to slow down the spread and give the healthcare system time to ramp up and gather supplies that are currently unavailable.

So what can you do?

• Wash your hands often or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Stay home if you are sick

• Cover cough and sneezes or use the inside of your elbow

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily

Stay informed through www.cdc.gov or www.hshs.texas.gov.

My hope is to keep you and your families as safe as possible during this pandemic.

God Bless!

Find more coverage of how local entities are responding to the virus scare in the Friday, March 13 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email lew@highlandernews.com. To subscribe to the newspaper, call 830-693-4367 or click here to subscribe to our e-Edition online.