COVID-19 risks expand in Burnet County
Contributed/Judge James Oakley
Burnet County Health Authority Dr. Juliette Madrigal took precautions during the livestreamed March 30 special meeting, conducted by commissioners, which placed restrictions on attendance.
By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor
The COVID-19 virus has entered into “community spread” in Burnet County and “it's a lot worse than our numbers show,” County Health Authority Dr. Juliette Madrigal warned Monday, March 30 during a special called Commissioners Court meeting.
Burnet County officials had announced this past weekend there are now three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 originating in Burnet County and there are several tests still pending confirmation at this time.
A total of 19 people were tested at Baylor Scott & White Marble Falls last week, Madrigal told commissioners, including three on Saturday — of which two came back positive. Madrigal participated in the virtual meeting in which commissioners and a limited number of staff appeared via live feed.
The hospital only can test up to five individuals per day right now until more tests are made available, she said.
“Even though we have only three positives in our county, one of the families that's positive has nine other contacts, either family members or people that they have worked with, that also have the symptoms,” Madrigal said Monday. “We don't have the ability to test all those people, but we know they are positive. …
Find more on this story in the Tuesday, March 31 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email lew@highlandernews.com or call 830-693-4367. Click here to subscribe to our e-Edition online.
