News

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Three new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Burnet County during the past weekend, bringing the number of confirmed positives to 17, the county's health authority said.

Special to The Highlander

Governor Greg Abbott on April 27 announced the first phase of the State of Texas' ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow.

Special to The Highlander

A limited number of Llano County residents will have a chance to be tested for COVID-19 at a mobile testing lab that will be set up in Llano on Tuesday, April 28.

The Texas Department State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and the Texas Military Department (TMD) will be conducting testing between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Llano Junior High parking lot, 400 E. Texas 71, Llano.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Necessity is the mother of invention, and in the age of COVID-19, the need for sanitation and decontamination is at an all-time high.

Concerns about surfaces that may transmit the virus motivated the firefighters with the Horseshoe Bay Fire Department to get creative with their methods for cleaning equipment. Using examples from other fire departments around the country, the first responders turned a standard oxygen tank into a germ-removing spray gun. …

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

The Granite Shoals City Council voted unanimously to extend the city's declaration of emergency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic until at least Sept. 30 with the option of rescinding the order at any time.

Council members debated an appropriate date for the extension at a special called meeting on April 21 held via video teleconference. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Due to improved ability to keep shelves stocked in recent weeks, H-E-B grocery store locations in Burnet, Marble Falls and Kingsland will ease limited store hour restrictions starting Monday, April 27.

“To better serve our customers, H-E-B will expand its temporary hours of operation at stores across Texas,” according to a store statement.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Special to The Highlander

The Texas National Guard will set up a COVID-19 mobile testing site at the Burnet County Fairgrounds, 1301 Houston Clinton Drive, in Burnet at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 25.

Those who have appointments will be screened to see if they have fever and/or chills, cough (dry or productive), fatigue, body aches/muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, sore throat, headaches, nausea/vomiting, nasal congestion and a loss of taste and/or smell.

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The Burnet Whataburger, 402 E. Polk St. (Texas 29) is closed indefinitely due to precautions the business enacted after an employee reported a "presumptive positive" for COVID-19.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

A Burnet fast-food restaurant will remain temporarily closed “out of an abundance of caution” after one of its employees received a presumptive positive diagnosis of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Special to The Highlander

Texas State Parks began re-opening for day-use only April 20 as part of a broader effort to begin re-opening the state of Texas.

Per Governor Abbott’s direction, new restrictions in effect include requiring visitors to wear face coverings and maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five. …