Mayor Gunter Recommended Early COVID Testing

 

 Mayor Brenda Gunter encouraged citizens with mild COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.  She made her recommendation during public comment at this morning's City Council meeting.  Area health care providers have Regeneron's antibody drug in stock and it is expressly for patients in the early phase of COVID-19.

One had to watch the Council meeting or view the video to learn this information.  A search for Regeneron on the City's COVID-19 webpage produced no matches.

Facebook users learned several days ago that hair and nail salons produced a higher number of positive cases recently.  This is the first information shared from contact tracing since a warning to people who'd visited the Walmart on Sherwood Way at a specific time/date.  That was early in the pandemic.  Council is yet to hear a presentation on how the public health emergency plan is going and what resources/changes are needed to keep citizens safe.

Bad Month for COVID-19

 

COVID-19 cases nearly doubled in just over a month.  Hospitalizations rose 60% while deaths soared 88%. 

The crisis is here which is why the Rodeo was postponed until April.

 While nearly everyone wore a mask local leaders sat elbow to elbow.

PGAP Application Withdrawn

 

The Concho Valley will not have a new natural gas pipeline from Tellurian anytime soon.  Yahoo Finance reported:

Tellurian Inc. discarded its plan of developing the Permian Global Access Pipeline (“PGAP”) worth $4.2 billion in Texas and Louisiana, following the departure of CEO Meg Gentle from the company.

Tellurian stated that it revoked its application from U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC”) review. 

The company previously dropped the project from its capital budget, as shown in an investor presentation   Tellurian CEO Meg Gentle left the company with a robust exit package.

Update 6-9-21:  Morgan Stanley said the pipeline could be back on the table.  "The project features plans to build a $4.2 billion pipeline to bring supply from the Permian Basin.  While those plans have hit snags in recent months, Morgan Stanley analysts expect a final decision on the project within a year."

Update 3-10-23:  Tellurian's Chief Financial Officer resigned effective today according to an SEC filing.  The company's Chief Accounting Officer will assume the CFO duties.  That gentleman is a CPA but that means less and less in today's world of ethical lapses and distorted numbers.

Update 2-25-26:  Tellurian sold out to Woodside Energy, which is developing the LNG export site in SW Louisiana but is yet to resurrect the PGAP pipeline.  The LNG trains are part of the Trump administrations trillions in new U.S. investment, even though the project broke ground in March 2022.

Coronavirus Emergency Deepens

 

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter stressed the serious outbreak of COVID-19 in West Texas and the impact on Shannon Medical Center.  Tom Green County Judge Steve Floyd could not attend the meeting as he'd been exposed to someone who tested positive.

Had 61 people been murdered in the Concho Valley in November citizens would be in an uproar. That's how many people died of COVID-19 last month.  

Deaths continue at a rapid pace for December, eight patients in three days.   It's long past time for everyone to do their part.  Yet, that's the message local leaders continue to give.  Lives depend on citizens wearing masks, social distancing and frequently washing hands until a vaccine can be administered in sufficient numbers to protect our population.  

Update 12-4-20:  The City reported five more COVID-19 deaths today.

Update 12-7-20:  One week into the month and our community has had 20 COVID-19 deaths.  This is the emergency folks.  

Update 12-9-20:  The Rodeo has been postponed until April, however the Livestock Show will remain as scheduled in February.  Local leaders were present for announcement, roughly elbow to elbow.

City Reports Eight COVID-19 Deaths

 

The City of San Angelo reported eight COVID-19 deaths today, exceeding the seven announced on August 7, 2020.

Deaths from COVID-19 soared in November, rising by 58 with one day left in the month.  Our community is in the midst of a serious public health crisis.  Protecting self and fellow citizens is priority #1 until vaccines can be delivered and administered to achieve herd immunity.

City Council should shed some like on our public health emergency preparedness activities and get as much information out as possible on patterns in transmission.  Public health officials have not gone before Council in quite some time.  

Leadership is required in times of crisis.  Mayor Gunther and Dr. Vretis have been front and center but those with official roles have not informed Council of the status of our growing emergency and plans to stem the rising tide of deaths.

Update 11-30-20:  The City reported three more deaths from COVID-19 bringing the total to 61 for the month of November and 151 since the pandemic began.

Over Forty COVID Deaths Since November 10th

 

On 11-10-20 the City of San Angelo reported 99 COVID-19 deaths.  Eighteen days later the total is 140.  

Over 100 patients are in Shannon Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment.  Shannon reported 102 COVID patients for each of the last three days.

San Angelo and Tom Green County are in the midst of a public health crisis.  Citizen behavior will determine our course until a vaccine becomes widely available.  Neighbors care for one another.  It's time for everyone to step up and take actions to minimize the spread of this pandemic. 

Update 11-29-20:  The City reported eight new COVID-19 deaths today bringing the total to 148.  This exceeds the seven deaths reported o August 7, 2020.

Tom Green County Office Closed due to COVID-19

 

The Tom Green County Clerk's office is closed until November 23, 2020 after half the staff in the office that produces records for the public tested positive for the coronavirus.

Tom Green County Commisssioner's Court took no action on a plan to use off duty police officers to request citizen compliance with mask and social distancing commitments made by local employers.

County Judge Steve Floyd said in last week's press conference, "My opinion of these (holding up a mask) is not real high."  He did say mask use is needed to turn the bad tide.  The Judge asked people who don't want to wear masks to stay away from places that require them.

Locally 86 people are in the hospital for COVID-19, exceeding the number shared last Friday that shifts coronavirus management over to the Texas Governor and Local Health Authority Dr. James Vretis.  

Signs of coronavirus spread are in county offices.  Action is needed.  Wear a mask, social distance and take Vitamin D.  For most citizens a vaccine is months away.  We need to get everyone to the point when effective vaccines are available.  That's what a community does.

Update 11-18-20:  City of San Angelo indicated Shannon Medical Center has 88 inpatients with COVID-19.   The County website has no information on the Clerk's office being closed.  No word yet on Judge Floyd losing his local discretion. 

 

Update 11-22-20:  Judge Floyd informed the public that the County Clerk's office reopened on Friday.  Floyd did that in a press conference hosted by the City.

Update 11-25-20:  Shortly after reopening the District Clerk's office Elizabeth McGill submitted her resignation.