The Centers for Disease Control lowered both Texarkana counties’ COVID-19 risk levels from medium to low this week.
Both Bowie and Miller counties have infection rates that satisfy the minimum precaution criteria set forward by the CDC. The organization recommends staying up to date with vaccinations and for those experiencing symptoms to get tested. This marks an improvement for the area from last week’s CDC reccomendations.
“Fortunately, we are seeing less and less cases of COVID, and so for the public and health care workers, we’re all very fortunate to see that,” said Dr. Matt Young, chief medical officer at Texarkana Emergency Center and Bowie County Health Authority. “However, we are seeing a large influx of patients come into the emergency departments, urgent cares and clinics that are testing positive for influenza, or what’s commonly known as the flu. And we still see a sporadic case of Covid. It’s not completely gone.”
Young said it’s still important for residents to get tested should they show symptoms associated with COVID-19 or the flu.
“They’re very, very similar in the fact that fever, chills, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, nausea are pretty much the same for COVID and influenza, so what we would recommend because, the treatment is different, and of course the outcome can be different that you go see your trusted provider, get tested within usually 24 to 48 hours of having the symptoms,” he said.
Although decreasing case counts are a positive sign in Texarkana’s battle against the pandemic, Young said it is still important for citizens to keep their guard up.
“I do think we’re going to have to remain vigilant,” he said. We’re so concerned about new variants that we’re almost in a sense gun-shy to say ‘We’re over it.’ So especially with some cases still lingering around while the flu is going on, we just want everybody to stay vigilant. And let us keep monitoring it. And then we can maybe give some kind of relief, or sigh of relief when we do feel like we’re over it, but right now we still have to be vigilant as a community and as caregivers.”
Stressing optimistic caution, Young said he does think the CDC’s recommendations for the area in terms of masking and precautions are reasonable.
“We are in a low-risk environment now,” he said. “The components that still help us with decreasing COVID also help to decrease influenza, so good, strict, hand washing and excusing yourself from social duties and work if you’re ill. We would never fault anyone if they did want to wear masks for their own safety and their own protection. It is their choice, and that’s what we’re about now. It’s up to us as a low-risk environment, to let people choose if they want it (to wear masks).”
