DR. LOESCH: ‘MASKS NEED TO GO BACK ON AND STAY ON’

  

Amid a reported increase of active COVID-19 cases locally, Washington County’s health authority is urging the public to stay cautious and to mask up.

As of Thursday afternoon, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the county reported 59 active cases, an estimated increase of 19 cases from Wednesday.  The county has reported 744 total positive cases, 635 recoveries, and 50 deaths.

Dr. William Loesch said active case counts have been “steadily increasing for a week or two now,” and that this could be the beginning of a third wave.  He said “now is not the time to stop wearing masks,” and that “masks need to go back on and stay on.”

Last week, the county was approved to opt out of Governor Greg Abbott’s mask mandate, as it had fallen below the threshold of 30 new COVID-19 cases over a 14-day period.  County Judge John Durrenberger said last week that this allows business owners to choose whether to require face coverings.  He said, in other circumstances, it also allows individuals to make a “personal decision” on whether to wear them.

Dr. Loesch said he was not against the mask mandate being waived, but he is concerned about people getting so tired of wearing masks that they “let it get in the way of good judgment.”  He said he does believe in liberty and the need to be as minimally intrusive in people’s lives as possible, but hopes the public will wear face coverings without being forced to.

Dr. Loesch acknowledged that some of the new cases could be the result of delayed case reporting, as there have been several previous instances of recovered cases being reported as active by DSHS.  He reiterated, however, with the recent increase in cases around the area that it is “time to put the masks back on and keep them on.”