LIMESTONE COUNTY, Texas — Several news outlets received a leaked document from Mexia State Supported Living Center Monday that said an employee tested positive for COVID-19. When 6 News followed up the next day, the facility refused to confirm any information. We then went to the county for answers.
It was discovered that Limestone County was severely limited in available information. The County Emergency Management released case information on Facebook with few details.
"Right now, if a hospital has a positive case, they will notify the state," Limestone County Judge Richard Duncan said. "It's taken some time, five or seven days, to get results back on a test that's already been done."
Furthermore, Duncan explained the state report only gives them age and gender for the case victim. There is typically no information on where the person is quarantined and that can be a problem.
"Police officers, the city rescue EMS here in Mexia and then Limestone Medical Center in Groesbeck are basically going out blind not knowing where our positive cases are," Duncan said.
Counties typically get the needed information from a local health district or health authority office that serves the county. Limestone County does not have one, so hospitals deal directly with the state and the county can get left out of the loop. Duncan said that's about to change.
"Thursday I'm going to appoint Dr. Jenson here in Mexia as our local health authority. When our hospitals, whether it be Limestone Medical Center or Park View Regional, get a positive test they will be able to notify not only the state but our local health authority," Duncan said.
With a health authority position in place, the county will be able to know where cases are in quarantine and will be able to better inform the police, EMS, and sheriff's deputies as a result.
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