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Texas Department of Emergency Management's list of mask-exempt counties as of Wednesday, Nov. 25.
November 25, 2020
Last week's positive CoViD case spike avoids triggering mask exemption countdown
Upcoming holiday events still scheduled as planned
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi Goode
The Bandera Prophet
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Texas Department State of State Health Services, Region 8 reported 20 active CoViD cases for Bandera County.
On Friday, the active cases totaled 32, but avoided triggering a 14-day countdown to maintain the county’s mask exemption. As of this morning, Bandera County shows exempt on the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s website.
Emergency Management Coordinator Carey Reed said she contacted the state for clarification of the governor’s Executive Order GA-29, but added she didn't expect the county to lose its exempt status because there were several cases ready to drop off as active when that total spiked.
According to EO GA-29, if a county exceeds 30 new CoViD-19 cases during a 14-day period, the county judge will be notified via email by TDEM, the county name will be removed from the state website, and the county will be required to comply with all aspects of GA-29. After a 14-day waiting period, if the county has fewer than 30 new CoViD-19 cases during the previous 14-day period, the county judge will be eligible to reapply for exemption.
At Bandera ISD, the latest number of confirmed cases sat at six district-wide, which breaks down to two at Hill Country Elementary School, two at Bandera Middle School, one at Bandera High School and one district-level. All school campuses are closed this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.
According to the Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau, local events including Shopper's Jubilee, the Christmas Parade and other holiday plans are still scheduled as planned.
On Friday, the active cases totaled 32, but avoided triggering a 14-day countdown to maintain the county’s mask exemption. As of this morning, Bandera County shows exempt on the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s website.
Emergency Management Coordinator Carey Reed said she contacted the state for clarification of the governor’s Executive Order GA-29, but added she didn't expect the county to lose its exempt status because there were several cases ready to drop off as active when that total spiked.
According to EO GA-29, if a county exceeds 30 new CoViD-19 cases during a 14-day period, the county judge will be notified via email by TDEM, the county name will be removed from the state website, and the county will be required to comply with all aspects of GA-29. After a 14-day waiting period, if the county has fewer than 30 new CoViD-19 cases during the previous 14-day period, the county judge will be eligible to reapply for exemption.
At Bandera ISD, the latest number of confirmed cases sat at six district-wide, which breaks down to two at Hill Country Elementary School, two at Bandera Middle School, one at Bandera High School and one district-level. All school campuses are closed this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.
According to the Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau, local events including Shopper's Jubilee, the Christmas Parade and other holiday plans are still scheduled as planned.
