A dose of good news regarding COVID-19 was delivered

 A dose of good news regarding COVID-19 was delivered by Coryell County Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Harrell to Coryell County leaders during a commissioners court meeting Nov. 9.

"The good news is that we are going down on the infection rate right now,," Harrell said. "There are 50 in the hospital and 12 in (the intensive care unit). Those are good numbers compared to what we've had the last six or eight months."

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Coryell County has had 10,779 cases of COVID-19 reported (with a county population of 78,371) and 163 deaths.

Harrell said recent information released by the Texas Department of State Health Services indicates those who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 are 45 times more likely to test positive for coronavirus. He said the DSHS also indicated those who were not vaccinated were 40 times more likely to die from the disease.

Locally, 43.86 percent of people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 38.39 percent are fully vaccinated.

"At over 81 percent, that's excellent," he said.

Medical professionals have "new tools in the toolbox" to treat COVID-19, with new treatments such as an oral dose likely to come online soon, Harrell said.

At some point, an "endemic equilibrium" will be reached, he said, which means the disease will be considered a commonplace and recurring issue, like the flu.

"That means we're going to have to live with it," Harrell said. "It will be like the flu where you'll have to get an annual vaccine. There will be a combination of natural immunity and vaccinations."