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State asks several Central Texas counties to rollback occupancy rate due to high hospitalizations

Posted at 1:03 PM, Sep 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-29 19:26:43-04

In a letter from John Hellerstedt, MD, Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services, he announced Bosque, Falls, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties have exceeded 15% of all hospitalized patients deeming it an area with high hospitalizations.

The announcement means all restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and libraries must return to a maximum of 50% occupancy levels.

For the past seven days, the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients in Trauma Service Area TSA-M has exceeded 15 percent of all hospitalized patients, making it an area with high hospitalizations as defined above.

Additionally, all licensed hospitals in the Trauma Service Area are required to discontinue elective surgeries as set forth in Executive Order GA-31.

The Health and Human Services Commission is separately providing notice directly to affected hospitals notifying them of the requirement to discontinue elective surgeries located in Trauma Service Area TSA-M.

If you have questions about this notice please contact coronavirus@dshs.texas.gov and enter “Executive Order 30” in the subject line for proper routing.

If you have questions specifically related to the hospitals’ obligations under GA-31, please contact the Health and Human Services Commission at infohflc@hhs.texas.gov.