The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District reported Friday one COVID-19-linked death, 24 new cases and 34 recoveries.
The total number of county deaths connected to the coronavirus is 556.
Of the new 24 cases, nine were confirmed via polymerase chain reaction tests.
Active cases total 716 (214 PCR cases and 502 cases confirmed by antigen tests). A week ago, active cases numbered 709.
Hendrick reported Friday 41 COVID-19 inpatients, with 11 in ICU. On the last report Wednesday, there were 43 COVID-19 inpatients, including 15 in ICU.
The breakdown Friday by facilities was 39 inpatients at the Abilene hospitals (10 in ICU), and two inpatients at the Brownwood hospital (one in ICU).
Of the 41 Hendrick COVID-19 inpatients, 34 were not fully vaccinated.
The percentage of COVID-19 inpatients in the 16-county Abilene trauma service area was 4.63% of total capacity Thursday, compared to 5.06% Wednesday and 5.38% Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 database.
The Abilene trauma service area Friday had 44 COVID-19 inpatients, four fewer than Thursday. The state also reported thr admissions were made in the previous 24 hours.
Coronavirus by the numbers
Abilene/Taylor County (updated Friday): New cases, 24; PCR cases, 9,947; active PCR cases, 214; total antigen probable cases, 14,122; total active antigen cases, 502; total PCR recoveries, 9,532; total antigen recoveries, 13,265; Total deaths, 556.
Texas (updated Friday): Total cases, 3,646,106; New cases, 5,011; Active cases (estimated), 78,384; Hospitalized, 3,064; Fatalities, 73,756; New fatalities, 98; Total tests, 49,245,219; Recovered (estimated), 4,244,586.
Big Country estimated active cases (as tracked by the state): Scurry, 124; Brown, 105; Erath, 86; Jones, 65; Callahan, 58; Eastland, 57; Howard, 40; Shackelford, 37; Coleman, 32; Comanche, 31; Haskell, 26; Stephens, 26; Kent, 20; Mitchell, 20; Runnels, 19; Nolan, 16; Fisher, 11; Coke, 9; Stonewall, 9; Knox, 6; and Throckmorton, 3.
Select West Texas counties estimated active cases: Lubbock, 1,700; Ector (Odessa), 899; Potter (Amarillo), 837; Midland, 773; Randall (Canyon), 678; Tom Green (San Angelo), 272; Wichita (Wichita Falls), 257; Hale (Plainview), 135; and Moore, 71.
Sources: City of Abilene, Texas Department of State Health Services (counts PCR cases only)
SELECT PRISONS (Thursday update)
Daniel (Snyder): Staff cases – active, 0; Inmate cases – active, 1, medical isolation, 1.
Havins (Brownwood): Staff cases – active, 3; Inmate cases – active, 0, medical isolation, 0.
Middleton (Abilene): Staff cases – active, 4; Inmate cases – active, 1, medical isolation, 1.
Robertson (Abilene): Staff cases – active, 8; Inmate cases – active, 1, medical isolation, 1.
Sayle (Breckenridge): Staff cases – active, 1; Inmate cases – active, 0; medical isolation, 0.
Wallace (Colorado City): Staff cases – active, 1; Inmate cases – active, 7, medical isolation, 7.
Source: Texas Department of Criminal Justice COVID-19 website.
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Abilene ISD: Reported Friday one new student case at Bowie Elementary.
Active cases total 34 (25 students, nine staff members), one fewer than Thursday. Since Aug. 3, the district has reported 1,340 cases (1,085 students, 255 staff members).
Wylie ISD: Reported Thursday one new staff case, with 11 active cases, one more than Wednesday.
Active cases by campus (seven students, four staff members): two students and one staff member at Wylie High, two students and one staff member at East Junior High and three students and two staff members at East Elementary.
Abilene Christian University: Reported Thursday zero new cases and zero active cases, the same as Wednesday. Due to possible exposure, two people are in quarantine. Cumulative cases since Aug. 17 total 196.
More: COVID-19: Taylor County adds 42 cases, 35 recoveries Thursday
Laura Gutschke is a general assignment reporter and food columnist and manages online content for the Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.