After learning last week that two Abraham Home employees had tested COVID-positive, the Hemphill County Hospital District is reporting this week that a total of five coronavirus tests of staff and residents at the nursing home have now been confirmed positive. Two of those positive cases are residents, and three others are employees—one from Hemphill and two from another county.

Since last week’s report, the overall number of positive cases in Hemphill County has increased by three, and the number of non-county cases by two. Only six of those cases are still considered active.

When the first two positive tests at the Abraham Home were reported last week, Hemphill County Hospital CEO Christy Francis said that the entire nursing home staff and all residents would be tested on Friday. At the time, she said, all residents had been quarantined to their rooms until it could be determined if any spread had occurred.

Francis also said that the district will continue testing all staff and residents weekly until there are no positive cases. She asked that the nursing home staff and residents be kept in the community’s thoughts and prayers.

According to this week’s report, all Hemphill County residents who have tested positive are on home isolation.

Hemphill County Hospital District does have testing available and is testing those individuals who meet the appropriate criteria for testing. Please do not come to the hospital and request to be tested. If you feel you need to be tested for COVID-19, you must first contact your primary care provider.