News

What does it mean to quarantine? Local public health authorities determine and establish the quarantine options for their jurisdictions. Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

Local medical providers are urging patients 55 years and older who experience any symptoms of COVID-19 not to delay getting tested. Those who have any high-risk medical conditions—including high blood pressure, heart or lung disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, or an immunosuppressive disease—and who test positive for COVID-19, may meet the criteria to receive a medication which may reduce the severity of the illness in patients.

“WHAT A YEAR this has been,” Doug Benge said, echoing what many of us have felt in 2020. But Doug isn’t just glad 2020 is over.

OKLAHOMA CITY—It was 40 years ago today that 21-year-old newlywed Tracey Neilson was savagely murdered in her Moore, Oklahoma, apartment. Jan. 5, 1981 was Tracey’s birthday, and the OU student spent the morning running errands around Moore. Eyewitnesses put her home just before noon. Despite several friends and family calling to wish Tracey happy birthday, no one heard from her after noon.

Dr. William C. Isaacs was at the front of the line to receive the first COVID-19 vaccine administered at the Canadian Physicians Clinic on Thursday morning, Dec. 24. He was followed by nine other local healthcare workers, each of whom received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine manufactured by Moderna.

Canadian City Council members closed out 2020 with a review of the city’s guiding document, the comprehensive plan adopted in 2016. The plan is intended to define the city’s vision for its future growth and development and to establish goals—both long-range ones and incremental ones that guide daily decision-making—to measure its progress.

Seventy-nine residents of Hemphill County tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 15 days, bringing the number of active cases to 78 on Jan. 6. In that same time frame, the Hemphill County Hospital laboratory also confirmed 47 new cases in out-ofcounty residents.

On December 24, 2020, Hemphill County Hospital District (HCHD) began immediately administering our limited supply of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines, following the CDC Guidelines for Vaccine Distribution.

The number of new COVID-positive tests performed by the Hemphill County Hospital lab department has continued to accumulate over the last seven days. The hospital lab confirmed 19 additional positive in-county cases during that period, and an additional 22 cases in out-of-county residents.

Late last week, Hemphill County reported 40 active cases. By midweek, that number had peaked at 57 cases before dropping to 36, as the status of patients was updated from ‘active’ to ‘recovered.’