Galveston County Health District (GCHD) today announces 83 residents and employees at The Resort at Texas City have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes the 13 positive cases reported Thursday by the health district.
GCHD, in partnership with UTMB, on Thursday tested 146 residents and employees for COVID-19 at The Resort at Texas City after 13 residents and employees had previously tested positive for the virus.
Some results are still pending.
Galveston County Local Health Authority Dr. Philip Keiser is in the process of issuing a Public Health Order enforcing restrictions on Galveston County long-term care facilities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order requires all long-term care facilities to follow guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Long-term care facilities that have positive COVID-19 residents are required to notify family members and at the very least, put a sign on the front door letting the public know there is a COVID-19 positive resident within the facility.
Long-term care facilities will not be allowed to take residents outside the facility with the exception of emergency transfer to a hospital or if a resident needs dialysis.If a long-term care facility has a COVID-19 positive resident, workers at that facility will be prohibited from working at other long-term care facilities.
The health district became aware of the first positive case at The Resort at Texas City on Saturday, March 28. Over the weekend and early this week, an increase in positive COVID-19 cases was reported. The health district felt it prudent to test all residents and employees for the virus.
The Galveston County Health District news conference on this matter is below.