Shelby County Today

April 5, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, the data reflected Monday, April 5th there have been 4 new cases added since Saturday, April 3rd. The total of active cases increased by 1 to 89 due to 3 new recoveries added. Of the new cases, 3 were new confirmed cases and 1 was a new probable case.

April 5th (1:15pm) Numbers: (changes since April 3rd)
Total Confirmed Cases - 906 (3 new)
Total Probable Cases - 705 (1 new)
Total Fatalities - 66
Total Estimated Active Cases - 89
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,456 (3 new)

April 4, 2021 - Center Police Officers were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Porter and Church Streets in Center at around 8:30am on April 4, 2021.

Personnel with the Center Fire Department were requested to the scene of the crash where they helped divert traffic around the incident until the vehicles involved were removed.

According to Center Police Officer Jordan Ford, a white 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport driven by Amanda Marie Bush, 41, of Center was traveling from Tenaha Street in the direction of Logansport Street.

At that time a tan 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Willie Ernest Johnson, 74, of Center was traveling in the opposite direction of Bush from Logansport Street. Johnson attempted to make a left turn onto Church Street and stated he didn't see the Range Rover as he made the turn.

The truck collided with the front of the Range Rover, causing damage to both vehicles. The truck continued into Church street where it collided with a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek driven by Robin Casey Nelson, 29, of Lufkin that was stopped at the stop sign on Church Street. The Subaru received minor damage.

No injuries were reported as a result of the crash incident and all involved refused treatment. Citations weren't issued at the time of the crash.

April 3, 2021 - The 17th week of vaccine distribution started April 5, 2021 and Shelby County has one provider on the list. Aurora Concepts is allocated to receive 200 Johnson and Johnson vaccine doses. Aurora Concepts can be contacted at 936-598-3296 to schedule a vaccine.

Shelby County, a part of Public Health Region 4/5N, reports over the past week an additional 402 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose for a total of 3,914. Of the estimated population, 20.12% of Shelby County has received at least one dose.

Also, over the past week an additional 415 people have been fully vaccinated for a total of 2,658 for the county. Of the estimated population, 13.67% of Shelby County has been fully vaccinated.

The county has an estimated population of 19,449 of people 16 years of age and older.

The total number of vaccines which have been administered in Shelby County is 6,260.

Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccination Graph

Texas to receive record 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for next week  
State today reports record 360,000 new doses administered

More than 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped to providers across Texas next week. The Texas Department of State Health Services is allocating 1,094,920 first doses to 2,011 providers in 200 counties, the largest number of doses and providers to date. DSHS is ordering 626,290 second doses for people vaccinated a few weeks ago. An estimated 900,000 additional first and second doses are expected to be available to pharmacy locations, federally-qualified health centers and dialysis centers as allocated directly by the federal government.

Texas has now administered more than 11.8 million doses, an increase of 1.8 million in the last week, and 360,000 more than was reported yesterday. Nearly 7.8 million people have received at least one dose, and more than 4.3 million are now fully vaccinated. Among Texas seniors, more than two-thirds have received at least one dose, and nearly half are now fully vaccinated. More than one-third of all Texans at least 16 years old have gotten a shot and nearly one in five are fully vaccinated.

As of this week, all Texans ages 16 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine. DSHS also launched the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler at getthevaccine.dshs.texas.gov, which allows people to register for a vaccine appointment from a participating public health entity such as DSHS and some local health departments. Already, more than 125,000 people have registered.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today updated its travel guidance for people who are fully vaccinated, saying that they can safely travel within the United States and no longer need to get tested or quarantine before or after travel, unless their destination requires it. People who are not yet vaccinated should continue to stay home and quarantine for seven days after travel and get tested three to five days after returning.

Vaccination has helped drive down the number of new cases and people hospitalized with COVID-19 to their lowest level since June. However, with hundreds of variant cases identified in Texas that have the potential to spread more quickly and cause more serious disease, vaccination remains critically important. The available vaccines have proven effective against the variant strains, so the more people vaccinated, the easier it will be to keep the variants under control and prevent new ones from emerging.

People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.

Helpful links:

• Weekly vaccine allocations, including the full list for the week of April 5
• Vaccination hub providers with contact information
• DSHS/TDEM map of vaccine providers
• Texas Vaccine Data
• Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Wasted Report

April 1, 2021 - Center Police Department officers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers gathered before the Center Police Department in honor of DPS Trooper Chad Walker on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

This was in response to the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott for Texas law enforcement officers to turn on their red and blue flashing lights for one minute at 1pm.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Trooper Walker stopped to assist a driver near Mexia on March 26 when he was shot multiple times. He was transported to Baylor Scott and White – Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, where he later died from his injuries. 

In his final lifesaving act, Trooper Walker’s organs were donated to save others.