Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the state now has 24 counties participating in the Save Our Seniors COVID-19 vaccine program.
The program â which includes Milam County â provides drive-through clinics or goes directly to home bound seniors around the state. So far the state has vaccinated more than 62,000 people through the program.
The program is a combined effort between the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Military Department.
âSince the launch of the Save Our Seniors initiative, our partners at TDEM and TMD have worked diligently to vaccinate seniors across our state, and I thank them for their exceptional leadership and hard work on behalf of Texans,â Abbott said in a statement. âVaccines are the most effective tool in our arsenal against COVID-19, and we will continue to invest in this program to ensure that every Texan who wants a vaccine receives one.â
The incidence rate of COVID-19 cases in the county remained mostly level Monday despite one new death, according to the Bell County Public Health District.
Dr. Amanda Robison-Chadwell, director of the district, said the incidence rate only went up slightly to 84.6 cases per 100,000 people. The previous rate â last recorded on Thursday â was 81 cases per 100,000 people.
âWe added one additional death for a new total of 422,â Robison-Chadwell said. âThe new death was for a man in his 50s in Killeen.â
The county currently has 307 active cases of the virus for a total of 21,952 cases and 21,223 recoveries.
For more information, visit tdtnew.com/coronavirus.
Demolition of the old to usher in the new will soon start in central Temple as the city approved various demolition and road projects Thursday.
Making way for a new gateway to the city was the goal of a contract authorizing the demolition of three commercial properties off North General Bruce Drive approved by the Temple City Council this week. The Council also unanimously approved seven other resolutions for a demolition and purchases of right of way during the meeting.
The demolition â part of the Interstate 35 and Temple High School Gateway Area project â will provide room for the widening of Jack White Street.
School districts in Bell County are making plans for in-person graduation ceremonies â festivities that largely span the Bell County Expo Center, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and other venues.
Temple Independent School District spokesman Christian Hernandez told the Telegram that Temple High seniors will don their cap and gowns on May 12 at the Bell County Expo Center, 301 W. Loop 121 in Belton.
The in-person graduation is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
âEach graduate will receive six tickets to distribute to friends or family, and all are required to wear masks,â Hernandez said.
Killeen ISD
Killeen ISD has five senior bodies graduating in late May: Early College High, 2 p.m. on May 27; Killeen High, 6 p.m. on May 27; C.E. Ellison High, 9 a.m. on May 28; Harker Heights High, 2 p.m. on May 28; and Robert M. Shoemaker High, 9 a.m. on May 29.
Bell County announced Thursday that it would not be updating its COVID-19 dashboard on Fridays moving forward.
Temple Independent School District showed only one case on its seven-day dashboard, at Lamar Middle School.
Belton ISD remained the same, reporting 10 active cases in the district. There was one case at Belton Early Childhood School, one at Chisholm Trail Elementary, one at Miller Heights Elementary, two at Belton Middle School, three at South Belton Middle School, one at Belton High School and one at Lake Belton Middle School.
Killeen ISD continued to see an increase in cases Friday according to its seven day dashboard. The district now has 41 cases at its campuses, with 27 students and 14 staff members having the virus. The district listed 30 cases on Thursday.