Author: Ken Smith

Brazos County Vaccine Hub to receive 5,000 doses in first week

In its first full week of operation, the Brazos County COVID-19 vaccination hub at the Brazos Center is set to distribute 5,000 doses of vaccine to local residents.

Vial of Moderna vaccineIn its first full week of operation, the Brazos County COVID-19 vaccination hub at the Brazos Center is set to distribute 5,000 doses of vaccine to local residents.

Starting Monday, February 1, residents who registered via the vaccine portal and received a scheduled appointment will begin getting their vaccines. By State of Texas designation, these are only people who fall within the 1A or 1B category.

The vaccination hub is by appointment only. Walk-ins will be turned away. Those who qualify under the 1A or 1B designation can go to BrazosHealth.org to get put on the waiting list. Once on the list, they will then be contacted via email to set an appointment.

Brazos County Vaccine Task Force Chief Jim Stewart is reminding everyone to please be patient and understand there will be a wait. With approximately 65,000 people qualifying in the 1B category, and about 5,000 doses of vaccine per week, this will be a slow process. But, the process is underway and progress is being made.

Mobile Test Collection Sites

The Brazos County Emergency Operations Center and the Texas Department of Emergency Management are partnering to bring additional testing to Brazos County.   Efforts will continue to bring additional testing to our community.

FREE COVID-19 testing will be available at the following locations.

Brazos County:

ST. TERESA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH (307 Hall Street, Bryan-KIOSK IN PARISH HALL PARKING LOT): Appointments only.

https://curative.com/search#11.63/30.6305/-96.3309

Open Monday-Friday (8 am-5 pm)

BRIAN BACHMANN COMMUNITY PARK (1600 Rock Prairie Road, College Station) Drive-Thru only.  Appointments not available. 

February 2, 3, & 4 (11 am-7 pm)

February 9, 10, & 11 (11 am-7 pm)

 

What you need to know to get tested:

  • ·Testing is available for anyone above age 5 (or any child that can cough on command).
  • You do not have to be symptomatic to get tested.
  • All test sites offer drive-thru testing.
  • You do not have to be a resident of Brazos County to get tested.
  • Please bring a picture ID, driver’s license, or other form of identification.
  • The test is an oral swab.  Please do not eat, drink, or smoke 20 minutes prior to being tested.
  • The results take about 2-3 days to get back.
  • Results are securely sent via text message or email.
  • If there is inclement weather, the testing site will close

For more information about COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, visit texas.gov/covid19.  More information can be found at the Brazos County Emergency Operations Center website:  https://brazosceoc.org

 

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Volunteers Needed to Help with Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

The Brazos County Vaccine Taskforce is gearing up to manage a community COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Brazos Center.  To do this successfully, volunteers are needed to help coordinate the effort.  The American Red Cross is taking the lead in recruiting and managing volunteers for the hub.

An estimated 30 volunteers will be needed each day, starting January 25, between the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.  Volunteers will help with traffic flow, registration, vaccinations, monitoring, among other needs.

High-priority needs include:

            1. Spanish speakers

            2. Data-entry/Registration (computer competent)

            3. Vaccine administers (medical license or experience required)

Volunteers may sign up at:  https://timecounts.org/bv-vaccinehub/forms/51501

Registered volunteers will receive information about available positions and how to schedule shifts via the Timecounts.org system.

Once up and running, the vaccination clinic will be by appointment only.  Information on how to register for an appointment will be forthcoming.  For now, all COVID-19 vaccine information can be found at the Brazos County Health District website, www.BrazosHealth.org.

COVID-19 Mobile Test Collection Sites Scheduled for Brazos County in coming weeks

As part of the ongoing efforts across the state of Texas to provide COVID-19 testing, DAVACO and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are partnering to provide mobile COVID-19 testing sites in Brazos County.

FREE COVID-19 testing will be available at the Brazos Center (3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan) on the following days:

  • Oct. 27 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
  • Oct. 28 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m)
  • Oct. 29 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m)
  • Nov. 9 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m)
  • Nov. 10 (8 a.m. -4 p.m.)
  • Nov. 11 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m)

Advance registration

The registration site will only allow a person to register 24 hours prior to a site’s official opening time.

What you need to know to get tested

  • Testing is available for anyone above age 5.
  • You do not have to be symptomatic to get tested.
  • No appointment needed.
  • All test sites offer drive-thru testing.
  • You do not have to be a resident of Brazos County to get tested.
  • Please bring a picture ID, driver’s license, or other form of identification.
  • The test is an oral swab. Please do not eat, drink, or smoke 20 minutes prior to being tested.
  • The results take about 2-3 days to get back.
  • Results are securely sent via text message or email.
  • If there is inclement weather, the testing site will close

For more information about COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, visit texas.gov/covid19.

New COVID-19 Dashboard

In collaboration with the City of Bryan Geographic Information System (GIS) team, the Texas A&M University Office of Safety & Security, and the Brazos County GIS Coordinator, the Brazos County Health District has launched a new COVID-19 dashboard. This is an effort to be as transparent as possible so that the community has access to timely, accurate, and dependable information regarding COVID-19 in Brazos County.

The user friendly dashboard is updated daily and displays information about confirmed and probable cases, testing information, cases by zip code, and case and death demographics.

“The health district is extremely appreciative of the collaborative effort to launch this new dashboard,” said Brazos County Health District Director, Santos Navarrette, Jr. “The dashboard allows our community to stay informed through up-to-date COVID-19 information.”

The dashboard is displayed on the Brazos County Health District’s website at www.brazoshealth.org/covid19-dashboard.

Updated Sites and Dates: COVID-19 Mobile Test Collection Sites Scheduled for Brazos County

As part of the ongoing efforts across the state of Texas to provide COVID-19 testing, DAVACO and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are partnering to provide mobile COVID-19 testing sites in Brazos County.

Free COVID-19 testing will be available at the following locations. You do not need an appointment, but you can register 24 hours prior to the testing date to streamline the process.

City of College Station

Lincoln Recreation Center – City of College Station
1000 Eleanor
College Station, Texas 77840
Sept. 19 and 20  (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

Brazos Fellowship
226 Southwest Parkway East
College Station, Texas 77840
Sept. 28-Oct. 1  (8 a.m to 4 p.m.)

City of Bryan

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church
1505 Dansby Street
Bryan, Texas 77803
Sept. 21-25 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.) **CANCELED SEPT. 21 DUE TO WEATHER**

Henderson Park – City of Bryan
1629 Mockingbird Rd.
Bryan, Texas 77803
Sept. 26-27 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Santa Teresa Catholic Church
307 Hall Street
Bryan, Texas 77803
Oct. 6-10 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

What you need to know to get tested

  • Testing is available for anyone above age 5.
  • You do not have to be symptomatic to get tested.
  • No appointments needed. All test sites offer drive-thru testing.
  • You do not have to be a resident of Brazos County to get tested.
  • Please bring a picture ID, driver’s license, or other form of identification.
  • For more information about COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, visit texas.gov/covid19.

Other helpful information

  • The test is an oral swab.  Please do not eat, drink or smoke 20 minutes prior to being tested.
  • The results take about two-to-three days to get back.
  • Results are securely sent via text message or email.
  • If there is inclement weather, the testing site will close.

For more information, please contact:
Sara Mendez
979-361-5730

Laura Expected to Be Category 4 Hurricane Before Making Landfall Along TX-LA Border

Hurricane Laura is rapidly strengthening and is expected to be an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane before making landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border on Wednesday night.

The threats to areas around Sabine Pass and the Texas-Louisiana border region are significant from this storm.

See the 10 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center

At this time, Brazos County does not appear to be in significant danger from the effects of the storm. Forecasts show we may get some thunderstorms, perhaps 1 inch of rainfall and some gusty winds, but the main threats are to the east of us.

Still, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the latest weather reports and be aware as this powerful storm hits the gulf coast.

Hurricane Laura Pushes Toward Upper Texas Coast; Shelters Opened in San Antonio, Austin, DFW

local storm warnings

Hurricane Laura continued its march toward the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts on Tuesday amid predictions that the storm will intensify to a Category 3 hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

As of 4:30 p.m., Brazos County had not been included in official hurricane or tropical storm warnings, but that doesn’t mean we’re necessarily in the clear. Storms like this can change direction quickly, and the storm itself is moving at a rapid pace. That means stronger winds will be felt further inland than with typical tropical systems.

The latest prediction is for Laura to make landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border, but a slight shift to the west could put us right in its path. Now is the time to stay vigilant and monitor local weather updates and alerts about this potentially major hurricane.

hurricane laura path

Shelters Opened in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas area

Shelters have been opened in three major metropolitan areas to take in evacuees fleeing Hurricane Laura. There are no general public shelters open in Brazos County at this time.

Here’s a list of Evacuee Reception Centers:

San Antonio
254 Gembler Road
San Antonio, TX 78219
(Open at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25)

Austin
Circuit of the Americas
9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard
Austin, TX 78617
(Open at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25)

Dallas / Fort-Worth
Mesquite Reception Center
15515 E. IH-20
Mesquite, TX 75181
(Opened at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25)

Ellis County / North Texas
Knights of Columbus Hall
850 S IH-45
Ennis, TX 75119
(Open at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25)

Mobile Test Collection Site in Brazos County Aug. 10-12

As part of the ongoing efforts across the state of Texas to provide COVID-19 testing, DAVACO, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force, and the Texas Department of State Health Services are partnering to provide a mobile COVID-19 testing site in Brazos County.

FREE COVID-19 testing will be available on August 10, 11, & 12, 2020 at the Brazos County Expo Complex (5827 Leonard Road, Bryan).

What you need to know to get tested:

  • Testing is available for anyone above age 5.
  • You do not have to be symptomatic to get tested.
  • Testing is by appointment only.
  • To make an appointment, visit txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400. Registration opens 24 hours prior to the testing date.
  • Appointments are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on each day.
  • Please show up for your scheduled appointment time.
  • You do not have to be a resident of Brazos County to get tested.

For more information about COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, visit texas.gov/covid19