NETHealth Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Effctive today, Dr. Paul McGaha begins serving as the Smith County Health Authority, with nomination from the Northeast Texas Public Health District Board of Directors and approval by the Smith County Commissioners Court.

Health Authorities are physicians who are appointed to administer state and local laws relating to public health, and their duties include (but are not limited to) establishing, maintaining, and enforcing jurisdictional quarantine orders; aiding local health boards or departments in quarantine inspections; disease prevention and suppression efforts; and reporting the presence of contagious or infectious diseases to local and state authorities.

Dr. McGaha replaces Dr. Jeffrey Levin, who retired after serving as the Smith County Health Authority for six years.

Over half of Texas counties report cases.
update:
🔹4,097 cases reported
🔹60 fatalities
🔹135 of 254 counties report cases
🔹47,857 people tested
(*More info below)

and save lives, possibly your own or your loved ones.

*Texas COVID-19 numbers above include newly announced Dallas County numbers. DSHS COVID-19 case count map will reflect these updated Dallas County numbers in its next daily update. dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus

The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) provides Disease Surveillance for the East Texas counties of Wood, Rains, Van Zandt, Henderson, Anderson, Smith, and Gregg. Our Disease Surveillance Division is notified of confirmed cases of all types of reportable communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, Legionnaire's Disease, Botulism, Zika, and Ebola. If an individual is confirmed to have acquired a communicable disease, then it is listed to the county of the person's physical residence.

For the current COVID-19 pandemic, if a person receives medical service in a different county, the report of a confirmed case is listed to the county of that person's home residence.

The most recent example is the individual whose mailing address is in Henderson County, but their home residence is in Van Zandt County, which is why the NET Health Disease Surveillance Division listed Van Zandt County as having one (1) confirmed COVID-19 case.

There is evidence COVID-19 community spread all across East Texas and NET Health urges everyone to follow ALL Public Health recommendations to protect yourselves from contracting COVID-19, whether you live in Wood County, Anderson County, Rains County, or within any county that currently does not have a confirmed COVID-19 case.

"This is now a team sport," says George Roberts, NET Health CEO. "It is critical for everyone to play their part and to help us "flatten the curve" of COVID-19 having a devastating impact in East Texas. Limit your travel for only essential trips (going to-and-from work, buying groceries, refilling prescriptions, etc.) as much as you possibly can, stay home as much as possible, wash your hands frequently, disinfect commonly used surfaces, and maintain a distance of at least six (6) feet from anyone not in your household."

Not to intentionally stereotype, but to protect yourself and your families, everyone in East Texas should have the mindset that anyone in your city could actually have COVID-19. Anyone.

To view the current listing of confirmed COVID-19 cases in East Texas and to remain updated on available resources related to COVID-19 in East Texas, please visit https://www.mynethealth.org/coronavirus/ & follow NET Health on our social media accounts by using the handle "".

Wood County Courthouse Wood County, Texas Wood County Monitor Winnsboro Wellness Coalition Winnsboro, Texas City of Winnsboro, Texas Mineola Texas City of Mineola Fire Marshal / Emergency Management City of winnsboro Fire Department City of Quitman, Texas Hawkins City Park WIC Quitman Quitman Fire Department

Reading this post, viewing this photo, and sharing these educational messages with your family and friends are excellent ways to remain socially connected with your world.

Your mental health can be strengthened by maintaining social connectivity, so cherish these opportunities to have long talks with loved one or to contact a friend you have not seen in years.

Being physically distant while remaining socially connected protects everyone from all forms of respiratory illness and will help East Texas to flatten the curve of COVID-19.

Share the educational resources available for your social communities by visiting MyNETHealth.org/Coronavirus.

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Texas Association of City and County Health Officials - Taccho Texas Department of State Health Services Smith County Tex Smith COVID-19 Resources for East Texans City of Tyler, Texas Government Smith Co. Medical Society Tyler ISD UT Health East Texas UT Health Science Center at Tyler UT Health Tyler Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Smith County Emergency Management Smith County ESD2 City of Lindale City of Whitehouse Fire Department Whitehouse, Texas City of Bullard, TX - Government Winona, Texas City of Troup Troup, Texas Chapel Hill ISD Whitehouse ISD Lindale Independent School District Bullard ISD Winona ISD Troup Independent School District Cumberland Academy - Tyler, TX Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School The Brook Hill School All Saints Episcopal School - Tyler Grace Community School City of Arp Arp, Texas

Local health officials investigating Legionaires' disease cases possibly related to East Texas State Fair The Northeast Texas Public Health District is reporting seven confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Northeast Texas region possibly connected to attendance at the East Texas State Fair.

September is National Preparedness Month.

Be sure that you have an emergency kit and plan ready for any emergencies. If you need to learn how to make a plan or prepare a kit please visit https://www.ready.gov/.

Be sure to update your emergency supplies ever six (6) months. Make sure to remove, use, and replace any food, water, prescription medications, and supplies before they expire.

Make sure that you have supplies for your pets also.

Be Ready and Stay Safe.

Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov

It is such a joy to be able to celebrate Sheryl Coffey, President and CEO, of the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council's 20th Anniversary with the RAC! Congratulations Sheryl and we hope to have you with us for many many more years!

NET Health employees showing our support for our CEO George T. Robert's, Jr. as the new President of NACCHO!