Breckenridge Texan

There are now 77 active COVID-19 cases at the Walker Sayle Prison Unit in Breckenridge, as of Wednesday, Aug. 12, according to Stephens County Judge Michael Roach.

Roach said that Stephens County was notified by the Texas Department of Health Services Wednesday that the local prison populations will now be counted in the county’s COVID-19 totals. According to the report, Walker Sayle has 77 active cases and four recovered cases, for a total of 81 cases.

The numbers will be added to the local totals in the daily report that Stephens Memorial Hospital posts on its Facebook page. However, Roach said, the numbers of those who are incarcerated will be separated from the numbers used locally to make public health decisions.

There are also three active and seven recovered cases among Walker Sayle employees. He said not all of the affected employees live in Stephens County, but the ones that do live here, are included in the county totals posted on the hospital’s Facebook page.

Roach said he and Breckenridge Mayor Bob Sims will update the community on the situation at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, during their weekly COVID-19 report. The event will be broadcast live on local radio station KLXK 93.5 and live-streamed on the County’s Facebook page.

He also said that during the Friday report, Breckenridge Fire Chief Calvin Chaney will give an update on the fire situation in the county.

Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan