Free COVID-19 test kits offered by the U.S. federal government are now available through the U.S. Postal Service website.
Coronavirus News
![Stephens County sees spike in COVID-19 cases, local testing limited](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/COVID-19-Update-Graphic-200x157_c.jpg)
Like the rest of the country, state and world, Stephens County continued to see a spike in COVID-19 cases last week.
![Stephens County moves to Stage 4 as COVID-19 cases surge across the state, county](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Stage4Emergency-Graphic-200x157_c.png)
On Friday, Stephens County moved from Stage 1 (No Restrictions) to Stage 4 (High Restrictions) of the Community Health Plan due to recent increases in COVID-19 cases.
![COVID-19 Update: Stephens County currently has three cases of the disease](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CoronavirusGraphic-copy-200x157_c.jpg)
Stephens County has three current cases of COVID-19, the highest number the county has had in several months but still much fewer than there were at the beginning of the year.
![Walmart pharmacies now administering walk-up COVID-19 vaccines](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/walmart-covid-vaccine-200x157_c.jpg)
Local Walmart customers can now get COVID-19 vaccines at the pharmacy with no appointment necessary. On Tuesday, Walmart and Sam’s
![Stephens Memorial Hospital kicks off vaccine clinics today](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TSTC-Nursing-Students-giving-vaccine-2827-200x157_c.jpg)
Stephens Memorial Hospital will be holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic today, Wednesday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until they run out of the 100 doses of vaccine they will have on hand.
![As State of Texas shifts COVID-19 vaccine distribution to hubs, SMH closes local waitlist](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/covid-19-vaccination-2132-200x157_c.jpg)
With fewer doses of the COVID-19 vaccines going to rural areas in favor of major hubs that the State of Texas has created, Stephens Memorial announced this week that they will no longer be taking sign-ups on their vaccine waitlist.
![Stephens Memorial launches weekly flyer to provide COVID-19 information update](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SMH-Covid-Weekly-Letter-200x157_c.jpg)
In an effort to reach local residents in the community who may not have access to the Internet or social
![Stephens Memorial Hospital launches online sign-up form for COVID-19 vaccine](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Covid-19-Vaccine-1363-200x157_c.jpg)
Stephens Memorial Hospital has created an online sign-up form for people interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Chris Curtis, Director of Business Development for SMH, said that as of Thursday morning 240 people had signed up through the form to get the vaccine.
![Two County offices closed as active COVID-19 cases reach highest level yet](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/crtHouse-5113-200x157_c.jpg)
A Breckenridge man was flown 500 miles to New Mexico — the closest hospital with an available ICU bed — after his COVID-19 case got dramatically worse today, and two Stephens County offices are closed due to employees having COVID-19.
![COVID-19 continues to threaten area as first vaccines arrive in Stephens County](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Covid-19-Vaccine-Prater-1368-200x157_c.jpg)
As we move into the new year, the COVID-19 case surge continues to have a major impact on Breckenridge and the surrounding area. However, last week there was a small positive development when 10 employees at Stephens Memorial Hospital received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
![Community continues to see new COVID-19 cases each day; officials ask residents to help stop spread of disease](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Covid-19-120220-update-0327-2-200x157_c.jpg)
Stephens County continues to see relatively high numbers of active COVID-19 cases, reporting 100 new cases in the past month, not counting the cases at the Walker Sayle prison unit.
![Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year, new state data shows Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year, new state data shows](https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/HISD-COVID-Vaccine-MYL-TT-20-TexasTribune-cropped-330x200_c.jpg)
New data from the Texas health department released Monday proves what health officials have been trying to tell vaccine-hesitant Texans for months: The COVID-19 vaccine dramatically prevents death and is the best tool to prevent transmission of the deadly virus.
- Local government and health officials to provide COVID-19 update, discuss Governor’s Executive Order today
- UIL cancels all remaining spring activities, state championships
- Gov. Greg Abbott keeps Texas classrooms closed for remainder of school year
- Governor waives some DMV requirements, closes driver license offices
- Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texans to avoid groups of 10; closes bars, gyms and restaurants for dine-in
- Governor activates Texas National Guard in response to COVID-19
- Texas confirms first death in COVID-19 patient
- Governor waives certain vehicle registration, titling, and parking placard regulations in Texas
- DSHS distributes additional medical supplies for COVID-19 response
On Monday afternoon, March 16, President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued new guidelines for Americans to follow during the global coronavirus outbreak. According to the