Feeling Left Out, Robert Lee's Mayor Wants More Coronavirus Cases. Here's Why.

ROBERT LEE, TX – The mayor of Robert Lee is concerned about how COVID-19 cases in rural counties are being reported and has asked San Angelo Health Department officials to correct the numbers.

"I'm not asking for the patient's name, I just want to know a number of people from my County/City," said Robert Lee Mayor Allyson Crenshaw.

Currently, all patients tested by Shannon Medical Center are reported as cases from San Angelo and Tom Green County.  Crenshaw says there are 10 rural counties whose residents are tested in San Angelo.  So cities and counties like Robert Lee and Coke County could have residents who test positive but are reported as Tom Green County cases. 

Crenshaw said she is being asked by citizens why there are no official notices that there are active coronavirus cases in rural Coke County when the rumor mill suggests there could be. Currently, Crenshaw said, there are no Coke County coronavirus cases. But that may change, especially if testing is ramped up.

"COVID-19 Testing for Coke County: First, as of a few minutes ago, we do not have any positive test results in Coke County," Crenshaw posted on Facebook.

"Since Coke County doesn't do testing for COVID-19, our testing numbers are being grouped in with Tom Green County (or whatever county in which the test occurs). We don't currently have a way to know how many people from Coke County have been tested or how many have had a negative test result. We do not currently have any positive tests in Coke County. Should a positive test occur, it will initially be included as Tom Green & then transferred to the county of residence. I've been told the transfer usually occurs within a day. I hope this helps answer questions many of you have. We appreciate your remarkable cooperation, ongoing support, and continued prayers for our community, state, and country during this difficult time.

" **EDITED** I failed to mention that should a Coke County resident be admitted to Shannon, for example, and test positive for COVID-19, that person would likely be included in Tom Green County numbers until he/she was going to be released. I understand it as an individual in the hospital would be a "temporary resident" of Tom Green County until leaving the hospital. 

"**UPDATE April 8, 5:25pm**

"I just spoke with the regional health authority over Coke County. She is working on a way to "sort" the testing that has already occurred & start separating new tests by County of residence. I'm hopeful we'll be able to collaborate with them to get the pending & negative test numbers for Coke County citizens. I know many of you are concerned and/or interested in this information. I've shared the importance of our community knowing ALL the testing numbers, not just positive results.

 "The San Angelo Health Department has agreed to go through all the reports and separate them by county. They will report these updates via COSA website. We're hoping to see updated information this week, but it will probably be a bit of a process to get through all 850ish of the tests currently listed under Tom Green County. She Hopes to start seeing the updates by the end of the week," Crenshaw concluded.