FBISD recognizes outstanding teachers - Page 3
A church and pharmacy in Missouri City recently teamed up to donate supplies to the city's first responders. Read more about the effort inside today's edition on Page 3. (Contributed photo)
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 86
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Fort Bend County reveals COVID-19 hot spots Park Manor Quail Valley in Missouri City recently reported 28 cases of COVID-19. (Photo from Facebook.)
By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend County launched an updated website Monday that provides more specific information about residents who test positive for COVID-19, including the zip code, precinct and jurisdic-
tion of cases. “Providing multiple mapped views of accurate case count density allows citizens and stakeholders to
better assess community impact," Dr. Jacquelyn Minter, director of Fort Bend County Health & Human Services, said in a news release. Among area zip codes, 77459 had the county's most cases with 64, accord-
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City, county leaders to hold PPE drive in Stafford By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
While many citizens are essentially on lockdown, Fort Bend County’s first responders are directly in the line of fire of COVID-19. City, county and federal leaders are looking to protect them from the spread of the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus strain, and they’re asking for the community’s help in doing so. On Monday morning, U.S. Rep. Al Green joined Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella, Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford and Fort Bend County Judge KP George to announce their collaboration on a donation drive seeking personal protection equipment (PPE). Those items will be given to each municipality’s first responders. “(Our first responders) are putting their lives on the line every day on the front lines. It’s essential that we get this equipment for them,” Ford said. “Please, if you know anyone who has any extra PPE items, please send them our way. Our first responders are in dire need of this equipment.”
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County Judge KP George addresses reporters. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Elkins' Kassidi Davis asks for time during an at-bat. Davis, who has played the final softball game of her career because the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of several area athletes attempting to deal with the abrupt end to their senior seasons. (Contributed photo)
Local athletes cope with coronavirus cancellations By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Elkins’ 12-9 loss against Clear Springs on March 10 did not come with a sense of finality for Kassidi Davis, at least not initially. The Lady Knights had 12 more games on their regular-season schedule. More than a month later, though, Davis has come to realize it was the last game of her softball career. After the loss against Clear Springs, the UIL called off all high school sporting events and other extracurricular activities throughout Texas because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools in the state are closed until at least May 4
Kassidi Davis
per an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott, effectively ending high school sports for the 2019-20 school year.
Davis, an Elkins senior who will be attending Texas A&M University next year, has been hit especially hard by the abrupt end to the season. She will not be continuing her softball career in College Station. “I’ve been playing since I was 9 years old,” Davis said. “To hear that was my last game, and not even know it, really broke me down for a little bit.” She’s not the only athlete struggling with the stoppage. Hundreds of senior athletes around the area also are trying to move forward after their campaigns were cancelled in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain
of coronavirus. Davis described playing for the Lady Knights as a family, and that family has been separated prematurely. “We’ve been trying to stay optimistic about this whole thing, but it’s a really difficult thing to go through,” she said. Austin High School baseball player Nicholas Cason saw former Houston Astro Marwin Gonzalez have a career season in 2017 while playing six different defensive positions, subsequently finding the inspiration to adapt on the field. Cason, who primarily plays outfield, learned how to play multiple infield positions and pitch after that point.
He is now trying to adopt the same mentality off the field. “I have no regrets about my career, and I’ve never been one to dwell on the past,” Cason said. “When I found out the season was over, I was sad for a little bit. But after a few days passed, I was ready to get it going again. Now that the season’s over, I’m ready to start getting better for next year.” The Bulldogs played their final game of the season March 13 against Bellaire during a non-district tournament, ending their campaign with a 3-3 tie. Although the team was
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Telehealth on rise during pandemic By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Dr. Esther Ngare has offered members of her practice at Brazos Springs Direct Primary Care a telehealth option since opening her office at 4103 S. Main St. in Stafford last year. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, she is one of several healthcare providers in the area that
have expanded their telehealth usage to assuage concerns of patients who still need their medical needs addressed while adhering to social distancing guidelines. “People would always prefer to come to the office before,” Ngare said. “But now everybody understands that there are visits for the time being that we must do via telehealth, and they’re appreciative they can
still see their doctor.” The demand for telehealth services is on the rise, according to a recent survey from customer experience IT vendor Sykes that found two-thirds of respondents are now willing to try virtual care. Last month, the U.S. government set aside many of its restrictions on
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