By V. Hugh Lewis II, publisher
Marion County received notification of it’s first cases on Wednesday. One of the cases is already considered recovered with two still active. The delay was due, in part, to a reporting loophole between states.
All three of the cases were tested in Louisiana, and while the doctors reported the cases to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), they failed to report it to the Texas State Department of Health Services (DSHS). That loophole is now being closed
The county was first notified about the recovered case via a Facebook post by Marion County Precinct 2 Constable Tashia Wilson on Tuesday, afternoon April 14, 2020. In it Wilson claimed “I BEAT THE CORONAVIRUS”.
The first notice Wilson made on FaceBook about being sick was last Thursday, April 9, 2020, in which she stated she was sick and staying at her grandmothers house. She indicated she was not taking visitors but would answer phone calls.
After her posting about beating the virus, numerous individuals contacted Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur about why he had not reported a case being in Marion County. LaFleur does a daily briefing either via live video or a posting on his FaceBook page in which he provides statistics from the state, surrounding counties, and other COVID-19 related information. LaFleur only reports numbers provided by DSHS. Up until Wednesday, April 15, 2020, he has stated that Marion County had no reported cases per DSHS.
LaFleur told the Herald on Tuesday he contacted DSHS for confirmation and they were investigating.
Wednesday DSHS notified LaFleur of two additional cases in Marion County, plus Wilson’s recovered case. LaFleur issued two notices (see end of story) about the cases.
Online controversy over Wilson not reporting her positive test to either Marion County Emergency Management Coordinator David Capps or LaFleur. She also did not notify the Queen City Police Department where she also works. Wilson’s claimed on FaceBook she was not required to notify anyone as it was the responsibility of her doctor.
The Atlanta Citizens Journal posted a story about the incident on Wednesday. In it they quote the Queen City Police Chief’s statement he issued after being notified about Wilson’s positive test post. They have also told the Herald Wilson wants to “tell her side of the story” to them in a telephone interview today.
On Wednesday, Queen City Chief of Police Robert W. McGee issued the following press release.
“We are adhering to CDC guidelines in dealing with this situation. The officer has been off work since showing signs of the virus.
Queen City Officers have been advised when dealing with the public to do so at a safe distance. Of course, there are times that we are forced to come into contact with citizens and when we do, we are taking every precaution possible not only to protect the Citizens but, our Officers and employees from contamination.
https://www.casscountynow.com
The Jefferson Jimplecute posted a story Tuesday evening quoting from Wilson’s original FaceBook post. Their story prompted LaFleur to share it and comment about Wilson’s actions, posting:
I pray Constable Wilson is on the mend and that she hasn’t exposed anyone else by keeping this a secret.We all need to pray for her and anyone she’s come into contact with! Our county has fought very hard to keep COVID-19 out of Marion County, I wish she would have reached out to us and asked for help because we would have rallied behind her! It may have potentially saved lives and the wellness of others.
Facebook post on Marion County Judge Leward J. LaFleur page
After his post, and the Jimplecute story, Wilson deleted her original post about “beating the coronavirus” and started claiming in posts that LaFleur and the county are at fault, not her, for them not knowing she had tested positive.
“Leward Lafleur is all over Facebook like I kept this secret and potentially have exposed others,” she posted. “He hasn’t even picked up a phone to contact me what so ever.”
“Marion County has to do some blaming and finger pointing. So guess who fault it is for getting sick ME ME ME….” she wrote in another post.
Comments on her posts have both supported and disagreed with her view. In them Wilson has also claimed she couldn’t, and her doctor couldn’t, report due to HIPAA requirements for personal health protections.
However, according to the US Department of Health website, “HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to disclose the protected health information (PHI) of an individual who has been infected with, or exposed to, COVID-19, with law enforcement, paramedics, other first responders, and public health authorities without the individual’s HIPAA authorization…” See the full requirements here: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/covid-19-hipaa-and-first-responders-508.pdf
While there is no requirement to report a COVID-19 positive test result to one’s employer, LaFleur has repeatedly requested individuals to notify their healthcare provider, 911, the CHRISTUS COVID-19 Hotline, the County’s Emergency Management Coordinator David Capps, or his office, about concerns or positive tests.
The CDC also recommends a person not be released to return to work if they have not been tested
- until they have shown no signs of fever and have been without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least three days, or 72 hours
- have seen improvement of respirator symptoms
- and at least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If a person has been tested, the CDC, recommends a person being released to return to work when:
- until they have shown no signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- other symptoms have improved (for example, a cough or shortness of breath has improved)
- have received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart
- or,
- laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 individuals who have not had any symptoms may discontinue home isolation when at least seven days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test and have had no subsequent illness.
It is unclear at this time what guidelines Wilson’s doctor is using for releasing her to return to work.
In all cases, tested or not, the CDC recommends isolation, or quarantine, until recovered. Those who encounter or work closely with a potentially COVID-19 infected person should self-monitor their symptoms and follow CDC guidelines as necessary.
LaFleur recommends individuals who think they are displaying symptoms contact their healthcare provider via telephone and discuss next steps.
Marion County also has two additional active cases of COVID-19.
Judge’s Notice on Recovered COVID-19 MC Resident
Judge’s Additional COVID-19 Cases Notice:
Wilson has the Herald publisher Hugh Lewis blocked on FaceBook and has not responded to requests for comment.
LaFleur told the Herald that the name and address of individuals is still protected information and cannot be released to the general public. LaFleur further said that on the advice of counsel he could not comment on this matter.