Parmer County records 42 percent of region's COVID-19 deaths

Parmer County in Texas accounts for 11 percent of the region’s population, but it has recorded 42 percent of the local deaths related to COVID-19.

Health officials say 15 deaths have been attributed to the virus in the county that includes the communities of Farwell and Friona. Eight of those deaths have occurred since Sept. 30.

By comparison, health officials in Bailey, Curry, Quay and Roosevelt counties combined have reported 21 covid-related deaths since the pandemic began.

Parmer County Judge Trey Ellis said last week that more covid-related deaths are expected.

“I’ve been notified that there are possibly more deaths in addition to those I just gave you. They haven’t been confirmed yet and they are doing that through death certificates. That number will probably go up once I get confirmation,” Ellis said.

Ellis said most of the Parmer County deaths can be traced to its two nursing homes. The Farwell Care and Rehabilitation Center has had seven residents pass because of COVID complications, he said. At Friona’s Prairie Acres Nursing Home, six residents’ deaths have been attributed to the virus; most of those occurred in June.

“Most of our deaths are happening in the nursing homes. Texas is just opening up to allow nurs-ing home visits but they’ve got some pretty heavy restrictions,” Ellis said.

A staff member at the Farwell nursing home declined to discuss specifics about positive cases at their facilities. Ellis and others have said in-person visits at Texas-area nursing homes are pro-hibited or extremely limited.

“My mother is in the nursing home in Muleshoe and I haven’t spoken to her face-to-face since February. I just don’t go. I talk to her on the phone; we have the ability to FaceTime and do that, but I’m not going to run the risk and I think that’s the thing,” Ellis said.

Ellis added that he knows many residents in nursing homes would like to see their loved ones, but risking passing the virus to one person could potentially lead to infecting many in the home.

Records from the Texas Department of State Health Services show Parmer County has had 527 positive tests for COVID-19, with 88 cases still active on Friday.