As I started interviewing people in Blanco for this story, I took some comfort in the fact that we had no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Blanco County. That is no longer the case.
The Blanco County Emergency Management is reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 Monday afternoon in Blanco County. It is travel related, and she is recovering. Let us all wish her a speedy recovery.
The medical community is working on various promising treatments and diligently trying to develop a vaccine. In the meantime, we should all follow the recommendations from World Health Organization (WHO) to protect ourselves. If you need to familiarize yourself with these guidelines, please refer to their website at who.int.
Everyone has been touched by the pandemic in some way. Something as simple as going to pick up a roll of toilet paper has turned into a mythical quest. For others, their income has been decreased, sometimes severely. Some of us know a friend or loved one who has the virus. At worst, others may have lost someone to the virus.
In a community as close-knit as Blanco, when things are tough for anyone, everyone feels the pain. It is no secret that business has dropped off significantly for most local businesses, but this has happened everywhere.
There was some concern among employees that “non-essential” businesses would be closed within the week. After speaking with city officials, they said as long as the businesses try to comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, they have no plans to ask any businesses to close their doors unless it is mandated by the state.
The restaurants are still serving food, but to go or through a drive through. Not everyone is in the enviable position of the distilleries of Blanco County – they have found a way to help out the public. The federal government has given them the green light to use those distilleries to make hand sanitizer.
“We’re taking lemons and making mojitos,” said Stephanie Houston, co-owner of Hye Rum. She explained how they wanted to help fight the pandemic and making hand sanitizer seemed like the best way to do that. Whenever they needed an ingredient, someone would show up and donate it. She needed a distributor, and HEB called her.
Most, if not all, local distilleries are united in this effort and are either actively making the sanitizer, helping to supply the ingredients, or helping to make the product.
In talking with employees and owners in different businesses, there was an overwhelming feeling of people wanting to help each other and keep each other safe. People spoke of coincidences happening, placing the right person or circumstance when they needed something.
Things are likely to get worse before they get better, but we are all in this together. We are a community. We are neighbors. If we are called upon to help one another during this time of crisis, I believe we will. I am proud to be a part of this community. We can and will make it through this crisis.
