COVID cases skyrocket
By BRAD STUTZMAN
Faced with 126 new COVID-19 cases reported countywide, between Wednesday and Thursday, the Williamson County and Cities Health District late Thursday afternoon placed Wilco in the Red Phase. WCCHD says red means there is “uncontrollable community spread.”
Statewide, 13,768 new coronavirus cases were reported between Wednesday and Thursday.
Red is the highest of WCCHD’s four color-coded categories. This marks the first time Wilco has been in the Red Phase, since the Health District launched its color-coded guidelines in August.
“The threat has never been greater. Immediate action has never been more necessary.”
Dr. Lori Palazzo, medical director, Williamson County and Cities Health Distric
Whereas previously, under the Orange Phase, the Health District discouraged gathering of more than five people, now — in the Red Phase — WCCHD cautions “stay home, stay safe.”
While the Health District and County Judge Bill Gravell say that’s a recommendation, not an order, Health District authorities strongly urge voluntary compliance — as well as mask wearing, physical distancing and frequent hand washing.
“It will take all of us collectively to slow transmission enough to prevent our healthcare capacity from being exceeded,” said Dr. Lori Palazzo, the Health District’s medical director. “The threat has never been greater. Immediate action has never been more necessary.”
WCCHD’s criteria for entering the Red Phase includes:
• No decline in cases reported during the past 14 days.
• Hospitalizations not declining during the past 14 days.
• The incident rate of coronavirus infection is more than 12.7 per 100,000 population.
The 126 new cases reported between Wednesday and Thursday brings the county’s total to 11,310, including 159 deaths.
WCCHD reports the seven-day average of new infections per 100,000 population is up to 13.81; an increase over the 12.13 reported earlier this week, the 10.23 reported last week and more than double what it was one month ago.
The local Health District reports 436 active cases and 10,715 recovered cases countywide. Recovery rates are estimated from the date of the COVID-19 test, plus 10 days.
As of Thursday night the Health District listed 57 county residents hospitalized due to coronavirus, with 16 in ICU and five on ventilators. One month ago, the hospitalization and ICU numbers were in single digits.
WCCHD reports the county has 144 hospital beds (21%), 25 ICU beds (25%) and 92 ventilators (80%) available.
In addition to the 11,310 confirmed cases, the Health District reports 1,196 probable cases countywide.
Georgetown accounts for 2,085 of the total Williamson County cases, or 18 percent. That’s 56 more cases than what the Sun last reported, at mid-week. It also includes 28 deaths.
Since early May, 150,980 county residents have been tested for COVID-19. WCCHD says that’s 26 percent of the population.
Williamson County reported its first COVID-19 cases March 18 and its first COVID-related death March 28.
Across Texas, as of Friday morning more than 1.1 million COVID cases have been reported, including 20,689 deaths.
Throughout the U.S., as of Friday morning there had been approximately 11.8 million cases and about 252,000 deaths.
Globally, the case count is 55.6 million and the death count stands at 1.3 million. Worldwide, 35.8 million people have had coronavirus and recovered.
The Health District updates its website at 10 p.m. daily.
Call for Thanksgiving letters
The silver lining of living through a pandemic is that many people are taking stock of the good things in their lives and the people they treasure. Here at the Sun, we are thankful for our wonderful readers — and we love to hear from you.
This Thanksgiving, we want to celebrate our community of Georgetown by hearing what you are thankful for. Please send us your stories of family, lessons and triumph — however big or small — from 2020. Let’s celebrate all there is to be thankful together.
Send your letters and stories to kate@wilcosun.com with the subject line “I am thankful for…”
Letters will be published, as space allows, in the Nov. 25 edition.
Round Rock artist Josue Rivera, a veteran, is pictured Wednesday, November 11, as he works on the mural honoring veterans and K-9 service dogs he and Austin artist/muralist J Muzacz created together for the new Wag Heaven store, at the corner of West 6th and Rock Street in Georgetown. Work on the mural began November 6. Facing the Rock Street side, the mural is approximately 65 feet long and 22 feet high. It was done entirely using cans of spray paint. Photo by Andy Sharp.
Phase Orange
COVID-19 again on the rise
Free COVID testing in Taylor
Williamson County’s Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, will host free COVID-19 testing Nov. 16-20 in Taylor.
Testing will be at the county’s Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trail It will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., as long as supplies last.
This is a drive-thru site that will not require an appointment prior to being tested. It is important to note that this is a cheek swab test, so people cannot eat, drink, or use tobacco products 20 minutes prior to the test. Residents should bring a cell phone for on-site registration.
COVID-19 testing at this site is available for all Texans, whether they are Williamson County residents or not. For more information on this and future testing sites, please visit www.wilco.org.
By BRAD STUTZMAN
Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Williamson County and Cities Health District on Wednesday moved the county into what it calls the “Orange Phase,” its second-highest of four color-coded coronavirus categories.
In its Orange Phase, the Health District recommends any gatherings should be of no more than five people. Both the Health District and County Judge Bill Gravell say that’s a recommendation, not an order.
The Health District, which updates its website at 10 p.m. daily, reported 96 new coronavirus cases between Wednesday and Thursday. That brings Wilco’s total since the pandemic began to 10,772, including 158 deaths.
The seven-day average of new infections per 100,000 population is up to 10.23, more than double what it was one month ago. WCCHD’s goal is to get that number down to 1.1.
“Daily new confirmed cases are increasing at the state and county level, and many jurisdictions in Texas and the U.S. — such as El Paso — are seeing a major surge in cases,” the Health District’s website states. “We should expect a continued rise in Central Texas cases over the coming weeks.”
The local health district reports 363 active cases and 10,251 recovered cases countywide. Recovery rates are estimated from the date of the COVID-19 test plus 10 days.
As of Thursday night, the health district listed 42 county residents hospitalized due to coronavirus, with 12 in ICU and six on ventilators. One month ago, the hospitalization and ICU numbers were in single digits.
WCCHD reports the county has 146 hospital beds (22%), 16 ICU beds (16%) and 89 ventilators (81%) available.
“We should expect a continued rise in Central Texas cases over the coming weeks.”
Williamson County and
Cities Health District
In addition to the 10,772 confirmed cases, the Health District reports 1,040 probable cases countywide.
As always, the Health District emphasizes the importance of mask wearing, physical distancing and hand washing.
“Everyone over age 10 should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain,” the website states. “Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.”
Georgetown accounts for 1,976 of the total Williamson County cases, or 18 percent.
Residents age 18-30 continue to make up the largest single age group of those contracting coronavirus in Wilco. They represent 27% of the total, with 2,945 cases.
Since early May, 141,561 county resident have been tested for COVID-19. WCCHD says that’s 24% of the population.
Williamson County reported its first COVID-19 cases March 18 and its first COVID-related death March 28.
Across Texas, as of Friday morning more than 1 million COVID-19 cases had been reported — the most in the nation — including 19,705 deaths.
Throughout the U. S., as of Friday morning there had been approximately 10.6 million cases and about 243,000 deaths.
Globally the case count is 53 million and the death count stands at 1.3 million.
Nov. 13 | 2:14pm
Glitch delays precinct breakdowns
By BRAD STUTZMAN
Number crunchers and others who like wading through election precinct totals — looking for trends, changes and patterns — are going to have to wait a little longer.
Williamson County government announced Friday, Nov. 6, that precinct-by-precinct level reports of Williamson County’s Nov. 3 election results are delayed, because of a programming issue by the county’s vendor, Tenex Software Solutions.
“It does not affect any election totals,” county spokesperson Connie Odom said Monday, Nov. 9.
Read more in the November 11 Sun.
