Death count measuring standard changes

As of Thursday morning, Williamson County officially had 76 COVID-19 deaths, not 100 as the county and local health district had previously reported. The change is a function of how deaths are being counted. It is not a change in actual deaths.

A press release from Williamson County government states: "The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is now using death certificates, instead of local health district reports, to count COVID-19 fatalities." The release said the new method standardizes reporting across Texas, but can cause local numbers to be out of sync with DSHS numbers. Following a fatality, death certificates can take weeks or months to be issued.

 

July 30 9:55 am

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County's case count approaches 6,000

 

The confirmed COVID-19 case count reached 5,832 in Williamson County by press time Tuesday, with an estimated 545 cases (9%) active.

 

The confirmed case total is an increase of 216 people testing positive since July 31, when the Sun last gathered numbers.
Countywide, 61 people remained hospitalized Tuesday, including 26 in ICU beds and 23 on ventilators.
In addition to the confirmed cases, the Williamson County and Cities Health District also lists an additional 185 probable cases. The health district updates its information nightly at 10.

 

At least 80 county residents have died from coronavirus, based on death certificates compiled at the state level.
"The average daily, new infection rate is 11.3 cases per 100,000 people," the health district's website reported Tuesday. "This is a key indicator of disease spread in the county. In a county with 585,379 people, this still means 67 new infections every day."
Those aged 18-30 account for the largest single age group infected, with 27 percent (1,581) of all cases.
Since early May, 33,707 residents have been tested for COVID-19.

 

An estimated 5,303 residents who previously tested positive have recovered. Recovery dates are estimated from the date of the COVID-19 test plus 14 days, which is the average infectious period.
Georgetown accounts for 1,097 of the total confirmed cases, 42 more than last reported by the Sun. Of those cases, 911 are listed as active and 106 people have recovered. The city accounts for 19% of all cases in the county and at least 16 deaths.

 

Data indicating the cause of infection — whether community acquired, contact with a confirmed case, from a cluster/outbreak or travel related — is no longer reported by the district.

 

The percentage of available beds in area hospitals is 31%, an 8% increase since last reported. The percentage of available beds in intensive care units is 25%, which increased from 9% on July 30.

 

The percentage of available ventilators is 74%.

 

In total there are 24 ICU beds, 207 regular hospital beds and 85 ventilators available for COVID-19 patients.

Data is collected from health care facilities in the county and updated by the health district on its dashboard at 10 p.m each day. A health district spokesperson said the district does not always get complete information for all of the cases as some data is reported via a test result and staff does not speak to individuals to get full details. This is why reported information might not always add up to the overall totals.

 

Aug 4 2:43 pm

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Health director warns: pandemic reality 'grim'

Masks and social distancing are our best hope

By LISA HELLIER

The county's top health official told city officials that "social distancing and mask wearing are the only two things that can save us at this point" last week at a council workshop. Williamson County and Cities Health District Director Derrick Neal said the situation is grim — and that his assessment was true and transparent.

Mr. Neal answered council questions about virus testing options, the health district's dashboard and what data to look out for. He also explained how important it is for the community to respect the virus and follow safety measures to slow its spread. "We're seeing our numbers grow at an alarming rate from opening up, which we understand we had to do to be able to survive economically," he said. "But those communities who tend to address the public health issue upfront tend to be economically solvent long term." Mr. Neal said businesses and facilities opened before the appropriate two-week decline in cases was seen. Governor Greg Abbott initiated phase one to reopen retail stores, malls, restaurants and movie theaters to a limited 25% occupancy on May 1 and initiated the second phase of reopening May 18. More nonessential stores opened and occupancy increased to 50% for the phase one businesses.

The infection rate in Williamson County, which had stayed at about 1% or lower since mid-March, exceeded 3% on multiple days leading up to May. It fluctuated from 1% to 3% through the rest of the month with no decrease in sight.

"We didn't even follow the guidance given to us," Mr. Neal said. "We opened up while still going through a growth" [in Covid cases].

 

Dashboard data

Mr. Neal explained the numbers reported on the Williamson County and Cities Health District online dashboard, which reports coronavirus data for the county. The dashboard highlights the total number of cases, deaths, hospitalization information, cases by city, estimated recovered and active cases.

Though all significant, he said hospital availability is one of the most important numbers to look at because a major part of slowing the spread is to ensure hospitals don't run out of space. Hospital bed and ventilator percentages are based on the number of those available for COVID-19 cases in the county and calculated by the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council. The health district transitioned in early July to CATRAC's contact tracing and data system. The district no longer has access to some of the data previously collected in-house. The district also started posting estimated active and recovered cases instead of exact numbers.

 

Fast test results critical

Mr. Neal said he wants more testing and faster results. He said it doesn't do residents any good to wait seven to 10 days to get test results back, especially for asymptomatic cases. He thinks the county should increase its rapid testing efforts to make sure those who test positive know quickly so they can stay home and not infect others. When asked if nasal or mouth swab testing is more effective, he said either way, 30% of tests result in a false positive or false negative. The mouth swab, he said, is easier and usually has a faster turnaround time. Even with the chance of false results, he still believes it is important to test.

He also said WCCHD has struggled with contact tracing — to follow up with people in close contact with someone who tested positive. "Contact tracing remains a huge issue at this point simply because a lot of residents don't want to cooperate when we call to ask questions in terms of contact," Mr. Neal said. Public health not political Council members emphasized the importance of communicating hard facts in what has become a political issue on top of a major public health problem. They expressed concern with some of the inconsistencies that occasionally pop up on the dashboard and confusion surrounding masks.

After 20 years in the field of public health, Mr. Neal said, this is the first time he has seen a health issue politicized. He emphasized that the public's safety is not a political issue. The health district relies on information it receives from area hospitals and it transitioned to the CATRAC system. Both have played a role in data changes and inconsistencies, he said. Mr. Neal said one of the greatest challenges in the pandemic has been to reduce the chance of COVID-19 spreading in nursing homes, assisted living homes and other institutional settings. Though he said the health district took action immediately in high-risk care facilities, risk can't be completely eliminated. It is introduced from the outside, he said.

"We've been doing a good job isolating, but it's a day by day process," Mr. Neal said. "We continue to insulate and protect the most vulnerable population. "One of the things I want to ask you is for grace on this, as public health professionals won't know the devastation of this disease until it runs its full progression." He said what may have been true three to four months ago may not be true now.

"We don't know everything about this disease," he said. "What we don't know can really harm us in the long term. The virus will have the final say.

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Virus assistance programs available

 

Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties is offering three new programs to help residents during the pandemic.

These programs were developed by Community Services to assist those who have been impacted by COVID-19 financially.

 

COVID-19 Emergency Assistance helps those who qualify with rental assistance, utility assistance or funds to cover the cost of a needed prescribed medication. Additionally, the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and the Self-Sufficiency Program are available for those in Williamson and Burnet counties who qualify. CEAP helps cover the cost of energy bills, while the Self-Sufficiency program provides case management services.

 

"This pandemic is something that has taken us all by surprise," said Kori Ince, the director of Community Services at OWBC. "More and more families have lost income, are struggling to pay their bills and are now at risk of losing their place to live. With funding from the recent CARES Act, we are able to help COVID-19 affected households by providing basic financial needs."

 

Visit www.owbc-tx.org and select COVID-19 Emergency Assistance to apply for assistance. Applications can be made online or printed and mailed to the main office at 604 High Tech Drive.

 

July 10 2:15 pm

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City mandates facial coverings

Employees and customers at commercial businesses in Georgetown will be required to wear face coverings effective Friday, July 3.

Mayor Dale Ross issued the order Monday in response to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases across Williamson County in June, as well as the growing number of individuals hospitalized and those put in intensive care units. By press time Tuesday, 36% of hospital beds and 12% ICU beds were available.

The order applies to city facilities and all commercial businesses that directly serve the public.

The county has had a total of 2,100 cases, 1,165 of which are currently active. The month of June accounts for more than 70% of coronavirus cases since the outbreak started mid-March. Georgetown currently has 227 cases — 358 cases overall — and six deaths.

Businesses that do not adopt and enforce this new mask mandate, which is required when physical distance cannot be maintained, face a fine up to $1,000 per offense.

Neighboring cities Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, Hutto and Taylor have also implemented similar mask requirements. The order will remain in place until Williamson County reports a positive test rate of 7% or lower over a two-week average.

 

July 1 7:20 am

 

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County continues free testing

Williamson County and Family Emergency Room plans to continue its free COVID-19 testing services for residents with a streamlined process and more testing sites.

 

The two entities announced Monday an improved contract to make testing more accessible and scheduling more efficient. Family Emergency Room will now provide a scheduling process that no longer requires residents to wait for a call back to schedule an appointment. People previously had to wait up to 48 hours after filling out an online assessment to schedule a test. The new process will allow individuals to select the time and testing location that best fits their needs.

 

The agreement also allows more Family Emergency Room sites to be used. Residents can use drive-thru testing at the Whitestone Boulevard and Lakeline Boulevard locations in Cedar Park or the Round Rock facility on A.W. Grimes Boulevard. Family Emergency Room plans to provide testing at additional Williamson County facilities.

 

The charges for COVID-19 tests currently are covered by most insurance companies. Family Emergency Room will bill insurance companies at no cost to residents. Tests for Wilco residents without insurance will be paid for by the county.

 

Testing, which originally started May 1 for symptomatic individuals, currently is available for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

 

Testing now is being prioritized for symptomatic individuals because of high demand. Asymptomatic and antibody testing is also available for a fee and is being scheduled within a five to eight day period.
Visit familyhospitalsystems.com/covid-19/ for more information on the nasal swab test and the antibody test or to schedule a test.

 

July 7 4:42 pm

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