The Georgetown High School Georgettes dance team, all wearing face masks, practice a routine at Birkelbach Field on Friday, September 11. They're getting ready for the first home football game of the season on October 2. Photo by Andy Sharp.

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Five new COVID deaths since Monday

By BRAD STUTZMAN

 

The Williamson County and Cities Health District reported 35 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed between Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 8,331. That’s 104 more than reported through this past Monday night, when the Sun last examined the data.

Five new COVID deaths were reported since Monday, bringing the county’s total to 139.

 

In addition to the 8,331 confirmed cases, the health district also reports another 194 probable cases countywide.

 

Throughout the week the health district continues to list Williamson County in what it calls “phase yellow,” meaning there is “moderate community transmission” of coronavirus. More specifically, the health district’s website says it means the rate of new infections has fallen below 7 per 100,000 population and the positive test rate is below 10%.

 

“The epidemiologic curve has started to flatten,” the WCCHD reported. ”Daily new case levels, while high, continue to decline at the state and county level. The public health control measures, especially the mask mandates and business safety precautions, are having the intended effect and should be continued.

Data all over the place

The seven-day positive test rate average is 2%, down from 6% earlier in the week. The number fluctuates and the health district’s goal is to have a positive test rate of no more than 5%.

 

However, the health district cautions the reported drop might not reflect reality.

“Continued drop in positive viral test rate and the seven-day average of positive tests is due to an influx of 5,798 backlogged tests reported by DSHS (Texas Department of State Health Services) on Sept. 15, the health district’s website states. “Our positive viral test rate is artificially low due to this backlog of tests.”

A caveat also accompanies the health district’s update on hospitalization numbers.

 

The health district says 13 county residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19 — down from numbers in the mid-70s reported in recent weeks — with 13 in ICU and nine on ventilators.

 

“Today hospitalizations are at 13,” the website reports. “During routine QA [quality analysis] on our date feed, we found an error which has been corrected. The number now reflects Williamson County hospital activity.”

Most in Wilco recover

Countywide the health district reported 162 regular hospital beds (24%), 29 ICU beds (28%) and 95 ventilators (86%) available for COVID-19 patients.

 

Georgetown accounts for 1,482 of the total Williamson County cases, or 17.8%. That’s 36 more than the Sun last reported.

Residents age 18-30 continue to make up the largest single age group of those contracting coronavirus in Wilco. They represent 28% of the total with 2,333 cases.

 

Since early May 70,385 county residents have been tested for COVID-19. WCCHD says that’s 12% of the population.

An estimated 8,187 county residents (98.2%) who at some point tested positive have recovered. Recovery rates are estimated from the date of the COVID-19 test plus 10 days.

 

Williamson County reported its first COVID-19 cases March 18 and its first COVID-related death March 28 

 

Across Texas, through Friday morning 710,000 COVID-19 cases had been reported, including 14,909 deaths.

 

Throughout the U.S., as of Friday morning there had been approximately 6.7 million cases and about 198,000 deaths.

 

Globally the case count is 30.2 million and the death count stands at 947,000.

The WCCHD updates its information nightly at 10.

 

 

Sept 18 2:39 pm

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COVID deaths in elderly facilities

By KATHERINE ANTHONY

State-issued reports of COVID-19 cases in state-licensed residences for the elderly show, as of August 14, there have been two resident deaths in Georgetown and there were 10 active employee cases in two Georgetown facilities.

 

The data was released on Aug. 14 by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

According to the HHSC nursing facility report, Georgetown’s Park Place Health Care Center had one resident death and eight active cases among its employees as of Aug. 14. Park Place is located at 121 FM 971.

 

The Reserve, an assisted living facility at 3600 Williams Drive, had one resident death and two active cases among employees, according to the HHSC report for assisted living facilities.

No cases were noted in any of Georgetown’s other 12 assisted living facilities.

 

The agency issues separate reports for nursing care and assisted living facilities. The August 14 reports are the second time the agency has released statewide COVID-19 data in facilities for the elderly. The first was on July 24. Before that date, HHSC had refused to release the names of senior facilities with cases of coronavirus, but a July 6 ruling by the Texas Attorney General said the agency should disclose it.

 

HHSC executive commissioner Phil Wilson said in July that data is self-reported by facilities but is reviewed by agency staff to ensure data integrity.

 

The reports are online at www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/coronavirus-covid-19.

 

 

Sept 1 4:41 pm

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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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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