Coronavirus: 13th Death Reported In WilCo, 368 Cases To Date

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — A 13th person has died of new coronavirus in Williamson County, health officials reported on Saturday, and the illness count for the region has grown by seven more patients for a total of 368.

For the second time this week, the latest victim succumbing to the respiratory illness was a man in his 90s. On Wednesday, another man in his 90s became the 12th person to die of the contagious illness as reported by Williamson County and Cities Health District officials.

Provisions related to patient privacy prevent health officials from releasing further details related to deaths, but an illness outbreak was recently reported at an area nursing home. On April 25, county health officials confirmed the cluster of the new coronavirus illness in a nursing home facility where 46 cases of the respiratory ailment were found.

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However, it's unclear if the elderly patients who have died in the past few days were living at such facilities as health officials don't release information with such specificity, citing privacy reasons.

After the illness cluster was identified, health officials said updated control orders were issued on Saturday to 65 facilities — including those centered on assisted living, nursing homes, skilled nursing and long-term care sites. The health authority previously sent control orders to 43 facilities on March 16, officials noted at the time.

According to the latest statistics issued with reports of the 13th county death, health offiials noted 13 people are currently hospitalized with five on ventilators. Amid the grim statistics, health officials offer a glimmer of hope in reporting that 211 people have recovered in the county after contracting the COVID-19 virus.

View the Williamson County and Cities Health District dashboard here

“As we enter what is supposed to be a positive weekend celebrating Mother’s Day, I am heartbroken to hear the news of yet another death in our county," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. "This means, my Williamson County family, that we cannot let our guard down. Now is the time to take action against this devastating disease by continuing to practice social distancing, wear a face-covering to avoid contracting or exposing others to the virus, and sanitize your space and hands as much as you can.”

Nothwithstanding the sentiment, Gravell himself recently was found in violation of the very "stay at home" order he personally signed as he was driven to his daughter's house in Jarrell, Texas, to by a county sheriff's deputy to celebrate his grandson's birthday party. The county judge arrived at the party donned in firefighter's gear borrowed from the local fire department, and later unsuccessfully attempted to have photos of him arriving at the party removed from social media.

In the early stages of illness onset, health officials sought to downplay the threat of coronavirus. "You are more likely to become sick with the flu than to be diagnosed with coronavirus," Dr. Lori Palazzo, the health district's medical director, said in a Feb. 6 prepared statement when no cases of coronavirus had yet to be recorded in Texas. "There have been more than 10,000 deaths due to the flu nationwide since October 2019," Plazzo added. "The best defense against the flu is getting a flu shot."

Since then, the regional tally continues to grow. By March 20, health officials reported the illness count had grown to eight with a woman in her 40s reported to have contracted the virus through community spread. A little over one month later, the county would reach a grim milestone in crossing the 300 mark in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus and the ninth reported fatality — a woman in her 90s.

The scourge extended its lethal reach this week, when the 11th person to die of the illness — a man in his 50s — succumbed to the respiratory ailment as health officials reported on Tuesday, May 5. "It is crippling to get the news that the coronavirus has claimed the life of another one of our residents," Gravell said in a prepared statement at the time. "We stand with those who have lost a loved one to this deadly disease."

The first of the month ushered in death from coronavirus, when the 10th patient to die from the illness — a man in his 60s who was a nursing home resident — succumbed as health officials reported on May 1. The death was the fifth in Williamson County since the previous Sunday, health officials reported at the time. In a grim chronological bookending, the ninth person to die from the illness — a woman in her 90s — was reported on April 30.

Before the elderly woman's death, two more fatalities had been reported two days before, and an eighth death the following day.

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: 12th Death Reported In WilCo, 8 More Cases
• 11th Coronavirus Death Reported In Williamson County
  
• Coronavirus: WilCo Illness Count Grows To 361
  
• Coronavirus: Nursing Home Illness Cluster Found In WilCo
  
• WilCo Officials Calm New Coronavirus Fears
• 8 Coronavirus Cases Now Confirmed In Williamson County
  
• WilCo Judge Under Fire For Violating Own Stay-At-Home Order
  
• Coronavirus: Wilco Illness Count Passes 300, 9th Death Reported
  
• Coronavirus: WilCo Illness Count Grows To 306, 1 More Death
• Texas Governor Allows Malls, Restaurants, More To Open By May 1
• Coronavirus: Abbott To Let More Businesses Reopen Friday

Developments related to new coronavirus have arrived at a dizzying pace as statistics continue to pile up in a county of some 600,000 residents — in a far cry from March 28, when the illness first reared its ugly head in claiming its first victim — a man in his 70s — was reported as the first in the county to die of the illness.

"To the family, we are heartbroken for your loss," Gravell wrote in a prepared statement at the time. "To the rest of the community, I emphasize that it is everyone's responsibility to stay home and stay safe in order to protect our community, our families, and especially the most vulnerable among us."

Added Palazzo: "It's unfortunate that our county has lost one of its residents because of the spread of this virus. Williamson County and the Health District extend their deepest condolences to the patient's family and friends."

It's been less than two months since that first fatality, and the scourge of illness has continued at a rapid clip since — so much so that health officials recently stopped issuing daily accounts of illness spread as they originally did.

"Williamson County is no longer sending out daily press releases with current case counts," county spokesperson Connie Odom reminded in reporting the 13th death on Saturday. "We will send out press releases when there has been a death from COVID-19."

Residents wishing to stay apprised of illness counts can visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District website at http://www.wcchd.org/COVID-19/dashboard.php. The dashboard information is updated just past noon daily. Residents also can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WCCHD/ for updates.

Health officials urge those exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness — including cough, fever and shortness of breath — to contact their health care providers. However, health officials stress the importance of calling ahead before arriving at a clinic, urgent care or emergency department to avoid potential spread.

For information on the county response to COVID-19, go to www.wilco.org/COVID-19.

The elevated illness count comes one day after the governor launched the second phase of a gradual reopening of the state economy that allowed businesses such as barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons to reopen. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott launched the first phase of an economic reopening that allowed malls, movie theaters and restaurants to open at limited occupancy.

The governor's latest orders for the second phase of economic reopening include:

• Beginning May 8, cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and shops — and other establishments where licensed cosmetologists or barbers practice their trade — will be allowed to open but must adhere to a distance of at least six feet between operating work stations, the governor said. Tanning salons may also reopen under the same limitation, Abbott added.
• Beginning May 18, office buildings may open with the greater of five or less individuals or 25 percent of the total office workforce per the governor's new order. Office workers must adhere to physical distancing guidelines, per the order.
• Gyms, exercise facilities, and exercise classes could open as soon as May 18, but must operate at 25 percent occupancy. Locker rooms and shower facilities will remain closed, but restrooms may open. Non-essential manufacturing services may also open on May 18 but facilities must limit their occupancy to 25 percent. These newly opened services are subject to recommended minimum standard health protocols outlined by state health officials, the governor noted.
• The governor also issued new guidance from the Texas Education Agency centered on graduation ceremonies. In expanding the businesses allowed to reopen, Abbott said gyms could open their doors again as early as May 18 so long as customers wear gloves while using the machines and maintain a buffer of at least 6 feet from others. However, showers and locker rooms must remain closed, the governor said.
• Other sites cleared for reopening are wedding venues and services required to conduct weddings allowed to open their doors immediately, the governor said. However, weddings held indoors other than at a church, congregation, or house of worship must limit occupancy to 25 percent. Wedding reception services may also resume, but facilities also must limit their occupancy to 25 percent occupancy. These occupancy limits do not apply to the outdoor areas of a wedding reception or to outdoor wedding receptions, Abbott noted.
• No timeline was given as to when bars might reopen.

"Texas is in a position to continue opening parts of our economy because of the efforts and determination of the people of Texas," Abbott said during his press conference. "Over the past month, Texans have worked together to contain the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing practices and staying at home whenever possible."