Coronavirus: 2 More Deaths In WilCo As Illness Count Nears 400

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Two more people died from the new coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 16 in Williamson County. The number of cases to date in the county now totals 397 — 13 more than the number recorded the previous day.

The statistics were updated in a Williamson County and Cities Health District dashboard created to keep the public updated of the reach of illness in the community. While health officials are precluded from releasing identifying details in adherence to patient privacy rules, the patients who died from the illness over the past 24 hours were described as women in their 70s and 80s.

“It is with a heavy heart that we report on the passing of two Williamson County residents," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. "This disease sees no race, gender, or age; it has attacked the most vulnerable, and even those who did their best to fight against it until the end. I am reminded that it is because of these lives lost that we continue to make sacrifices and decisions that are difficult, but must be made in order to preserve lives."

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In addition to the latest two deaths, a woman in her 90s died on Monday from the virus. Before that, two men in their 90s died of the illness last week, preceded by a woman in her 40s who died just days before. Before those victims, a woman in her 90s died, and a man in his 50s became the 11th to die on May 5.

Even lacking specific details related to nursing home outbreaks, the facilities have emerged as hotbeds of illness as the new coronavirus extends its reach. This week, Gov. Greg Abbott directed a number of state agencies to require bolstered testing of such facilities across the state.

The uptick in illness in Williamson County comes two weeks after the governor ordered a partial reopening of the state economy that has been slowed as physical distancing provisions have forced the closures of numerous businesses. To that end, Abbott first issued executive orders allowing malls, movie theaters and restaurants to open their doors at 25 percent occupancy, following up the next week — one week earlier than he had originally scheduled — with a second executive order that allowed hair salons, barbershops and tanning salons to reopen at limited occupancy.

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For information on the latest coronavirus count in Williamson County, residents can visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District dashboard that is updated daily by 12:30 p.m found at www.wcchd.org/COVID-19/dashboard.php. Residents seeking to stay apprised also can visit the health district's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WCCHD/ for updates.

As they do with each fatality update, health officials strongly urged those exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness — including cough, fever and shortness of breath — to contact their health care providers. However, health officials stress the imporance of calling ahead before arriving at a clinic, urgent care or emergency department to avoid further illness spread.

For information on the county's coronavirus response, visit www.wilco.org/COVID-19.