Coronavirus: WilCo Illness Count Grows To 361

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Nine more cases of new coronavirus were diagnosed in Williamson County from the day before, bringing the total number of cases to 361. The number of people in the county who have died of the respiratory illness was unchanged at 12.

The number of new illnesss cases is two fewer than the 11 additional cases that emerged on Thursday from the day before.

The upgraded count was tabulated by Williamson County and Cities Health District on a dashboard that is updated daily. According to the data, 208 people have recovered after having being diagnosed with the respiratory ailment.

Williamson County officials recently stopped issuing daily news releases detailing the daily illness count as they initially did. As a result, Patch refers to the dashboard on a daily basis to update the public on additional spread of the illness. Reached via email by Patch, a county spokesperson said county-generated news releases related to new coronavirus are now only issued in the event of deaths from the illness.

"It was a directive from the county commissioners to change the reporting format and dashboard for the COVID-19 cases," the spokesperson wrote in an emailed response to questions. "This also changed the way we are issuing the information," the spokesperson added in the May 6 email. "Now we are only sending a press release when there is a death involved."

View the Williamson County and Cities Health District dashboard here

As a follow-up, Patch asked for the date when commissioners directed the changes but the spokesperson failed to respond to additional questions. The public can view the dashboard that is updated each day around noon by clicking here.

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The elevated count of illness was reported on the first day of the second phase of a reopening of the state economy as ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott that allows businesses such as barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons to reopen. Last week, the governor 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.

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: Texas Death Count Passes 1,000 Mark
• Coronavirus: WilCo Count Grows By 11 Cases To 352

"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."