Williamson County, Texas

Throughout the pandemic response, one of Williamson County’s main goals has been to protect those most vulnerable in our community from the spread of COVID-19. As a continuing commitment to that goal, the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement with the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) to allow Williamson County EMS Community Health Paramedics (CHP) to work with them on grant-funded activities to conduct COVID-19 assessments and education at long-term care facilities. In exchange, Williamson County will receive $47,000 of the grant funds from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) grant for building local COVID-19 response capacity.

Starting Wednesday, October 14, Williamson County bars and similar establishments may offer on-premises services at up to 50 percent of the total listed occupancy of the establishment while observing Governor Abbott’s minimum standard health protocols. View the minimum standard health protocols for bars or similar establishments here. On October 7, Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order GA-32 to open bars and similar establishments in qualifying counties in Texas if the area does not have high hospitalizations and if the county judge signs an opt-in form to allow it. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell signed and submitted his opt-in form to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commissioner on October 8, 2020, so that more Williamson County businesses can be open to serve the public.
 

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell wants Williamson County to be open for business. He plans to be the first county judge in Texas to opt in with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to allow bars and similar establishments to operate with in-person service at 50 percent while following Governor Abbott’s minimum standard health protocols. 

“It is time for all of our businesses to be open to serve our public while following the Governor’s health protocols to be safe. Our county residents have shown that they can be smart and protect themselves and others, so I will be choosing for Williamson County to opt in on October 14. This is another step forward for us as a community, and we can do this safely and wisely,” said County Judge Bill Gravell.
 

On October 6, 2020, the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved allocating $12 million from federal CARES Act funds to reimburse schools and school districts located in Williamson County for COVID-19 related expenses in Phase IV of the Wilco Forward program. The funding for this Phase IV program was re-allocated from the $20 million previous allocated to cities in Phase II. As a result of good planning and good stewardship, the needs of the cities were far less than originally expected. 

Williamson County Office of Emergency Management in partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and in coordination with the City of Georgetown will be hosting free COVID-19 testing in October. Testing will be held October 14, 15, and 16. Testing will be conducted at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow Street, Georgetown, 78626. It will begin at 9 a.m., and it will close by 1 p.m. or until supplies last.