Williamson County, Texas

On July 19, 2021, the Williamson County and Cities Health District increased the COVID risk level to “Red”, which reflects uncontrolled community spread of COVID-19 in Williamson County1. Due to this recent development, in the interest of the health and safety of our community and based on the advice of the Local Health Authority, effective immediately, all individuals coming to the Williamson County Justice Center, including the public and employees, will be required to wear face coverings and observe social distancing at all times in public spaces of the Justice Center unless otherwise noted. Judges have the discretion to remove the mask requirement for participants in their individual courtroom.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell has written a letter to residents in Williamson County encouraging those who are unsure or undecided about getting the COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated to help prevent more deaths. Williamson County has had an average of one death per day since the first death in the county on March 26, 2020. Every person has the right to choose whether or not to be vaccinated. What people who are undecided should know is the vast majority of recent COVID-19 cases and deaths have been unvaccinated people. Since March 2021, 95% of the confirmed case have been unvaccinated people. Judge Gravell describes this pandemic as the single greatest disaster we have faced in the history of the county. Read the full letter here. 

Williamson County has met the criteria to increase to COVID-19 Red Phase. The criteria set by the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) was reached on July 17. 
The TSA Region O hospitalization has also increased daily in the past week, which is the second criteria for moving up a phase. Hospitalization rate remains fairly low at 4.65% but has more than doubled in the past fourteen days. Age ranges with the most cases are those 18-30 years, followed by those 31-50 years. For more information on COVID-19 please visit www.wcchd.org/COVID-19 or www.wilco.org/coronavirus. 

Four months ago, Williamson County began vaccinating the public through partnerships with Curative and Family Hospital Systems (FHS). Including vaccinations of first responders and front-line healthcare workers, the Texas Department of State Health Services reports that 406,836 doses have been administered in the county and approximately 56.6% of adults 16 and older have received their first shot. More than 83% of those age 65 and over have been vaccinated with at least one dose. In an effort to assist people with their vaccine registration who work during the day, the Vaccine Registration Technical Assistance (VRTA) center at First United Methodist Church Georgetown in the McKinney Christian Ministry Center, 1205 Ash Street, in Georgetown, will offer evening hours on Tuesday, April 27, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. A list of VRTA centers and operating hours can be found at www.wilco.org/coronavirus. April 30, 2021, will be the final day that VRTA sites and the County's call center at 512-943-1600 will be open to assist the public. 

Williamson County is no longer accepting names on its COVID-19 vaccine waitlist. The County sent the names of people remaining on its waitlist to their mass vaccine provider Curative to schedule their vaccination appointment. If you have not received an email for an appointment, residents wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine should schedule directly with the provider of their choice. For links to providers, go to www.wilco.org/coronavirus.