Starting May 1, Williamson County businesses began following Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s executive orders issued April 27, 2020, to reopen businesses safely and strategically in phases while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. His detailed plan is outlined in Texans Helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas. For a copy of the report, click here. On May 5, Governor Abbott issued a new executive order to expand the openings of certain businesses and activities. Starting May 18, personal service businesses, child care services, exercise facilities, non-essential manufacturing, and other offices can open under specific conditions. On Friday, May 22, more businesses began operating including bowling alleys, bars, breweries, wine tasting rooms, aquariums, and natural caverns, to name a few. On May 26, Governor Abbott announced additional services that can open under Phase II such as water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, driver education programs, and food court dining areas within shopping malls. To read what can open Friday, May 29, click here.

Williamson County residents now have a new way to be able to be tested for the COVID-19 virus. Williamson County and the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) are offering a public testing site to increase the ability of county residents to get a COVID-19 test. The site is for people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms; however, this test does not require a visit with a physician and is free of charge. Individuals must first take an online assessment based on screening criteria from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An on-line screening tool will be used to assess if someone is eligible for a COVID-19 test based on CDC criteria. The online assessment tool will be available Monday, April 27, by going to http://www.wcchd.org/COVID-19/testing.php.  The first tests will be conducted starting Thursday, April 30, 2020. Individuals are expected to receive test results in a few days depending upon lab capacity.  

The Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) had its first confirmed cluster of COVID-19 in a nursing facility. Control orders were sent to 43 facilities on March 16, 2020, by the Williamson County and Cities Health District Health Authority. Updated control orders were delivered on April 23 to 65 facilities, to include assisted living, nursing homes, skilled nursing, and long-term care facilities. The investigation is ongoing, WCCHD is working closely with the facility to mitigate the spread among residents and staff. To date, this is the first cluster at a nursing home with 46 confirmed cases of staff and residents.  
 

Since April 1, 2020, the Williamson County call center, which was created to answer residents’ concerns over COVID-19, has been pulling double duty. In addition to answering calls, they have added making hundreds of outbound calls to their daily workload. Except these are not just any calls, they are special one-on-one calls intended to make sure all veterans in Williamson County feel appreciated and acknowledged.  

On April 21, 2020, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell signed new orders to ensure consistency between the Williamson County Stay Home Stay Safe Order issued March 24, 2020, and the State of Texas Executive Orders GA 15 and GA 16. Effective beginning at 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2020, the Stay Home Stay Safe Order is amended pertaining to “Healthcare Operations.” Effective beginning at 12:01 a.m. on April 24, 2020, the Stay Home Stay Safe Order is amended to allow retail businesses not defined as essential businesses to operate in limited capacity. A copy of the new orders with specific requirements can be found on the County’s website here.