WilCo Raises Coronavirus Alert Level To Critical 'Red' Status

WILLIAMSON COUNTY — Williamson County has moved to the critical red phase in alerting to transmission of the coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

In an advisory, Williamson County and Cities Health District officials said its gating criteria guided the move to raise the alert level from orange to red, which indicates "uncontrolled community COVID-19 transmission."

The key indicators for phase changes — including the seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations and new cases — are all trending upward, officials said. The rolling seven-day average for incidence rate (rate of new reported infections) has increased from 10.76 to 13.08 per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, officials added.

The county's risk-based guidelines set out four distinct stages of risk, from the lowest threat coded green indicating Minimal Community Spread to the most serious, red level indicating the Uncontrolled Community Spread category, officials said. Each tier includes recommended behaviors for each stage, health district officials explained.

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The county's move to red status came hours after health officials in Austin raised the alert level for Travis County to the penultimate orange level. In elevating the risk assessment, Austin Public Health officials cited spikes in all key metrics tracking the illness spread — including increases in cases, hospitalizations and the number of patients being treated at intensive care units.

The change to red status also comes one week after the Williamson County and Cities Health District elevated the county's alert level to orange, signifying high community spread of illness. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Williamson County now ranks 19th in the state for cumulative coronavirus cases, and 23rd in terms of fatalities to date.

The guidelines are suggested for planning but are not requirements or changes to local orders and rules or regulations for businesses, officials stressed.. Rather, officials said, they are guidelines for individual actions and behaviors based on various risk levels. The risk level recommendations are different for those who are at higher risk for severe complications and death from COVID-19, officials added.

“It is imperative at this time that we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to strictly enforce any mitigation measures permitted under Governor Abbott's Orders, including capacity limitations, mask and distancing enforcement, and isolation/quarantine procedures,” Dr. Lori Palazzo, the Williamson County health authority and health district medical director, said in a prepared statement. “It will take all of us collectively to slow transmission enough to prevent our healthcare capacity from being exceeded. The threat has never been greater. Immediate action has never been more necessary.”

Despite the upward illness trends, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell has resisting issuing a shelter-in-place order, deferring to protocol outlined by Gov. Greg Abbott that excludes the step. "The Williamson County and Cities Health District makes recommendations based on the COVID-19 transmission rate to help residents understand the risks," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement on Wednesday after nearly 100 new coronavirus cases were reported. "The guidelines are suggested for planning, but are not requirements. Local guidance may be superseded by an executive order from Governor Abbott."

Gravell responded to the health district's moving to red on Thursday, downplaying the risk while acknowledging the red-status alert yields a "reminder" for residents to take safety precautions. While acknowledging the growing number of regional respiratory illness cases, he said other metrics are well below the thresholds that would trigger further safeguards.

“The increasing transmission rate and movement into the WCCHD red phase is a great opportunity to remind people during this Thanksgiving season to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and keep six feet of distance from others not in your household," Gravell said in a prepared statement. "While the number of cases has increased, other indicators, such as the hospitalization rate for our region, are below Governor Abbott’s threshold for adopting more stringent guidelines under Executive Order GA-32. Personal protective measures are the best way to keep ourselves and those we care about safe.”

Health district officials reminded the public to continue being vigilant and practicing good hygiene, physical and social distancing, and wearing protective face coverings to prevent the spread of illness. Avoiding gatherings outside one's household is especially important during the upcoming holiday season, officials added.

For holiday safety tips, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For more information on the coronavirus, visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District website.