Man Dies Of Coronavirus In WilCo, Death Count Grows To 52

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Willliamson County officials on Saturday reported the death of a man in his 60s from the coronavirus — the 17th fatality blamed on the contagion in the past two weeks and the 52nd death since the onset of respiratory illness.

The latest victim of the contagious illness for which no vaccine exists was a man in his 60s. Patient privacy laws preclude health officials from providing further identifying information.

“Today, let us remember that people are losing their lives due to COVID-19," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. "Remember that in our community, families are mourning the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Let us also commit to doing our part to reduce the spread of this disease by wearing a cloth face covering, staying six feet apart, and washing our hands frequently. It takes all of us working together to stop the spread."

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Coronavirus has left a trail of death in its wake across the county in the past few days, with 17 people dying of the illness in a two-week span.

The death reported on Saturday comes one day after another man in his 60s was reported to have died of the illness on Friday. The day before, two men in their 50s and 70s were reported to have died of coronavirus. On Wednesday, two other men in their 70s succumbed to the powerful virus. A man in his 90s was reported to have died from the illness on Tuesday, preceded by the deaths of three more people on Monday.

Previous coverage:

• Man In His 60s Latest To Die Of Coronavirus In Williamson County
• 2 More Die Of Coronavirus In Wilco, 15 Deaths In 2 Weeks
  
• 2 More Die Of Coronavirus In Williamson County

The week before that more deaths. On June 30, two women in their 50s and 80s were reported to have died of the illness. The day before, two more patients — men in their 40s and 80s — succumbed to the virus preceded the previous Sunday by a man in his 40s and days before that by the deaths of two elderly patients.

As of Friday, the number of coronavirus cases grew by 212 to 3,654 on Friday as shown on the statistical dashboard maintained by the Williamson County and Cities Health District. There were 103 patients currently hospitalized, including 32 at being treated at intensive care units and 16 placed on ventilators.

The rising illness rates are reflected in dwindling hospital resources, as illustrated on the dashboard. Officials report 18 percent of hospital beds are currently available, along with 9 percent of ICU beds and 58 percent of ventilators.

Cities in Williamson County with the most confirmed cases of the respiratory illness are:

• Round Rock: 1,281 cases.
• Georgetown: 614 cases.
• Cedar Park: 415 cases.
• Hutto: 249 cases.
• Leander: 200 cases.

A piece of Austin within Williamson County jurisdiction is part of the count, with 239 cases. There is also a category with an "other" heading that represents communities with less than 20,000 population from where 431 cases have emerged. A health district spokesperson previously explained to Patch they're not allowed to reveal geographical specifics on illness sources with such sparse population.

Updated data on in infection rates for Saturday are expected to be released by 4:30 p.m. Refresh this page later for the most up-to-date information.

For more information on the latest COVID-19 cases count in Williamson County, please visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) dashboard located at www.wcchd.org/COVID-19/dashboard.php. The dashboard information is updated daily.

If you have symptoms of respiratory illness including cough, fever, and shortness of breath, please contact your health care provider. It is important to call ahead before arriving at a clinic, urgent care, or emergency department to avoid potential spread. For information on the county response to COVID-19, go to www.wilco.org/COVID-19.