Hays County reports 8 new COVID-19 cases, active count crosses 100

Hays County reported an additional eight new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases Friday, raising the total case amount to 266. 

The county currently has 105 active cases, according to county epidemiologist Eric Schneider.

The Hays County Local Health Department has received 2,966 negative tests and has 230 tests pending. Schneider said many of the test results pending are from tests conducted at nursing homes as required by Gov. Greg Abbott.

As of Friday, 158 county residents have recovered from the disease. There have been 28 hospitalizations caused by the coronavirus, including six current hospitalizations. 

Hays County has seen three fatalities since the first positive diagnosis of the disease on March 14 — A woman in her 80s who was living with a relative in Buda, a Wimberley resident in their 90s and a San Marcos resident who was in their 60s. 

Five of the eight new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday originate from Kyle, which has now seen 132 total cases and has 61 active cases. Buda recorded two new cases since Thursday, raising the total case count to 33 and active count to 12. Wimberley tallied one new virus case since Thursday, raising its case count to 11 total and four active cases. 

San Marcos has had 71 total cases, including 24 active cases. Austin, within Hays County, has had seven total virus cases and has three active cases. Dripping Springs has had six total cases and has one active case. Driftwood and Niederwald have had two total cases each. Bear Creek and Uhland have each seen one total case. 

One-hundred-fifty females and 116 males have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Hays County.

Fifty-nine county residents diagnosed with COVID-19 are between 20-29 years old. Fifty-five county residents who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 are between 30-39 years old. Fifty-four residents fall in the 50-59-year-old age range. Thirty-nine people diagnosed with the disease are 40-49 years old. Twenty-five patients are 60-69 years old, 11 are between 10-19 years old, 11 are 70-79 years old, nine are 80 and older and three are 9 years old or younger.

According to the county, only 10 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 traveled before becoming sick, while 256 residents had no travel history before becoming symptomatic. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Friday that 53,349 Texans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and there have been 1,480 fatalities. The DSHS estimates that 32,277 Texans have recovered from the disease.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear between 2-14 days of exposure to the virus. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that people should seek medical attention if they display one or more of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; persistent pain or pressure in the chest; new confusion or inability to arouse; or bluish lips or face. The CDC recommends calling a doctor’s office or emergency room before going. Those who self-isolate with COVID-19 can leave self-isolation if they haven't had a fever for at least 72 hours (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers), symptoms have improved and it’s been at least 7 days since symptoms first appeared, according to the CDC.