7 Hays County residents die from COVID-19, 323 new additional cases reported Monday

Seven Hays County residents have died of COVID-19, the Hays County Local Health Department reported Monday. 

There have now been 133 coronavirus-related fatalities in the county since the first diagnosis of the virus within its boundaries on March 14. The local health department stated that the seven county residents who died were a Buda man in his 50s, a Buda female in her 50s, a San Marcos man in his 70s, a San Marcos woman in her 70s, a Wimberley man in his 80s, a Wimberley woman in her 80s, and a San Marcos man in his 90s. 

The county reported an additional 323 new COVID-19 cases, 215 recoveries, 28 hospital discharges and 15 hospitalizations on Monday, which included information from Jan. 1-4. 

Epidemiologist Eric Schneider said the virus continues to spread “rapidly” within the community. 

“We are seeing more positive cases and hospitalizations each week,” Schneider said. “It’s important that we do our part to slow the spread, which includes staying home unless necessary, washing our hands often, wearing masks in public and staying distanced from others when we have to go out.”

There are currently 1,737 active COVID-19 cases — a 101-case increase since Thursday — and there have been 10,948 total cases since the first diagnosis of the virus in the county. There have been 2,437 active cases over the last 21 days — a 136-case increase since Thursday. The county stated that there have been 1,313 probable cases spanning from April 2020 through Jan. 4, 2021.

There are currently 36 county residents hospitalized by COVID-19 and there have been 565 total hospitalizations as of Monday. Some patients hospitalized by COVID-19 are in hospitals outside of Hays County but are included in the county’s numbers if they reside within the county, the local health department said. 

There have been 9,088 county residents who have recovered from the disease as of Monday 

The local health department has received 77,327 negative tests and there have been 88,285 tests administered in Hays County.

San Marcos saw 124 new cases reported Monday. There are currently 549 active cases — 70 more than Thursday —  and there have been 4,356 total cases. 

Kyle has tallied 3,376 total cases, including 549 active cases. Buda has recorded 1,855 total cases and currently has 378 active cases. Dripping Springs has amassed 454 total cases and has 95 active cases. Austin, within Hays County, currently has 59 active cases and has had 281 total cases. Wimberley has tallied 350 total cases, including 85 active cases. Driftwood has recorded 138 total cases and has 32 active cases. Niederwald has had 53 total cases and has nine active cases. Mountain City has amassed 29 cases and nine currently active cases. Uhland has had 25 total cases and currently has one active case. Manchaca has recorded 17 total cases, including five active cases. Maxwell has had 15 total cases and has three active cases. 

Bear Creek has tallied four total cases. Creedmoor has one active case and has had three total. Woodcreek has had two total cases.

The 20-29-age-range has recorded the most COVID-19 cases with 3,420 total cases tallied as of Monday.

According to the local health department, 1,743 county residents diagnosed with the disease are between 30-39 years old, 1,457 people are 40-49 years old and 1,433 residents fall in the 10-19-year-old age range and 1,085 are between 50-59 years old.

Six-hundred-eighty-eight county residents diagnosed with the coronavirus are 60-69 years old, 574 are 9 years old or younger, 341 are 70-79 years old and 209 are 80 and older.

According to the local health department, 5,759 females and 5,199 males in Hays County have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The county’s ethnic breakdown states 46.6% of county residents diagnosed with the coronavirus are Hispanic, while 31.2% of county residents diagnosed with the disease are non-Hispanic and 22.3% don’t have a specified ethnicity.

By race, 70% of county residents who’ve had COVID-19 are white, 26.7% are unknown or not specified, 2.5% are Black, 0.7% are Asian and 0.1% are American Indian,

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported there have now been 1,598,713 Texans diagnosed with COVID-19 and 27,969 fatalities as of Monday. There are currently 12,961 Texans hospitalized by the coronavirus, according to the DSHS.

COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks for most people. The disease, however, can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death, especially for older adults and people with existing health problems.