Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX (April 24, 2020) – The Hays County Local Health Department reports one new COVID-19 lab-confirmed positive cases overnight and today, bringing the total to 148, with 71 of those affected already recovered and out of quarantine (the same number as yesterday) and 76 current active cases, one more than yesterday. The number of hospitalizations remains the same: 4 current and 14 total.
The high number of negative test results on today’s (April 24) report – 1,478, which is 337 more than yesterday – is because the Department of State Health Services electronic reporting system sent through a large number of negative test results that have been backlogged in the system which the Local Health Department received today. Positive test result numbers are not affected as they are reported directly to the Local Health Department by the labs that run the tests.
Note that the COVID-19 online Dashboard is updated twice a day, so may show different numbers than this daily snapshot as of 4 p.m. on April 24:
| Lab Confirmed | Negative | Pending | Recovered | Active Cases | Fatalities | Total Hospitalizations |
| 148 | 1478 | 11 | 71 | 76 | 1 | 14 |
| Current Hospitalizations 4 | ||||||
| AGE RANGE | Female | Male | Total | Fatalities | ||
| 0-9 yrs | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 10-19 yrs | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 20-29 yrs | 16 | 5 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 30-39 yrs | 23 | 15 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 40-49 yrs | 14 | 7 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 50-59 yrs | 15 | 20 | 35 | 0 | ||
| 60-69 yrs | 11 | 4 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 70-79 yrs | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | ||
| > 80 yrs | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 89 | 59 | 148 | ||||
| Travel Related | 10 | |||||
| No Travel Reported | 138 | |||||
| Interview Pending | 0 | |||||
| 148 | ||||||
| Total Cases | Active Cases | |||||
| Austin* | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Bear Creek | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Buda | 19 | 5 | ||||
| Driftwood | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Dripping Springs | 6 | 4 | ||||
| Hays | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kyle | 64 | 39 | ||||
| Mountain City | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Niederwald | 1 | 1 | ||||
| San Marcos | 46 | 19 | ||||
| Uhland | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Wimberley | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Woodcreek | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 148 | 76 |
*Note: Some Hays County residents have Austin addresses
Because of HIPAA laws, additional information about patients is not allowed to be shared.
Prevention Tips:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, including between your fingers and underneath your nails. Handwashing is considered the best way to remove germs and dirt, and hand sanitizers should be used only when handwashing is not available. The hand sanitizers should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
- Avoid handshaking and high-fives
- Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you feel sick
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then put the tissue in the trash, or use the crook of your elbow if a tissue isn’t available
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe. Clean cell and desk phones, computer keyboards, door handles, and work surfaces often.
- The CDC is now recommending persons visiting grocery stores, pharmacies, etc., wear cloth face masks to help keep from spreading COVID-19 since people who are not experiencing symptoms may be contagious. If you have close, frequent contact with a sick person you should also wear a mask as should the patient if he or she is able to wear one.
- Avoid travel to areas that have been designated high-risk areas because of multiple verified cases of Corona
- Individuals are encouraged to avoid large gatherings. This includes, but is not limited to concerts, plays, sporting events, gymnasiums, dances, and restaurants. Recreation activities that can be practiced in private are encouraged. This virus spreads by person-to-person transmission just like the flu, so limiting human contact can help prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider reminded residents to rely on qualified information sources for additional information such as the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control which offers information in Spanish and Chinese as well as English. The County’s COVID-19 info is here, and as in any emergency situation www.HaysInformed.com, the countywide emergency notification blog, has a rolling list of important information regarding COVID-19. Many City websites also have information for their residents.
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