Emergency Services Prepare To Reopen County Facilities, Report Excess COVID-19 Tests

Staff Reports

During Tuesday’s Commissioners meeting, the Hays County Emergency Management Team reported the health department had an excess of COVID-19 tests.

According to county officials, residents must complete a five-question screening process, but no one has been turned away from getting a test.

The county has approximately 1,077 tests available for COVID-19 testing at this time.

On Sunday, May 10, the National Guard held a testing site in Dripping Springs and Wimberley; a total of 96 Hays County residents were tested.

Baylor Scott and began offering COVID-19 testing in Buda on Wednesday after local officials expressed concerns about the lack of testing options within the city limits.

According to Alex Villalobos, Hays County Emergency Coordinator, the county is in the process of preparing to reopen county facilities.

“Last Friday, I received a phone call from our district court judge, Gary Steel, with regards to creating a plan for opening up our courts,” Villalobos said. “This will be a scaled opening; they’re planning on a very limited access to courts on June 1, and we’re still waiting on a draft plan from them.”

Villalobos said the county is continuing to look for supplies of personal protective equipment and is looking at vendors for plexiglass to protect staff once county facilities reopen.

Commissioners held a discussion and considered a countywide solution for the public to enter county facilities using a technology-based system as part of the reopening facilities process.

The county considered upgrading its current NEMO-Q System, which can work with county IT, to implement online appointments for the public as well as entry kiosks and texting abilities to allow residents to wait to enter buildings when called.

The county was quoted $57,600.00 for a countywide system including 3 Kiosks.