Hays County, City Of San Marcos Issue State Of Disaster Declarations

By Terra Rivers | Managing Editor

The City of San Marcos and Hays County officials gathered Sunday morning, March 15, to issue a State of Disaster declaration.

The declaration will grant Hays County, San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, and Dripping Springs access to additional resources and funding options to help deal with the coronavirus situation sweeping the nation.

The declaration will also activate the Hays County and the local municipalities’ emergency plans.

The announcement of the declaration came after officials reported the first presumptive positive COVID-19 Case in the county.

According to officials, the presumptive positive patient traveled to multiple cities along the West Coast of the United States and is believed to have been exposed while traveling. Upon arrival back to Central Texas, the patient notified the Hays County Local Health Department about their symptoms.

The Hays County Local Health Department is working with the Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to notify the passengers that were potentially exposed while on the plane with the patient.

“We know that local, regional and state partnerships are critical during times like these,” Mayor Jane Hughson said. “We have built strong relationships with our partners at the local, county, and state level, and we have relied on those relationships since learning about the COVID-19 Outbreak. The city has been working for weeks on this collaborative effort.”

According to Mayor George Haehn of Buda, the city of Buda issued a State of Disaster declaration on Friday following Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of Disaster declaration.

“It’s not a declaration of emergency,” Haehn said. “It is a means of gaining access to state and federal assets that are released with the declaration by the president and by the governor.”

Schneider said the virus mimics the flu, and that the majority of Hays County residents will be able to fight and overcome the condition at home on their own.

Residents are advised to remain in self-quarantine if they are running a fever or showing symptoms of sickness; after they are fever-free for 48-hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, they can return to their daily lives as normal.

If a resident is experiencing symptoms and is immunocompromised, young or elderly, they should seek medical attention.

Schneider noted that the county’s presumptive positive COVID-19 patient did not come in contact with anyone in the community, so the risk of exposure is “extremely low to non-existent.”

Officials said the patient was released from the hospital. He is 44-years-old and currently in self-quarantine at his home. Officials released no further information regarding the patient. 

According to Schneider, the county is still awaiting the results from the CDC to confirm the diagnosis; many people have been tested, but there is only ONE presumptive positive case.

Regular doctors are now able to run the test for COVID-19. However, Schneider said there is no point getting tested if you are not experiencing symptoms, such as fever; the test will come back negative until a person has had a fever for approximately 48-hours.

“We all understand that this is a rapidly spreading virus,” Haehn said. “We also understand that this is a virus that has not in the past been in the human population, and that’s why it’s spreading so quickly.”

Other speakers at the meeting included Representative Erin Zwiener, Mayor Travis Mitchell of Kyle, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider, Hays County Chief of Staff and Emergency Coordinator, Alex Villalobos, San Marcos Emergency Coordinator Rachel Engle, San Marcos City Manager Bert Lumbreras and Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Minnick of Wimberley.

“We knew we would eventually see cases in our area,” Hughson said. “There is no reason to panic. It is time for everyone to remain calm and to continue to practice preventive measures. We’re in this together, and we’ll get passed this together with our coordinated effort.”

Officials continue to advise social distancing and healthy behaviors to prevent the spread of the disease.

Not only for your protection but the safety of others, please follow this list of guidelines

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.