The Hays County Local Health Department has been notified of one additional case of COVID-19, bringing the total cases in Hays County to seven. The person had contact with someone who had already tested positive.
The adult person was on the San Marcos High School campus on March 12, 2020 and was asymptomatic (not displaying symptoms) at the time, but later developed symptoms of fever and tested positive for COVID-19. San Marcos CISD has already sent notification to its employees and student families.
According to Hays County Local Health Department Epidemiologist Eric Schneider the risk of transmission is low for those on campus, but he recommends that all staff and students on campus monitor themselves for symptoms until March 26, 2020. Those symptoms typically include fever, cough and congestion.
The breakdown of cases by city as of March 22 is:
Austin (some Hays County addresses are Austin) – 1
Buda – 1
Dripping Springs – 1
Kyle -2
San Marcos - 2
Because of HIPAA laws, additional information about patients is not allowed to be shared.
Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider reminds citizens that most persons who contract the disease will have low to moderate fever, a cough, and congestion, typically treated with over the counter medications as there is no specialized treatment for COVID-19 like there is with Influenza. The majority of persons who contract this disease will not need to seek medical care. Residents with these symptoms should self-quarantine until they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications for 72 hours.
Residents with underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system and persons over 65 tend to be hardest hit by COVID-19 and should consult their health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms, as should persons with high fevers or shortness of breath.
