Hays County experiencing increase in COVID-19 cases, testing sites offering free tests to community

HAYS COUNTY, Texas - The Hays County Health Department is announcing 145 new cases of COVID-19 as of June 17th.

The county’s total number of lab-confirmed cases is 1,238. Hays County has 903 active cases and 330 individuals are considered to have recovered from the virus, according to the health department.

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As the county sees an increase in the number of cases, the Texas Department of Emergency Management and the National Guard has been out since Sunday administering free tests to the community.

On Sunday, there were 701 tests given to community members in San Marcos. On Wednesday, there was another mobile site in Kyle with drive-thru and walk-up testing. While onsite, officials told FOX 7 Austin they had no intention of turning any individual away who needed testing for the virus.

RELATED: COVID-19 testing site in San Marcos tests over 700, more tests scheduled

There were hundreds of individuals in and out of cars, waiting to be tested. Officials said many lined up hours before tests were even administered.

While many have shown up to the sites to get tested, state Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) says this scale of testing in Hays County is too late. “Hays County is in a bit of a scary place right now,” Zwiener said.

RELATED: Austin Mayor Steve Adler joins 8 other Texas mayors in asking Abbott for face-covering regulations

She added that those in the community have been under-tested and that’s why there have been such big turnouts at the recent testing sites.

“I'm so glad this testing is available and so glad these folks are here,” she said. “But, I really need hays county to look at this seriously and realize we don’t have enough testing in the county and taking some action to making some permanent sites available.”

Additional free testing opportunities will be available throughout Hays County this week at the sites listed below with access to drive-up and walk-up testing lanes at each location:

• Uhland Elementary in Uhland - Thursday, June 18 from 4-8 p.m.
• McCormick Middle School in Buda - Friday, June 19 from 4-8 p.m.
• Bowie Elementary in San Marcos - Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments are required for the drive-up testing with registration starting 24 hours in advance of the test date. To make an appointment, call 512-883-2400 or go online. Appointments for walk-ups are also recommended to expedite the process but not required. 

Results are expected to be available to participants 10-25 days following the testing which is being administered by the Texas National Guard. 

More free testing opportunities are expected to be announced for Hays County soon. As TDEM continues to offer free testing sites across the state, Texans can go online to find the test collection location nearest them.

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