COVID-19 FAQ
If you have a question not listed here, please email pio@georgetown.org. Given this evolving and growing situation, it may take more than 24 hours to respond.
The Williamson County and Cities Health District is monitoring and reporting confirmed cases for Williamson County. For the latest counts, please visit bit.ly/2Unlryu.If you have questions about testing, please call 2-1-1.
The Williamson County and Cities Health District is hosting a COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot north of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street. Appointments are required.
Rapid/Same Day PCR test (https://curative.com/sites/33338)
PRC test (https://curative.com/sites/9041#9/30.637/-97.6807)
WCCHD has not expressed a need for additional kits and new testing facilities are opening up. For a list of testing facilities, visit wcchd.org. Remember, you must first speak to a doctor to get referred to a testing center.
Effective Wednesday, March 10, all COVID-19-related restrictions on businesses and the statewide mask mandate were lifted per Executive Order GA-34 executed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Additionally, Executive Order 36, signed May 18, 2021, prohibits government entities from mandating masks.
A number of social distancing measures were put in place by the City over the last year, and we will continue to utilize most of them for the safety of employees and the public. However, as of May 17, 2021, visitors to City facilities are encouraged, but no longer required, to wear face coverings.
In line with CDC guidelines, all City staff, contractors, and volunteers will be required to maintain social distance when inside City facilities and interacting with City staff.
No. Executive Order 36, signed May 18, 2021, prohibits government entities from mandating masks for any person.
A Smart911 profile is a great way to allow police and fires department first responders to understand what they may encounter if they need to respond to an emergency involving you or your home. This includes information that helps first responders make better decisions during COVID-19 operations.
Info can include:
- Medications you take
- Name of pets in the home
- Name of family members
- Address and other information about your home
- Critical medical conditions
Get a profile today or update your existing profile at smart911.com.
City leaders and staff coordinate daily with one another, as well as with local, regional, and state partners, to monitor and share updates about COVID-19. We are taking steps to ensure our staff remain safe while we continue to provide City services.
The following is a timeline of steps taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and to comply with various orders issued at the County and State levels:
- Jan. 30: Businesses can open to 75 percent capacity as hospitalization rates go down
- Feb. 1: Williamson County starts call center for COVID-19 vaccine information
- March 10: Georgetown updates COVID-19 safety guidelines, reopens most facilities
- March 17: Williamson County Dell Diamond vaccine site to increase vaccine appointments
- March 23: COVID-19 vaccines open to all adults March 29
- May 13: Georgetown updates COVID-19 safety guidelines
- May 20: Gov. Abbott issues executive order prohibiting government entities from mandating masks
2020
- March 13 – City programs, activities, events canceled through March 31 due to Coronavirus concerns
- March 14 – City issues local disaster declaration
- March 16 – City closes library, parks and recreation, and Visitor’s Center facilities in response to COVID-19
- March 18 – Coronavirus update: GoGeo hours, Animal Shelter, trash services, library, municipal court, and local orders
- March 18 – COVID-19 Update: Confirmed cases in Williamson County, gatherings limited to 10 or fewer; Restaurants, bars common area closed, all Georgetown public facilities closed
- March 19 – City Council extends local disaster declaration
- March 25 – City closes Parks and Recreation amenities in response to Williamson County Stay-Home Order
- April 2 – City closes Blue Hole Park to enforce physical distancing orders
- April 3 – Georgetown Chamber and City of Georgetown partner to establish COVID-19 Small Business Resource Grant
- April 8 – City closes parks and trails for Easter Weekend
- April 20 – Red Poppy Festival goes virtual
- April 30 – Library, some parks facilities open with limited service May 1
- May 14 – City facilities opening Monday, May 18
- May 28 – Additional City facilities, programs opening June 1
- June 11 – Downtown Parking Ambassadors return to service
- June 24 – July 4 celebration canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
- June 25 – Blue Hole closure
- June 29 – Georgetown businesses to require face coverings for employees and customers
- July 3 –Georgetown updates mask order to require face coverings in public
- Aug. 7 – City provides funding to help people affected by COVID-19 pay residential utility bills
- Aug. 19: Last day of free COVID-19 testing in Georgetown on Aug. 20
- Aug. 26: Expanded outdoor seating, retail service areas coming to downtown
- Sept. 9: Free COVID-19 testing in Georgetown Sept. 12-15
- Oct. 1: Free COVID-19 testing in Georgetown in October
- Oct. 8: Second free COVID-19 testing site in Georgetown opens Oct. 9
- Oct. 27: Georgetown issues order about outdoor gatherings, special events
- Nov. 12: Public Library moves to curbside service only Nov. 13
- Dec. 4: Round up your utility bill to help neighbors in need
You can view the press releases associated with these events (as well as others) here.
The City is in regular contact with our social services partners as well as the Williamson County and Cities Health District, Williamson County officials, and appropriate State agencies including the Governor’s office. We are all working to ensure all our residents continue to receive the critical and essential services these agencies provide.
We are very fortunate to have great community partners in Georgetown. From our school district, to our local grocery stores, to our non-profit organizations, there has been an all-hands-on-deck approach to managing this unprecedented event.
For example, the Caring Place is providing food distribution on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon in its drive through. Walk ups can use the north gate. For more information, visit their website caringplacetx.org. For more resources, the City has created a community resources page here.
In accordance with CDC guidelines, visitors to City facilities, as well as City of Georgetown staff, volunteers, and contractors will be encouraged to wear a mask, particularly when social distancing is not possible and when member(s) of the public are wearing one. Visitors to City facilities will not be required to wear a mask, per City Council direction, and staff cannot be required to wear masks, per Gov. Abbott’s orders.
Our focus remains on protecting our customers and staff while providing the highest level of customer service.
Let’s all keep doing our part to protect each other and help stop the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a mask
- Practice social distancing
- Wash your hands
Click here for information regarding Texas Supreme Court rulings on evictions.
The City is gradually reopening parks and recreation facilities in accordance with the governor’s orders and CDC guidelines. For a full list, visit the Parks and Recreation website at parks.georgetown.org.
Service continuity and restoration are our top priorities. We are taking steps to ensure our staff remains safe, including enforcing physical distancing among both staff and the public and disinfecting equipment and surfaces. Additionally, our staffing plans include the use of not only our employees, but also contractors and mutual aid assistance from neighboring utilities.
Yes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, America’s drinking water supplies remain a safe and affordable way to access the water needed for drinking, cooking, and maintaining personal hygiene during the COVID-19 outbreak.
You should continue to use and drink water from your tap as usual, as COVID-19 is not present in drinking water supplies. The City of Georgetown uses disinfection processes that provide protection effective in removing and/or inactivating viruses.
Even as the City closes public facilities, we will continue our water treatment processes to provide safe and reliable water.
Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) continues to operate normally. The transfer station located on Walden Drive remains open to the public. TDS staff are collecting landfill trash, recycling, brushy, and bulky on normal schedules with the following changes:
- In order to reduce employees’ potential exposure to bacteria, please bag all landfill trash and to keep recycled materials loose.
- If you, or someone in your household is sick with flu-like symptoms or those similar to Covid-19, please bag and place all discarded materials into landfill trash. Do not recycle until everyone in the household has recovered.