Hays County COVID-19 Update December 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Hays County Local Health Department (HCLHD) reports one new COVID-related fatality, a man from the northern Hays County area (Hays County resident with an Austin address) in his 70s. The department also reports 649 new lab-confirmed cases since Wednesday’s update along with six (6) new hospitalizations and seven (7) new hospital discharges. There are 110 additional persons considered recovered. The total number of persons considered recovered is 30,430. The current total of lab-confirmed cases for Hays County since the beginning of the pandemic is 33,537. Hays County has 2,693 active cases. In the past 21 days there have been 2,875 active cases. Hays County has had 1,420 total COVID-related hospitalizations and 15 people are currently hospitalized. Of those, 13 people (87%) are unvaccinated.
With the upcoming holiday, the HCLHD reminds county residents to take precautions especially if traveling or they have family and friends coming to town. Some simple measures can help slow the spread of the virus, including frequent hand washing, social distancing and wearing a mask when indoors around large groups of people. You may need a vaccination prior to travel to certain locales; see the list below for vaccine opportunities. Children age 5-11 are eligible to receive pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Vaccine opportunities (hours may change due to holidays):
- M-F, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines @ Christus Trinity Clinic (formerly Live Oak), 401 Broadway, San Marcos, 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
- M-F, Walk-in Pfizer vaccine clinics @ CommuniCare, 2810 Dacy Ln., Kyle, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.
- More locations can be found here: https://www.vaccines.gov
COVID-19 Update December 31, 2021
| Lab-Confirmed | Negative Tests | Recovered Cases | Active 21 days | Active All | Probable Cases | COVID-related Fatalities | Total Hospitalizations | Current Hospitalizations | Cases Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33537 | 305338 | 30430 | 2875 | 2693 | 3902 | 414 | 1420 | 15 | Mondays |
| Age Range | Female | Male | Total | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-9 yrs. | 1435 | 1505 | 2940 | 1 |
| 10-19 yrs. | 2966 | 2636 | 5602 | 2 |
| 20-29 yrs. | 4470 | 3992 | 8462 | 4 |
| 30-39 yrs. | 2875 | 2498 | 5373 | 13 |
| 40-49 yrs. | 2437 | 2153 | 4590 | 32 |
| 50-59 yrs. | 1555 | 1568 | 3123 | 55 |
| 60-69 yrs. | 1018 | 979 | 1997 | 83 |
| 70-79 yrs. | 487 | 474 | 961 | 98 |
| > 80 yrs. | 296 | 193 | 489 | 126 |
| Total | 17539 | 15998 | 33537 | 414 |
| Current Hospitalizations – 15 | In ICU no Vent | In ICU with Vent | Non-ICU | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unvaccinated | 7 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| Vaccinated* | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
*Includes any Hays County resident with at least one dose of a two-shot vaccine
Active Cases
| Age Range | Female | Male | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-9 yrs. | 89 | 86 | 175 |
| 10-19 yrs. | 182 | 136 | 318 |
| 20-29 yrs. | 469 | 339 | 808 |
| 30-39 yrs. | 321 | 230 | 551 |
| 40-49 yrs. | 215 | 196 | 411 |
| 50-59 yrs. | 115 | 111 | 226 |
| 60-69 yrs. | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| 70-79 yrs. | 26 | 26 | 52 |
| > 80 yrs. | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| Total | 1497 | 1196 | 2693 |
| Area | Total Cases | Active Cases | Recovered | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | 975 | 95 | 865 | 15 |
| Bear Creek | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Buda | 6245 | 537 | 5645 | 63 |
| Creedmoor | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Driftwood | 519 | 33 | 480 | 6 |
| Dripping Springs | 1555 | 105 | 1431 | 19 |
| Hays | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Kyle | 10893 | 830 | 9939 | 124 |
| Manchaca | 65 | 1 | 64 | 0 |
| Maxwell | 100 | 17 | 82 | 1 |
| Mountain City | 94 | 11 | 81 | 2 |
| Niederwald | 166 | 18 | 147 | 1 |
| San Marcos | 10961 | 872 | 9937 | 152 |
| Uhland | 74 | 8 | 64 | 2 |
| Wimberley | 1859 | 166 | 1668 | 25 |
| Woodcreek | 13 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Total | 33537 | 2693 | 30430 | 414 |
NOTE: Some Hays County residents have Austin addresses. Because of HIPAA laws, additional information is not allowed to be shared.
| Ethnicity | Female | Male | Total | Percentage of Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 8552 | 7692 | 16224 | 48.4% |
| Non-Hispanic | 6682 | 6152 | 12834 | 38.3% |
| Not Specified | 2305 | 2154 | 4459 | 13.3% |
| Total | 17539 | 15998 | 33537 | 100% |
| Race | Percentage of Cases |
|---|---|
| American Indian | 0.1% |
| Asian | 1.0% |
| Black | 3.3% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.0% |
| White | 70.6% |
| Other | 1.4% |
| Not Specified/ Unknown | 23.6% |
HAYS COUNTY, Texas – Hays County will host a series of public meetings to share updates about its Roads Improvements Program, including funding strategies and an overview of proposed projects. These public meetings are a part of the County’s continued effort to be transparent and collaborate with community members. Public Meeting Details Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Time: 5 to 7 p.m. Location: Buda City Hall - 405 E Loop St., Buda, TX 78610 Hosted by: Commissioner Michelle Cohen, Precinct 2 Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Time: 5 to 7 p.m. Location: Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center – 1042 Event Center Dr., Dripping Springs, TX 78620 Hosted by: Commissioner Walt Smith, Precinct 4 Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2025 Time: 5 to 7 p.m. Location: Wimberley Community Center – 14068 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, TX 78676 Hosted by: Commissioner Morgan Hammer, Precinct 3 Additional meetings are in development, and details will be shared as they are available. The open-house style meeting will allow attendees to speak with County Commissioners and the transportation team, learn about proposed projects, ask questions, and provide feedback. Public meeting materials and project information will be available online at HaysCoRoads.com starting at 5 p.m. on Aug. 27. Program Background In November 2024, Hays County voters approved the 2024 Road Bond package. In June 2025, a Travis County district judge ruled that the road bond package was void, claiming non-compliance with a public notice requirement. The County is currently appealing this ruling while working to keep these projects moving forward. To uphold the voters’ decision to move these projects forward, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted in a July Commissioners Court meeting to move forward with the issuance of Certificates of Obligation (CO). The COs would fund planning and design for all projects included initially in the bond, except the SH 45 Extension project, which is not funded. Additionally, it would allow construction for eight of the 14 projects included initially in the bond.
Below you will find a drop down menu containing Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Notices for the public.
SAN MARCOS , Texas – The office of Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that a 29-year-old Kyle man, Omar Galvan-Ochoa, was found guilty of murder this week by a Hays County jury and was sentenced, on August 19, by that same jury to life in prison along with a $10,000 fine, the maximum punishment allowed by law for the offense of murder. The evidence showed that on September 6, 2023, 46-year-old Aliaksandr Bushtser was filling his vehicle with gas at a Valero station in Buda when the defendant drove into the gas station and shot Bushtser three times in the back in an act of unprovoked, senseless violence. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office obtained surveillance video from the gas station, which showed the truck the defendant was driving when he shot and killed the victim. Due to the quality of the surveillance video, detectives could not make out a license plate for the vehicle, but they were able to ultimately identify the vehicle, owned by Galvan-Ochoa, by utilizing FLOCK camera images. The identity of the killer was further confirmed by a local resident, who saw the driver of the truck during a separate altercation minutes after the murder and called 911 to provide the license plate number of the truck. Galvan-Ochoa later tried to evade police before his capture. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Schmidt and Christopher Griffith. Following the verdict, ADA Schmidt said, “Bringing this killer to justice was truly a team effort. We’d like to thank the Hays County Sheriff’s investigators, officers from the Kyle Police Department who assisted in apprehending the defendant, officers from the Buda Police Department who responded to the scene of the murder, the victim assistance coordinators who went above and beyond, the legal assistants who helped with voluminous discovery in this case, the DA investigators who tracked down many witnesses, and all of the witnesses who testified in the trial. We also appreciate the time and attention of the jurors who reached a tremendous verdict. We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Aliaksandr Bushtser and hope some measure of peace is found in bringing his killer to justice.” # # #
To view the original notice, click here . This Notice is posted according to the Texas Open Meetings Act. (VERNONS TEXAS CODES ANN. GOV. CODE CH.551). The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission will hold a meeting at 10 am on the 20th day of August 2025 , in the Hays County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building, 1 st floor, Media Room located at 810 South Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, Texas 78666. An Open Meeting will be held concerning the following subjects: 1. Call the meeting to order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comments 4. Approval of July 16 th regular meeting and August 7 th , 2025 special meeting minutes. 5. Discussion and possible action to vote on the Vice Chair of the Civil Service Commission (Keller) 6. Discussion and possible action for an alternative date for the Promotional appeal hearing date and/or the regular commission meeting date that is scheduled on September 17, 2025. (Cary) 7. Adjournment Executive Sessions The Civil Service Commission will announce that it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel to discuss matters of litigation and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda. The Civil Service Commission may also announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, to receive advice from Legal Counsel regarding any other item on this agenda. ADA Compliance Hays County encourages compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the conduct of all public meetings. To that end, persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids such as an interpreter for a person who is hearing impaired are requested to contact the Director of the Civil Service Commission at (512) 393-7838 or via e-mail at Sandra.Galvan@hayscountytx.gov as soon as the meeting is posted (72 hours before the meeting) or as soon as practical so that appropriate arrangements can be made. While it would be helpful to receive as much advance notice as possible, Hays County will make every reasonable effort to accommodate any valid request regardless of when it is received. Braille is not available. POSTED: Date: _____________ Time: _____________ By: _____________
Notice - 2025 Road Project Certificates of Obligation
SAN MARCOS , Texas – The office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that 54-year-old Kevin Abeyta, formerly of Austin, Texas, was convicted and sentenced this week by a jury of continuous sexual abuse of a child, six counts of possession of child pornography with intent to promote and 13 counts of possession of child pornography. Hays County District Judge Sherri Tibbe stacked the sentences handed down by the jury, and Abeyta must now serve 71 years in prison. In February of 2021, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Abeyta, a former art teacher at Campbell Elementary School, after an outcry of child sexual abuse. The minor child who outcried was not a student. Cpl. Chase Crow and Sgt. Mike Andrews traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where Abeyta was then living and teaching as an elementary school art teacher. Several days after Abeyta was interviewed by law enforcement, he gave several hard drives to a friend who subsequently found child sexual abuse material on them. The friend notified authorities, and the hard drives were collected and investigated by Detective Nelson Wray. More than a thousand media files were identified as child sexual abuse material, some including images and videos of the child victim. Abeyta had also been secretly filming at least one young child under her desk at school. Assistant District Attorneys Katie Arnold and Elizabeth Schmidt prosecuted this case. “We’d like to thank the investigators at Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the witnesses who testified in this case, Abeyta’s acquaintance for notifying the police about the incriminating evidence he found and the brave survivor who stood up to her offender,” said Arnold. “Without the bravery of each witness, this man might still be in a classroom putting young children at risk.” Abeyta is not eligible for parole on the first count of continuous sexual abuse.
To view the original notice, click here . Hays County Elections has called the County Election Board meeting for the November 4, 2025 General Election. The meeting details are as follows: Location: Hays County Elections Office 120 Stagecoach Trail San Marcos, Texas 78666 Time: 10:00 a.m. Per § 51.002 of the Texas Election Code, a County Election Board is established in each county for the general election for state and county officers, a special election for an officer regularly elected at the general election, and any other elections ordered by a county authority or held at county expense. For the general election for state and county officers and for a special election for an officer regularly elected at the general election, the county election board consists of the County Judge, Elections Administrator (Chair), Sheriff, Democratic Party County Chair, and Republican Party County Chair. Board Tasks · Consolidation of voting locations in special elections · Procuring and allocating supplies (§ 51.003) · Appointment of Early Voting Ballot Board (§ 87.002) · Receiving notification of logic and accuracy testing (§ 129.023) · Sheriff’s duties Members of other parties represented on the ballot may submit names for the Early Voting Ballot Board.
SAN MARCOS, Texas — More than 1,000 members of the Hays County community turned out to support the Health Department (HCHD), which hosted its 3 rd Annual Back-to-School Fair on Aug. 2, 2025, at the Election Center, located at 120 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos. “Over the years, attendance at the fair has grown significantly, from 150 to 450, and now more than 1,000 attendees. This overwhelming response highlights a strong and growing need for the services and resources we offer,” said Hays County Health Department Director Matthew Gonzales. “The participation of numerous vendors and donors reflects the commitment of organizations within our community to step up and meet these needs. We’re excited to continue improving and innovating how we deliver this fair, and the vital support it provides, to better serve our community.” Families were able to access free services, including vaccinations, hearing and vision screenings, birth certificates, and haircuts. On top of those services, the fair also hosted fun activities for the public. The county and its partners distributed the following at last weekend’s fair: · 300 backpacks with school supplies · 250 lunch bags · More than 200 books · 36 haircuts · Vaccinations for 50 children · 362 boxes of diapers · 110 booster seats · 15 hearing screenings · 500 paletas · 400 hot dogs The event would not have been possible without the county’s community sponsors, including Precinct 2 Commissioner Dr. Michelle Cohen, who said, “It was an honor to be part of the 3 rd Annual Back-to-School Fair. I’m proud to support events like this that bring our community together and provide real help to Hays County families. From the dedicated volunteers to the incredible services offered, it was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together.” Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra added, “Thanks to the hard work of our county Health Department, this year’s Back-to-School Fair was more than just a success — it was a reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to put our kids and community first. From free health screenings to school supplies, every detail reflected a deep commitment to the well-being and future of our children.” The health department clinic is open Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. On Mondays, the clinic operates from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment, call the Health Department at 512-393-5520. For more information on the Back-To-School Fair and future events, visit the Hays County Health Department’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HaysCountyLocalHealthDepartment/ or contact Community Outreach Specialist Kate Esqueda at Kate.Esqueda@hayscountytx.gov .
This Notice is posted according to the Texas Open Meetings Act. (VERNONS TEXAS CODES ANN. GOV. CODE CH.551). The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission will hold a meeting at 1:00 pm on the 7 th day of August 2025 , in the Hays County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building, 1 st floor, Media Room located at 810 South Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, Texas 78666. An Open Meeting will be held concerning the following subjects: 1. Call the meeting to order 2. Roll Call 3. Discussion and possible action of suggested edits to the recommended changes of Civil Service Rule 8.03 and subsections Review and appeal of Promotional Examination. (Keller) 4. Adjournment Executive Sessions The Civil Service Commission will announce that it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel to discuss matters of litigation and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda. The Civil Service Commission may also announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, to receive advice from Legal Counsel regarding any other item on this agenda. ADA Compliance Hays County encourages compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the conduct of all public meetings. To that end, persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids such as an interpreter for a person who is hearing impaired are requested to contact the Director of the Civil Service Commission at (512) 393-7838 or via e-mail at Sandra.Galvan@hayscountytx.gov as soon as the meeting is posted (72 hours before the meeting) or as soon as practical so that appropriate arrangements can be made. While it would be helpful to receive as much advance notice as possible, Hays County will make every reasonable effort to accommodate any valid request regardless of when it is received. Braille is not available. POSTED: Date: _____________ Time: _____________ By: _____________
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Hays County Health Department (HCHD) received notification on July 29, 2025, that there was a laboratory confirmed, positive human case of West Nile Virus. This is the first reported human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) for the 2025 Mosquito Season in Hays County. Due to privacy and confidentiality reasons, HCHD will not disclose any information about the patient. While 80% of people will not experience symptoms of an infection, only 20% of people may experience some symptoms. Symptoms of West Nile Virus infection can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a skin rash on the torso of the body and swollen lymph nodes. While the risk for severe symptoms is low, individuals aged 50 and older and those with compromised immune systems may be at an increased risk for stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and, in extremely rare cases, death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is encouraged to seek medical attention. Currently, there is no specific treatment for West Nile Virus, but over the counter medicine can help reduce symptoms and supportive care can be provided in a hospital setting to those experiencing more severe symptoms. Patients can expect to exhibit symptoms for three to six days but may experience fatigue and weakness for weeks or even months. WNV is a disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes can become infected when they feed on the blood of infected birds. The infected mosquitoes can then transmit WNV to humans and animals. Severe WNV infections can cause neurological complications such as encephalitis and/or meningitis. Hays County Epidemiologist Ian Harris wants to remind residents that “West Nile Virus is not contagious and that humans are ‘dead-end host,’ meaning humans are not capable of transmitting the virus to other individuals.” The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has not confirmed a positive mosquito pool in Hays County during the 2025 Mosquito Season. The county reported positive mosquito pools for WNV in Hays County during the 2024 Mosquito Season. In the state of Texas, DSHS reported 3,314 positive mosquito pools in 2024 for West Nile Virus. As of July 29, 2025, DSHS has reported 272 positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus. The key to preventing West Nile Virus is to minimize the number of mosquitoes in areas where people live, work and play. Public health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their properties. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of standing water. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed. HCHD reminds residents to remember the 3 Ds: DEET, Dress and Drain. DEET: Whenever outside, use insect repellents with the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents, and always follow label instructions. DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing outside. DRAIN: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs. Hays County Development Services is providing mosquito surveillance within the county to monitor and track mosquito-borne illnesses. Some mosquitoes can transfer potentially deadly diseases – known as arboviral diseases – to humans. HCDS is collecting mosquitoes to determine which areas are harboring disease-carrying mosquitoes. HCDS will set up collection traps across the county on a rotating basis to capture samples of several species of mosquitoes that will be sent to the Department of State Health Services in Austin for identification and determination of the type(s) of illness the mosquitoes could be spreading. Monitoring species, mosquito density and geographic breeding sites will provide critical early predictive data to HCDS to help monitor, prevent and combat mosquito populations and mosquito-borne illnesses. HCDS uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gravid-trapping method to collect mosquitoes. This trap is designed to attract female mosquitoes which are ready to lay eggs. The trap uses a fan to draw in mosquitoes that approach the liquid in the bottom of the bucket and keeps them in a collection bag until the trap is collected. HCDS also uses the BG-Sentinel trap. This trap targets other mosquito species that are vectors of other arboviruses. Collection is typically carried out from May until November throughout Texas. Hays County Development Services and the Hays County Health Department will continue to conduct mosquito pool traps and health surveillance to promote the health and safety of our residents. For more information regarding mosquito abatement, contact Hays County Development Services at 512-393-2150. Resident can view Mosquito Tracking Locations via the Hays County Development Services GIS Dashboard at https://bit.ly/HaysCountyMosquitoTrackingLocations. Visit the Texas Department of State and Health Services West Nile website for more information on the disease at txwestnile.org. # # #
