Updated 12:20 p.m. May 26
The ever-evolving story of coronavirus and its impacts has changed everyday life in a short period of time. Here is a timeline of coronavirus in Georgetown over a 10-week span from March 3 to May 26.
March 3
March 4
March 6
March 11
- GTX Film Festival postponed to June
- Southwestern University extends spring break two days for students
March 12
March 13
March 14
- Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell issues local state of disaster
- Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross declared local state of disaster
March 16
- President Donald Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend gathering reduce to 10 people or less
- Drive-thru testing facilities for coronavirus now operational at two Austin-area locations
- Williamson County limits mass gatherings to 50 people through May 11
- Red Poppy Festival postponed to October
- Georgetown ISD suspends normal operations for two weeks following spring break
- City closes library, visitors center, recreation center and animal shelter to the public
March 17
March 18
- Gov. Abbott waives regulations to allow restaurants to deliver alcohol with food orders
- Gov. Abbott issues proclamation allowing local May elections to be postponed to November
- Williamson County announced it will not support May elections
- First positive case of coronavirus confirmed in Williamson County
- Williamson County gathering restrictions reduced to 10 and orders food establishments to close common dining areas
March 19
- Gov. Greg Abbott issued executive order to reduce gatherings to 10 people or less; close bars restaurants, gyms and massage parlors; forbid nursing home visits; and close of schools through April 3
- Williamson County closed nonessential offices to the public
- City closes City Hall, utilities lobby, Georgetown Municipal Court, Public Service Operation and Training Center, and parks and recreation office to the public
- Georgetown mayor extends disaster declaration to May 11 and staff recommends May municipal elections shift to November
- Southwestern University postpones commencement and moves to distance learning for the semester
March 23
March 24
- Williamson County issued “Stay Home Stay Safe” order through April 13
- Commissioners dump $900,000 into disaster relief fund for coronavirus response
- Georgetown ISD and city of Georgetown move May elections to November
March 25
March 26
- Central Texas officials say 90% reduction in interaction needs to happen immediately
- Georgetown ISD extends school closure through April 13 and cancels STAAR and End-of-Course exams
March 27
March 28
- Texas sees 77% increase in unemployment insurance claims
- Williamson County reports firs coronavirus-related death
March 30
March 31
- Fifty cases of coronavirus reported in Williamson County
- Georgetown ISD extends school closure to May 4
April 2
April 3
April 6
- Report by The University of Texas shows the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area could vary from 6,000 to 1.7 million confirmed cases based on the effectiveness of social distancing
- Williamson County receives 1,000 coronavirus test kits and recommends residents start using face coverings
- Georgetown ISD moves to graded distance learning lessons
April 7
- Williamson County extends “Stay Home Stay Safe” order through April 30 and $2.5 million to coronavirus relief fund and conducts commissioners court meetings via virtual platform
- Williamson County asks for public help to make masks
- Georgetown lawyer alleges Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell violated 'Stay Home Stay Safe’ order
April 8
- Austin-area health care centers receive more than $7 million from CARES Act
- Georgetown and Williamson County close parks for Easter weekend
April 9
April 10
April 13
April 14
- Georgetown has $181K in coronavirus expenses so far; projects a $750K loss in sales tax to end fiscal year
- City waives estimated $228K in late fees and other costs for Georgetown homeowners and businesses over next 6 weeks
- Medical director for Georgetown receives pay raise to $12,950 per month
- Georgetown ISD moves meal distribution to once a day
- Southwestern University receives $1.2 million from CARES Act
April 15
April 17
- Williamson County announces increase in overdoses compared to usual monthly average
- Georgetown ISD to remain closed for the school year following state orders
April 20
- Williamson County reports fifth coronavirus-related death, turns focus to mass testing
- State parks, historical sites reopen as first step in Gov. Abbott's plan to revive Texas economy
- Williamson County Judge seeks $8,000 in reimbursements for mask supplies
- Survey aims to gauge Williamson County business needs after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
April 21
- Williamson County confirmed coronavirus cases total 158
- Georgetown ISD to base GPA, class rankings on fall 2019 semester grades
- Williamson County Judge to donate $8,000 in mask supplies, forgo reimbursement
April 22
- Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell signs orders to allow elective hospital procedures, retail to go
- Texas hospitals begin offering some elective procedures again
April 23
- State to get $54M in federal funds to support older Texans and people with disabilities during coronavirus
- Williamson County updates orders on nursing home safety during coronavirus pandemic
- Williamson County receives more than $93M in federal funding, forms team to outline criteria for distribution
April 24
April 25
- At least 46 people tested positive for coronavirus in Round Rock nursing home
- Georgetown ISD plans parade for graduating seniors
April 27
- H-E-B extends store hours statewide
- Georgetown Public Library offering curbside pickup again after coronavirus shutdown
- Coronavirus testing site for those with symptoms now available in Williamson County
- Gov. Greg Abbott announces plan to reopen businesses, end stay-at-home order
April 28
- Downtown parking garage, Fire Station No. 7 and more Georgetown projects on hold; others to proceed as planned
- Georgetown's disaster declaration extended beyond May 11
- Georgetown seeking reimbursement for coronavirus expenditures
April 30
- DATA: More than 3,100 Georgetown residents claim unemployment in a month
- Confirmed cases of coronavirus is Williamson County reach 301
- The Wesleyan nursing home in Georgetown reports 1 employee with coronavirus, no others showing symptoms
- Williamson County offices to remain closed to the public despite businesses opening May 1
May 1
- Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown reopens for tours
- Williamson County reports 10th coronavirus-related death
- Georgetown library, some park facilities to open with limited service May 1
- As Georgetown businesses open, residents are split whether to go out or stay in
- Williamson County partners with Family Emergency Room Round Rock and Cedar Park locations to ramp up coronavirus testing
May 4
- Austin Community College extends emergency declaration, updates district on COVID-19 actions
- Wolf Ranch Town Center officially reopens
May 5
May 6
- Texas coronavirus relief fund launched to bring financial help to communities in need
- More than $5 million in federal aid rolls into Texas for crisis counseling services
- Williamson County and Cities Health District launches information hotline for restaurants
- Georgetown seeking grant applications to disperse funding to nonprofits
- Southwestern University 2020 graduation rescheduled for October
- Williamson County launches small business grant program
May 7
- Texas receives $31M in federal dollars to expand coronavirus testing
- Nearly 2,000 businesses apply to Williamson County small-business grant in first day
- Gov. Abbott: Texas can no longer be jailed for violating COVID-19 orders
May 9
May 11
- Texas Education Agency says 2020-21 school year likely to be disrupted by COVID-19
- Williamson County small business grant program issues nearly 200 checks in three days
- Gov. Greg Abbott orders coronavirus testing for 100% of nursing home residents, staff
May 12
- UPDATE: Williamson County commissioners approve purchase of antibody coronavirus tests for first responders
- Wesleyan skilled nursing home reports 3 total confirmed cases of coronavirus
- Williamson County nears 400 confirmed cases of coronavirus, reports 2 additional deaths May 12
- Georgetown officials work to manage increasing costs of coronavirus, potential drop in sales tax revenue
May 13
- Texas launches pilot to allow SNAP recipients to order groceries online starting May 13
- UPDATED: See how many unemployment insurance claims were made in Georgetown on April 1-May 2
- Georgetown ISD plans for in-person high school graduations in late May
- Q&A with Georgetown Chamber of Commerce: How COVID-19 has affected Georgetown business
- Family Emergency Room opens COVID-19 testing for nonsymptomatic individuals in Williamson County
- Georgetown hotel occupancy revenue down 80%-90% compared to same time last year
May 14
- Number of unemployment claims in Williamson County grows by over 1,523% year over year
- Southwestern University convenes campus readiness task force for post-coronavirus plans
May 15
- More than 150 cars, Williamson County first responders to join final St. David's Round Rock parade
- Williamson County small business grant program distributes more than $7.5M in first week
- Why local physicians say Austin is 'one plane ride away' from an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases during the coronavirus pandemic
- Nationwide sales of retail, food services plummet in March, April amid social distancing, stay-at-home orders
May 18
- After weeks of closure, Georgetown gyms prepare to open May 18
- Georgetown ISD has distributed more than 95K meals to students, families since school closure
- Georgetown to host Austin Avenue bridges project open house virtually May 20
- Texas enters Phase 2 of reopening as Gov. Abbott announce opening dates for child care centers, bars and sporting events
May 19
- UPDATE: Sixth Williamson County EMS employee tests positive for COVID-19
- Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Williamson County top 500; 20th resident dies
- Williamson County terminates local disaster declaration
- Georgetown sees decrease in home sales as impact of coronavirus felt on housing market
- Texas has doles out $6.4B in unemployment benefits, projects state fund to run out by end of May
- Furloughs, layoffs likely coming at University of Texas
May 20
- DATA: See how many unemployment insurance claims were made in Georgetown from April 8-May 9
- Updated: Appeals court blocks vote-by-mail expansion; Texas Supreme Court hears separate case
May 21
- Gov. Abbott removes late-free barrier for Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license, permit renewal
- Budget cuts slated for Texas state agencies, higher education institutions in 2020-21 biennium
- Williamson County small-business grant program issues over $15 million
May 22
- Texas to test all state hospitals, supported living centers for COVID-19
- LIST: What is open, closed in Texas and how businesses can operate
May 26
