WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – On Thursday, Williamson County (Wilco) moved to code level “red” on its COVID-19 staging chart, meaning there is uncontrolled community spread in the county.

According to state data, Wilco, which sits just north of Austin’s Travis County, is reporting 11,184 cases as of Thursday at 4 p.m.

“The increasing transmission rate and movement into the WCCHD red phase is a great opportunity to remind people during this Thanksgiving season to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and keep six feet of distance from others not in your household,” said County Judge Bill Gravell in a written statement. “While the number of cases has increased, other indicators, such as the hospitalization rate for our region, are below Governor Abbott’s threshold for adopting more stringent guidelines under Executive Order GA-32. Personal protective measures are the best way to keep ourselves and those we care about safe.”

According to Wilco’s phase chart, phase “red” means the public is encouraged to avoid all gatherings and “stay home and stay safe,” avoid or postpone large gatherings, and to continue wearing masks, washing hands, and following social distancing orders.

In order for the county to make it back to level “orange,” there would have to be a decline in the number of new cases, the incidence rate, the positivity rate, and the number of hospitalized individuals.

The county says the color-coded phases are designed to help the public understand their risk, but stress that the guidelines are for planning purposes only and the public is not required to follow the guidelines.

The announcement comes at the same time federal officials are recommending the public not travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, saying people should only celebrate the holiday only with people living in the same household.

“We’re alarmed,” Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager, said during a news conference Thursday. “What we’re concerned about is not only the actual mode of travel — whether it’s an airplane or bus or car, but also the transportation hubs we’re concerned about, as well.