AUSTIN, Texas — KVUE is keeping you updated with the latest coronavirus and COVID-19 news in the Austin area.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's Oct. 1 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 752,500 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 15,800 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 29,600 cases have been reported and at least 430 people have died. At least 28,599 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: More than 5,900 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 55 people have died. At least 4,619 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: More than 8,600 cases have been reported in the county and at least 143 people have died. More than 8,400 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Texas coronavirus data Oct. 2
Updates:
6:25 p.m. – University of Texas students wishing to attend home football games are required to test negative prior to attending the game.
Testing for "Big Ticket" holders before the Texas-TCU football game was held on Sept. 30 and Oct 1. Of the 1,286 tests administered to students, 12 came back positive, according to UT. Those students will not be allowed to attend the game, per UT's coronavirus policy.
Ahead of the Texas-UTEP home opener, 1,198 students were tested and 95 of them were COVID-positive.
6:10 p.m. – Williamson County reported 34 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total to 8,706 cases and 143 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 8,435 people have recovered from the virus in Williamson County.
6:05 p.m. – Texas reported 2,729 new cases on Friday along with backlogged cases, bringing the total to 756,004 confirmed cases statewide. The state's death toll from COVID-19 is now at 15,895. There are 3,227 current hospitalizations statewide and the positivity rate average is at 6.64%.
The positivity rate average in the Austin metro area is at 2.8%, while the weekly average of new cases in the metro is the lowest since Sept. 10 and down 13% from a week ago. There have been 774 deaths from COVID-19 in the 12-county KVUE viewing area since the start of the pandemic. The daily hospital admissions average over the past week in the Austin area is at 12.4 per day.
6 p.m. – Travis County reported another death from COVID-19 on Friday along with 71 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 29,647 cases and 430 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 28,599 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 79 people hospitalized from COVID-19, with 24 in the ICU and 13 on ventilators.
3:20 p.m. – Hays County reported five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, one new hospitalization and 27 additional people now considered recovered.
3:10 p.m. – Hays County is offering free COVID-19 testing to the public starting on Friday, Oct. 2 in Kyle and Dripping Springs, Monday, Oct. 5 in San Marcos and Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Wimberley. Funding for the testing comes from the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Testing will be offered at the following sites:
- Kyle: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hays CISD PAC, 979 Kohlers Crossing
- Dripping Springs: Friday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Triangle, 151 Mercer St.
- San Marcos: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ramon Lucio Park, 601 S. CM Allen Pkwy.
- Wimberley: Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wimberley Activity Center, 221 Stillwater Road
Anyone is eligible to receive a test, with or without symptoms. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ups will be accepted. Appointments can be made by visiting curativetest.com.
12:36 p.m. – During Friday's Austin Public Health press conference, Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said the news regarding President Donald Trump and Melania Trump's positive tests highlights the importance of personal hygiene and contact tracing in limiting the spread of the virus.
11 a.m. – Hours after President Donald Trump announced he and the First Lady tested positive for coronavirus, Austin Public Health is holding a Q&A to answer some COVID-19 questions.
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