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 Dec. 25 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 1.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 26,200 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 47,076 cases have been reported and at least 528 people have died. At least 42,019 people have recovered from the virus. On Dec. 23, 375 new cases were reported in the county.
- Hays County: At least 9,175 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 122 people have died. At least 7,625 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 18,568 cases have been reported in the county and at least 194 people have died. At least 16,892 people have recovered from the virus.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Dec. 23
Updates:
9 p.m. – Starting on Monday, long-term care centers across the country will get thousands of doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the state health department, 126,000 Texans have already gotten their first doses so far, many of them frontline health care workers.
Local leaders say after months of dealing with this virus, hope is on the horizon.
“This may be our last hard time now that the vaccine is coming and beginning to be distributed,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “We need people to hold on just a little bit longer.”
According to Gov. Greg Abbott, the state's gotten hundreds of thousands of both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines and Texas should expect to get more than 1 million doses each month.
“There is a lot of, if you will, vaccine enthusiasm and vaccine eagerness that's out there in the state of Texas,” said Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstadt. “That couldn't be better. We really want to sustain that. And over time, as we get more and more and more vaccines, this will eventually be what puts the pandemic behind us.”
Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have already started distributing the vaccines. In Texas, CVS will be taking doses to 2,000 different long-term care facilities next week. That's 275,000 patients – both residents and staff.
The governor stressed that vaccinations will always be voluntary in Texas.
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