AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates, check out our new blog here.
KVUE is keeping you updated with the latest coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, news in the Austin area.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's July 9 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 220,500 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 2,800 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. More than 113,200 people have recovered.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 13,100 cases have been reported and at least 159 people have died. At least 9,837 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: Over 3,400 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 11 people have died. At least 606 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: More than 3,300 cases have been reported in the county and at least 48 people have died. More than 112 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Texas coronavirus data July 9
Top headlines:
- Austin health leaders meeting Wednesday to decide whether or not to enter Stage 5
- The riskiest activities for COVID-19, according to experts
- Travis County nearing Stage 5 as COVID-19 hospitalizations surpass threshold
- Austin Mayor Steve Adler would consider shutting down nonessential businesses as 'last resort'
- More hospitalizations bring Austin-Travis County to the brink of shutdown again
- Texas Workforce Commission overpaid $32 million to 46,000 unemployed workers. Now it wants that money back
- LIST: Confirmed Central Texas coronavirus cases by county
Latest updates:
6:20 p.m. – The Texas Juvenile Justice Department said eight youth at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, as well as one staff member. In total, 34 staff members and 72 youth at the facility have tested positive for the coronavirus.
6:10 p.m. – Travis County adds 703 new cases, 477 recoveries and zero deaths. Totals now stand at 13,864, 10,314 and 159, respectively.
6 p.m. – The City of Buda announces that starting on July 13, all City of Buda facilities, including the police department, will be conducting business virtually. No walk-ins will be allowed and all business will be conducted via phone calls or by computer.
4:45 p.m. – Williamson County announces two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 50. The new deaths include two males, one in his 50s and the other in his 70s.
4:40 p.m. – Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe signed a new order related to COVID-19 restrictions. It is effective starting July 11 at 12:01 a.m. through Aug. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
This order:
- Continues the local disaster declaration and public health emergency for Travis County.
- Prohibits any gatherings that exceed 10 people, except as permitted by the Governor’s Proclamation and Orders.
- Requires every person in Travis County to wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space whenever not feasible to maintain 6 feet of social distancing from persons outside one’s household.
You can view the order here:
4:20 – Bastrop and Caldwell counties each reported a new death from COVID-19 on Thursday. There have been eight deaths from COVID-19 in Bastrop County and four in Caldwell County.
4:15 p.m. – Hays County reported 81 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, along with 10 more recoveries and no new hospitalizations.
The county has had a total of 3,409 confirmed cases, with 2,792 current active cases and 11 deaths. At least 606 people have recovered from the virus.
1 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott issues a proclamation suspending elective surgeries in hospitals in all counties included within 11 Trauma Service Areas (TSAs) in Texas. Gov. Abbott had already suspended these surgeries in the counties of Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo, Nueces, Travis and Webb.
The following counties are now included:
- All counties within TSA J: Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Ector, Glasscock, Howard, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, and Winkler counties;
- All counties within TSA K: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green counties;
- All counties within TSA M: Bosque, Falls, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan counties;
- All counties within TSA O that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, San Saba, and Williamson counties;
- All counties within TSA P that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson, and Zavala counties;
- All counties within TSA Q that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties;
- All counties within TSA R: Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, and Orange counties;
- All counties within TSA S: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, and Victoria counties;
- All counties within TSA T that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Jim Hogg and Zapata counties;
- All counties within TSA U that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Refugio, and San Patricio counties; and
- All counties within TSA V that are not already covered by Executive Order GA-27: Starr and Willacy counties.
12:15 p.m. – Positive COVID-19 cases at child care operations in the state have surpassed 1,600. That's about a 707% increase in cases from mid-June
9:15 a.m. – After meeting with experts from the University of Texas Wednesday to review data, Austin officials confirm to KVUE's Tony Plohetski that Austin will likely not move into Stage 5 Thursday. However, they warn that Austin remains on the cusp.
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