AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.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 and COVID-19 news in the Austin area.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's Jan. 11 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 1.7 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 29,900 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 56,825 cases have been reported and at least 574 people have died. At least 50,457 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 12,110 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 140 people have died. At least 10,162 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 24,449 cases have been reported in the county and at least 222 people have died. At least 22,366 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 Jan. 11
Updates:
8:30 p.m. – Del Valle ISD is implementing 100% remote instruction Wednesday through Friday. Tuesday will be a regular on-site workday for all staff, and students with technology at home have the option to remain remote on Tuesday All staff will then take their technology home at the end of the day and work remotely Wednesday through Friday.
Buildings will remain closed Wednesday through the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday. On Friday, the district will evaluate and consult with Austin Public Health and the Texas Education Agency to determine what should be done next week.
8:15 p.m. – Bastrop County announces that it will be scaling back retail and restaurants to 50% capacity based on hospital capacity and the governor's GA-32. The county is also suspending elective surgeries and closing bars for in-person service.
6:20 p.m. – Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweets that local hospitals and health care staff are "at capacity."
6 p.m. – According to the Austin-Travis County dashboard, data reported today combined with data from Sunday "resulting in a higher case count for the day." A total of 955 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 56,825. The area also reported four new coronavirus-related deaths for a total of 573.
5:30 p.m. – The Hays County Local Health Department reports two COVID-related fatalities, a San Marcos man in his 50s and a San Marcos woman in her 80s. The department also reports 565 new lab-confirmed cases since Friday’s report along with 17 new hospitalizations and 11 new hospital discharges. There are no additional people considered recovered at this time
4:30 p.m. – Caldwell County announces that it will be scaling back businesses to 50% capacity based on hospital capacity and the governor's GA-32, starting Jan. 13. Also, the county will be suspending elective surgeries and closing bars.
3:45 p.m. – H-E-B says it has requested another allocation of vaccines from the State of Texas, as its initial allocation has either already been distributed or is scheduled to be administered. H-E-B is awaiting another allocation so it can continue to vaccinate health care providers as well as begin offering vaccine doses to those in Phase 1B.
Once H-E-B has the supply to continue vaccinating, it will activate a scheduler tool here so people can schedule an appointment. Learn more about where H-E-B currently stands in its vaccination distribution process.
3:25 p.m. – Although it is not mandatory, Austin ISD is requesting that parents keep students at home for remote learning for the remainder of the week.
Following Gov. Abbott's press conference in Arlington, the Texas State Teachers Association renewed its call to get teachers added to the priority vaccine access list.
2:05 p.m. – The Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) reported eight new COVID-19 cases among inmates and 19 new cases among TCSO employees.
12:56 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott gave a vaccine distribution update after touring a vaccine site in Arlington, Texas. He said 1,580,400 doses have been distributed so far. Of those, 802,507 doses have been used, and 83,538 of those were second doses.
You can watch the full press briefing on KVUE's YouTube channel:
12:45 p.m. – Texas health officials have released a list of COVID-19 "vaccination hubs" that will receive the State's next shipment of vaccines. The State listed 28 hubs, which will get a total of 158,825 doses of the coronavirus vaccine this week, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Here's a breakdown of the next vaccine shipment by county.
11:07 a.m. – After Gov. Greg Abbott gets a tour of a mass vaccination site in Arlington, Texas, he plans to address the media regarding vaccine distribution efforts. Texas is running out of ICU beds.
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