AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.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. 19 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 1.8 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 32,300 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 62,302 cases have been reported and at least 604 people have died. At least 55,712 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 13,647 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 162 people have died. At least 10,741 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 27,719 cases have been reported in the county and at least 261 people have died. At least 25,626 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. 19
Updates:
6 p.m. – Travis County reported another four deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday along with 834 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 62,302 cases and 604 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 55,712 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 619 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 183 in the ICU and 105 on ventilators.
5:40 p.m. – Williamson County will activate its COVID-19 vaccination plan this week as it is scheduled to receive 6,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine through the Family Hospital System (FHS).
"I am grateful to Gov. Abbott and the State for providing our county with these vaccines to help protect our most vulnerable residents from the devastation of COVID-19. We will work with our partner Family Hospital Systems to get vaccines in arms as quickly as possible," said County Judge Bill Gravell.
FHS will begin vaccinating eligible Texans from Phase 1A and 1B at the Sun City Ballroom at 2 Texas Dr. in Georgetown as soon as they receive the vaccine. An appointment is required and can be made on the FHS website.
FHS will also begin vaccinating people on its waitlist at a drive-thru site at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex at 10211 W. Parmer Lane. Those on the waitlist will be contacted when an appointment is available. Visit the FHS website to get on the waitlist.
5 p.m. – Hays County Local Health Department reports eight COVID-related fatalities, an Austin man (Hays County resident with an Austin address) in his 80s, two Kyle men in their 40s, two Kyle men in their 50s, one Kyle man in his 70s, one Kyle woman in her 70s, and one San Marcos man in his 60s. The department also reports 707 new lab-confirmed cases along with 22 new hospitalizations and 19 new hospital discharges since Friday’s update. There are 315 additional persons considered recovered.
4:20 p.m. – Bastrop County announces that it has launched a pre-registration site for the COVID-19 vaccination. County residents will be asked to fill out a survey and will then be placed on a waiting list. If you do not have internet access, you can register by calling 866-268-2289.
3:30 p.m. – Texas reports 8,312 new cases following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, for a total of 1,872,614. The state also reported 310 new deaths for a total of 32,394. The 7-day average for new cases in the state is 16,897 per day over the past week, down 4% from a week ago but up 37% from a month ago.
There are currently 13,928 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, up from yesterday but down 2% from a week ago and up 41% from a month ago. The state's positivity rate is at 16.11%, continuing to fall from a high of 21% in early January.
The 7-day average of new cases in the Austin area is down to 1,066 per day over the past week after hitting a record high of 1,333 yesterday. The positivity rate for the area is 9.98%.
2:35 p.m. – Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health and St. David’s HealthCare issued a joint statement about hospital capacity:
Currently, the 2,473 staffed beds within all three healthcare systems are 73% occupied, and the 483 ICU beds are 91% occupied.
2:10 p.m. – The Travis County Sheriff's Office announces 39 new cases among inmates and 22 new cases among employees.
Since the start of the pandemic, 108 inmates and 189 employees have tested positive.
11:25 a.m. – Austin health leaders wrapped up their COVID-19 update. You can watch the press conference in full and read the updates below.
11:10 a.m. – Dr. Mark Escott mentioned the projections from the UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium has flattened out significantly. Last week, Escott told the city leaders that the UT model projected an upward trend in hospital admissions. As of Jan. 19, the model's projections have flattened out into February, and Escott said if the public can continue disease preventative measures, that mark could be potentially pushed back even further. Escott said that it seems the community may be responding to the call out made by APH to double down on disease prevention measures, citing flattening data across multiple fronts. Escott said the peak for the seven-day moving average of hospital admissions was nine days ago at 94, which has now dropped to 88 after 78 admissions were reported on Monday.
10 a.m. – There are now 11 patients at Austin's alternate care site at the Austin Convention Center.
8:30 a.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott will give an update in Houston at 12:15 p.m. about the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.
8:20 a.m. – At 9 a.m., Austin and Travis County leaders are scheduled to get an update on the state of COVID-19. You can watch in the video above or on KVUE's YouTube channel when the briefing begins.
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