AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Sunday's blog.
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. 2 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 1.5 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 27,700 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 51,558 cases have been reported and at least 550 people have died. At least 46,227 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 10,635 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 126 people have died. At least 8,873 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 20,411 cases have been reported in the county and at least 203 people have died. At least 18,905 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. 2
Updates:
10:40 p.m. – Texas reported 13,995 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total to 1,568,034. The state's seven-day average is now the highest on record for Texas, with 13,480 new cases per day over the past week. There were 96 more deaths from COVID-19 statewide on Saturday, with 27,867 total to date. There are 12,319 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals as of Saturday, up 14% from a week ago and up 35% from a month ago. The state's positivity rate average is at 20.51%, the highest since July.
In Austin-area hospitals, there are 541 COVID-19 patients, with 20.5% of capacity available. There are 166 COVID-19 patients in Austin-area ICUs, with 11% of capacity available. The daily hospital admissions average for the Austin area is climbing and is now at 72 per day. The Austin metro has reached a new high for cases, with 1,074 per day over the past week – the first time over 1,000. The Austin metro area has also topped a 10% positivity rate average at 10.48% – the highest since late August. There have been 1,118 deaths from COVID-19 in the 12-county KVUE viewing area since the pandemic began.
8:10 p.m. – The Texas State Capitol building will reopen on Monday in preparation for the 87th Legislative Session, which will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The building's public opening hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building will be closed on weekends for cleaning.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the public may only enter via the north door of the Capitol. Free COVID-19 testing will be available on the north plaza at no expense, according to a release from the State Preservation Board. A mask will be required at all times inside the building.
There will also be public visitor capacity limits and social distancing requirements inside the Capitol. No public tours or sponsored event space will be available.
6 p.m. – Travis County reported another death from COVID-19 on Saturday along with 963 new confirmed cases, including 555 cases not yet reported from New Year's Day and 408 cases from Saturday.
There have been 51,558 cases and 550 deaths in Travis County since the start of the pandemic. At least 46,227 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 453 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 141 in the ICU and 84 on ventilators.
9 a.m. – Austin-Travis County EMS says as of Thursday, 85% of medics who wanted to be vaccinated have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
8 a.m. – Starting today through Tuesday, Jan. 5, campus-based Austin ISD staff who are 65 years old and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to AISD officials. Then, based on availability, staff with qualifying conditions under Phase 1B will follow.
The vaccines will be distributed through a partnership between AISD and Ascension Seton at a designated Ascension Seton vaccine clinic. AISD central office staff are notifying eligible individuals via a personal phone call and email to share the process for registering for the vaccine.
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