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 Oct. 22 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 838,800 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 17,200 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 31,327 cases have been reported and at least 448 people have died. At least 30,039 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 6,268 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 64 people have died. At least 5,650 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 9,289 cases have been reported in the county and at least 150 people have died. At least 8,957 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Oct. 22
Updates:
6:05 p.m. – Austin-Travis County health officials are now reporting a total of 31,327 cases, 30,039 recoveries and 448 deaths.
Williamson County health officials are now reporting a total of 9,289 cases, 8,957 recoveries and 150 deaths.
6 p.m. – Austin Public Health (APH) has received information from its hospital partners that there was a reporting error in COVID-19 hospital census and admissions. The error has been corrected in the COVID-19 dashboards.
The error caused inaccurate COVID-19 hospital census and admissions reporting between Oct. 9 and 20. The hospital's reporting process has been fixed. The data error was proactively identified and reported to APH.
“This information is being shared to ensure full transparency and clarity with the community on the hospital data,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “Likewise, the adjustment in the data to reflect the true hospital numbers will help provide the community with a more accurate reflection of the virus spread in the city and county. This data adjustment does not change the overall troubling trend of increased admissions, and our community still needs to continue protective measures to keep themselves and our community safe.”
The backlogged cases will be added to the historical dates of hospital census and admissions, which will result in adjusted hospital numbers on the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 dashboards between Oct. 9 and 20 as well as Oct. 21. The data corrections will affect the seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions and total hospitalizations.
4:50 p.m. – The Hays County Local Health Department reports 22 new lab-confirmed cases, one hospital discharge and 77 additional people now considered recovered.
2:30 p.m. – Austin Public Health is urging Austin-Travis County residents to quarantine as instructed to do so by case investigators in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the CDC clarified that a close contact is someone who, for at least a total of 15 minutes, was within six feet of someone who had COVID-19.
"Under the updated definition, a person could be exposed three separate times for five minutes each for a cumulative of 15 minutes, rather than only including single exposures of 15 minutes or more," APH said.
If APH notifies you of being a close contact, you must quarantine for a full 14-day period after your last contact with that person. If you test negative during the quarantine, APH said you must still complete the full quarantine period as the virus is still in its incubation period.
12:36 p.m. – Like so many other events in 2020, the 54th annual Zilker Holiday Tree lighting ceremony is going virtual.
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