AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest COVID-19 updates, click here.
Editor's note: At 9 a.m., Austin and Travis County leaders received an update on the status of the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccine roll-out. You can watch on KVUE's YouTube channel.
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 April 6 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 47,700 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 79,787 cases have been reported and at least 821 people have died. At least 77,997 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 17,187 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 236 people have died. At least 16,551 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 37,442 cases have been reported in the county and at least 455 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data April 2, 2021
Updates:
8:10 p.m. – Austin ISD will be block walking with staff and volunteers on Saturday to reconnect with students who have not attended school so far this year and get them back in class. AISD said each volunteer will be provided a script, PPE and all teams will include at least one AISD staff member to assist at all times.
6:10 p.m. – One staff member at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) said. TJJD currently has four active COVID-19 cases across its facilities. All of the cases are among staff.
5:55 p.m. – Travis County reported two more deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday along with 142 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 79,787 cases and 821 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 77,997 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 142 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 49 in the ICU and 22 on ventilators.
2:20 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced an extension of emergency SNAP benefits for April. The State will provide $254 million in emergency SNAP benefits for the month.
Recipients will also continue to receive a 15% increase in their total benefits, which will continue monthly until Sept. 2021. This additional 15% increase and the additional emergency allotment amount should appear in recipients’ accounts by April 30.
1:10 p.m. – Texas will have 46 counties – including Williamson – participate in the sixth week of the Save Our Seniors COVID-19 vaccine initiative, which helps provide vaccinations to seniors through at-home visits to homebound seniors or with central drive-thru clinics in the local community. To date, 107 Texas counties have already participated in the program.
Counties participating in the sixth round of the program are Aransas, Bowie, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Cass, Coke, Dallas, DeWitt, Duval, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hockley, Hopkins, Karnes, Kinney, Leon, Liberty, Lubbock, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Mason, Maverick, Orange, Palo Pinto, Rains, Robertson, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Sherman, Sutton, Terry, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Waller, Webb, Willacy, Williamson and Wood.
8:52 a.m. – At 9 a.m., Austin and Travis County leaders are getting an update on the status of the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccine roll-out. You can watch on KVUE's YouTube channel.
6:30 a.m. – Capital Metro crews got their COVID-19 vaccines this morning.
6 a.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that prohibits government-mandated vaccine passports in Texas.
5:30 a.m. – Austin Public Health (APH) officials will meet with City and County leaders to give a COVID-19 update at 9 a.m. Here is a look at the meeting agenda.
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