AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest COVID-19 updates, click 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 April 7 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 79,992 cases have been reported and at least 821 people have died. At least 78,103 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 17,358 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 239 people have died. At least 16,704 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 37,524 cases have been reported in the county and at least 456 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:
6 p.m. – Travis County reported 135 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 79,922 cases and 821 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 78,103 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 140 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 51 in the ICU and 24 on ventilators.
5 p.m. – Hays County reported another death from COVID-19 on Wednesday, a San Marcos man in his 80s. Health officials also reported 21 new confirmed cases along with four new hospitalizations and two new hospital discharges. There are 67 additional people considered recovered.
4:50 p.m. – The Texas Department of State Health Services has introduced a profile picture frame on Facebook for those who are COVID-19 vaccinated.
4:30 p.m. – Venues that were affected by the coronavirus pandemic will now be able to apply for a federal grant that could help them recover a lot of their losses.
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Amy Klobuchar announced that their bipartisan Save Our Stages Act to provide $16.2 billion in relief was signed into law in December.
Venues may begin applying for these grants on Thursday, April 8.
1 p.m. – Austin Public Libraries announce they will begin reopening to the public for limited capacity in-person Express Services beginning May 10 at 12 libraries: Central, Carver, Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, Manchaca, Milwood, North Village, Old Quarry, Ruiz, Spicewood Springs, St. John, Windsor Park and Yarborough.
Digital services, as well as curbside pickup, will continue. The following services will also be added inside the libraries: Book and material browsing and checkout, printing and copying, public computers, Wi-Fi, new library cards, holds pickup and checkout, and technology and reference help.
Starting June 28, in-person service will expand to all branches that aren't under renovation. APL has been running curbside collection since June 2020.
For more COVID-19 information at APL, click here.
5:30 a.m. – Americans on Social Security and select other federal benefits plans who did not have to file 2019 or 2020 tax returns should start seeing their stimulus checks arrive Wednesday from the recently passed COVID-19 relief bill.
The IRS said a large set of payments for those on Social Security retirement, survivor or disability, Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retirement Board went out last Friday. For those who are receiving the payments electronically, they should show up in accounts Wednesday. The Get My Payment tool was updated last weekend to track these payments, according to the IRS.
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