Coronavirus updates in Central Texas: Travis County’s drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic moves to new location

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Friday'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 daily live blog.

COVID-19 numbers:

• Texas: 
  • More than 5.3 million cases have been reported in the state, and around 81,800 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Central Texas counties: 
  • Austin-Travis County: The seven-day moving average for new hospital admissions is 45, and an average of 347 people are hospitalized. The community transmission rate is 183 (high) and the positivity rate is 13.3%. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 188,710 cases have been reported and at least 1,334 people have died.
  • Hays County: There are currently 2,818 active cases, and 26 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 51,354 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 469 people have died. 
  • Williamson County: There are 121 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Seven percent of hospital beds are available, and 4% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 108,862 cases have been reported and at least 835 people have died.

For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.

Updates:

3:21 p.m. – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released its latest COVID-19 data as of Feb. 17: 

TEXAS

• 5,950 new cases
  • Seven-day average: 7,291/day
    • Down 10% day-to-day
    • Down 40% from a week ago
    • Down 86% from a month ago
• 287 new deaths
  • 81,844 total to date
• 6,470 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals
  • Down 6% day-to-day
  • Down 28% from a week ago
  • Down 48% from a month ago

LOCAL

• 431 new cases for the four-county Austin metro
  • Seven-day average: 508/day
    • Down 7.5% day-to-day
    • Down 34% from a week ago
    • Down 86% from a month ago
• Community transmission for Travis County down a little more to 183 per 100,000
• Hospital admissions down to Stage 4 territory for the first time this year (since Dec. 30, 2021) … 44.7/day over the past week

9:23 a.m. – Beginning Saturday, Feb. 19, Travis County’s drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic will move to a new location at Travis County Constable Precinct 4 Office (Ray Martinez building). The Expo Center vaccine site closed on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Hours of operation will remain the same. Unless otherwise announced on the County’s online vaccine calendar and map, the drive-thru clinic will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The Constable Precinct 4 Office is located at 4011 McKinney Falls Parkway. 

Travis County will continue to offer the Pfizer vaccine at this clinic. People who are 5 years of age and older are eligible to get the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines are free, and Travis County’s vaccine clinics do not require appointments, identification, or proof of citizenship. 

OTHER COVID-19 HEADLINES:

• Leander ISD could lose nearly $15M in state funding due to COVID-19 absences. AISD is in a similar boat
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema workers unionize, ask management to recognize union
• Texas sues CDC to stop mask mandates on planes
• Hays County losing $1.7 million in federal rental assistance
• CDC contemplating change in mask guidance in coming weeks