AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Thursday'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 5.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and around 82,600 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 31, and an average of 267 people are hospitalized. The community transmission rate is 91.1 cases per 100,000 (high) and the positivity rate is 11.3%. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 197,996 cases have been reported and at least 1,345 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 2,475 active cases, and 13 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 52,369 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 479 people have died.
- Williamson County: There are 39 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Eight percent of hospital beds are available, and 7% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 109,289 cases have been reported and at least 848 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: COVID-19 data for Feb. 23, 2022
Updates:
4:35 p.m. – Hays County reported three new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday – a Kyle woman in her 80s, a San Marcos man in his 60s and a San Marcos man in his 90s. Health officials reported 166 new confirmed COVID-19 cases along with one new hospitalization and two new hospital discharges. There are 189 additional people considered recovered from the virus.
4:30 p.m. – Travis County reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday along with 525 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 197,996 cases and 1,345 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 195,729 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 243 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 72 in the ICU and 39 on ventilators.
4:15 p.m. – Texas reported 2,686 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day average to 4,670 cases per day – down 42% from a week ago and down 90% from a month ago. The state reported 260 new deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 82,887 since the start of the pandemic. There are currently 4,832 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals statewide – down 30% from a week ago and down 63% from a month ago. The state's positivity rate average is at 7.23%.
The four-county Austin metro area reported 170 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day average to 248 cases per day – down 55% from a week ago and down 94% from a month ago. The Austin metro is at an average of 31 COVID-19 hospitalizations per day over the past week.
6:20 a.m. – Starting March 1, Hays CISD will allow visitors on campuses again. During a meeting on Tuesday, leaders said visitors will only be let in through one door and principals can add more protocols if they choose. Hays CISD says more guidance will come before the guidelines change next week.
OTHER COVID-19 HEADLINES:
- When does COVID-19 go from pandemic to endemic? There’s no statistical cut-off
- Aaron Rodgers expresses 'remorse' over COVID-19, vaccine opinions made during season
- Round Rock ISD now says masks 'strongly recommended' and visitors allowed
- No, hospitals don’t get more money when they list COVID-19 as a patient’s cause of death