AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Wednesday'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 3.9 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 74,700 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 71, and an average of 283 people are hospitalized. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 714. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 133,434 cases have been reported and at least 1,220 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 4,172 active cases, and 13 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 35,259 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 416 people have died.
- Williamson County: There are 1,102 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Seventeen percent of hospital beds are available, and 8% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 77,019 cases have been reported and at least 757 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: COVID-19 data Jan. 4, 2022
Updates:
5:45 p.m. – Williamson County reports a record high in COVID-19 cases. The previous high was reported on Sept. 1, 2021, at 658. Williamson County has now been over 1,000 new cases for four consecutive days.
5:05 p.m. – Hays County reported two COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday – a Buda woman in her 60s and a Kyle man in his 50s. Health officials also reported 1,722 new confirmed cases along with eight new hospitalizations and 10 new hospital discharges. There are 241 additional people considered recovered.
5 p.m. – Travis County reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday along with 1,149 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 133,434 cases and 1,220 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 127,462 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 354 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 61 in the ICU and 25 on ventilators.
4:30 p.m. – The Austin metro area reported 3,672 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the average to 3,009 new cases per day over the past week – a new record. The average is up 16% from Monday, up 172% from a week ago and up 1,132% from a month ago.
There were 100 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the Austin metro area on Tuesday, bringing the average to 70.9 new hospitalizations per day over the past week. There are 331 COVID-19 patients currently in Austin-area hospitals – up 29 from Monday and up 77% from last week. There are 77 COVID-19 patients in Austin-area ICUs, with 9.5% availability (46 staffed beds available, including 36 adult and 10 pediatric).
3:30 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott received a briefing from state medical and emergency response experts on the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state's ongoing response.
The governor was briefed by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, the University of Texas Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs John Zerwas, MD, DSHS Deputy Commissioner Kirk Cole and Chief State Epidemiologist Jennifer Shuford, MD.
A readout of the meeting can be found below:
The doctors discussed current positivity trends from other countries and states. Dr. Hellerstedt noted Texans must still be very aggressive in voluntary prevention measures and staying home when sick.
Dr. Hellerstedt said that vaccines have played a remarkable role in reducing the number of hospitalizations, and that while the vaccination rate continues to increase, many Texans are still eligible for the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Governor Abbott, Dr. Hellerstedt. and Dr. Shuford noted the importance of sharing accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine with the public—it is safe, easily accessible, and reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and severe disease.
Dr. Hellerstedt and Chief Kidd then discussed the medical staffing situation in communities across the country, noting that the state is surging medical staffing to hospitals across the state and that this surge will continue in order to support health care workers on the frontlines of mitigating the virus. Governor Abbott and the leaders then discussed the importance of securing more testing resources. They also discussed acquiring monoclonal antibodies from either a private supplier—as Texas has done—or the federal government, which now fully controls the distribution of monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Hellerstedt said that while the Regeneron antibodies are not effective against the Omicron variant, it continues to make a remarkable difference for those diagnosed with other variants of COVID-19. Dr. Hellerstedt also discussed the efficacy of Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill, and how its anticipated availability in the coming weeks will continue to help reduce hospitalizations and severe cases.
Chief Kidd then outlined the amount of testing supplies currently in possession of the state, and pointed out that the state's personal protective equipment supply is strong. Additionally, Chief Kidd stated that Texas continues to get allocations of testing supplies every week and the State is continuing to order more tests.
1 p.m. – After its COVID-19 briefing Tuesday, Austin Public Health (APH) released a press release stating that record numbers are now indicating that nearly one-third of COVID-19 tests are coming back as positive in the area.
APH and its regional partners reported that 30% of last week's tests were positive for COVID-19. A total of 5,578 tests were administered between Dec. 27 and Dec. 30, and the positivity rate among APH sites alone is at more than 28%. Health officials also said the community transmission rate in Austin-Travis County continues to exceed the statewide average.
“The omicron variant continues to spread at an alarming rate in our community. It poses a significant risk to our most vulnerable populations,” said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “As schools and businesses reopen after winter break, infections are going to spike to unprecedented levels. We must act accordingly — wear well-fitting masks anytime you leave your home, get vaccinated and boosted.”
RELATED:
12:55 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott announces that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is providing more than $307 million in emergency SNAP food benefits for the month of January. These allotments are expected to help 1.5 million Texas households.
"This emergency SNAP support will ensure more than 1.5 million families can continue to put food on the table," said Gov. Abbott. "Thanks to the USDA for their continued collaboration with HHSC to provide healthy meals to Texans across the state."
“As Texans ring in the new year, this additional support will help families start 2022 with food on the table for themselves and their children,” said Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter.
12:22 p.m. – Huston-Tillotson University will kick off its spring semester remotely. In-person instruction is set to resume on Jan. 24. Residence halls will reopen as planned on Friday, Jan. 7.
9:22 a.m. – Austin-Travis County leaders are giving an update on COVID-19. Watch on KVUE's YouTube channel.
Here's a closer look at today's data:
TEXAS
- 44,431 new cases (that makes a 4-day total of 187,153)
- 7-day average: 31,747/day (new record)
- Up 18% from yesterday
- Up 177% from a week ago
- Up 749% from a month ago
- Texas will probably hit 4 million confirmed cases by tomorrow
- 7-day average: 31,747/day (new record)
- 60 new deaths
- 74,796 total to date
- 7,460 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals
- Up 6% from yesterday
- Up 68% from a week ago
- Up 154% from a month ago
- Pediatric COVID-19 patients are down 3 today, to 276
- 34.40% positivity rate (new record)
LOCAL
- 3,672 new cases for the Austin metro
- 7-day average: 3,009/day (new record)
- Up 16% from yesterday
- Up 172% from a week ago
- Up 1,132% from a month ago
- 7-day average: 3,009/day (new record)
- 100 new hospital admissions for the metro… 7-day average is up to 70.9/day
- 331 C-19 patients in Austin area hospitals… +29 from yesterday
- Up 77% in a week
- 15.5% availability
- 8% COVID/capacity
- 77 C-19 patients in Austin area ICUs (steady from a day ago)
- 9.5% availability (46 available = 36 adult/10 pediatric)
- 16% COVID/capacity
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 9111 FM 812, Austin, TX 78719
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 8807 Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78754
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6506 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Drive, Austin, TX 78724
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
African American Men & Boys Harvest Foundation (CTAHI/Travis County)
- 6633 U.S. 290 #303, Austin, TX 78723
- 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Pfizer (5 and up), Moderna (18 and up)
Pfluger Hall and Conference Center (APH)
- 203 E. Pecan St., Pflugerville, TX 78660
- 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
Old Sims Elementary School – Gymnasium (APH)
- 1203 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78721
- 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
La Michoacana Meat Market (Travis County)
- 2237B E. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
El Rancho Supermercado - Research (Travis County)
- 8752 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78758
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up
La Finca Supermercado (Travis County)
- 9616 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite #130, Austin, TX 78753
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022
African American Men & Boys Harvest Foundation (CTAHI/Travis County)
- 6633 U.S. 290 #303, Austin, TX 78723
- 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Pfizer (5 and up), Moderna (18 and up)
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Drive, Austin, TX 78724
- 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
Old Sims Elementary School – Gymnasium (APH)
- 1203 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78721
- 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
Booker T Washington Terrace - (Travis County)
- 905 Bedford St., Austin, TX 78702
- 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 9111 FM 812, Austin, TX 78719
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 8807 Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78754
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6506 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Friday, Jan. 7, 2022
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Drive, Austin, TX 78724
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (5 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
Consulate General of Mexico (Travis County)
- 5202 E. Ben White Blvd. #150, Austin, TX 78741
- 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Pfizer (5 and up)
African American Men & Boys Harvest Foundation (CTAHI/Travis County)
- 6633 U.S. 290 #303, Austin, TX 78723
- 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Pfizer (5 and up), Moderna (18 and up)
Jester King Brewery (APH)
- 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin, TX 78736
- 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up), Moderna (18 and up), Johnson & Johnson (18 and up)
La Mexicana Market – Rundberg (Travis County)
- 834 E Rundberg Lane, Austin, TX 78753
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
La Mexicana Market – Stassney (Travis County)
- 5717 S. I-35 Frontage Road C-180, Austin, TX 78744
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Poco Loco Supermercado – Cameron (Travis County)
- 6305 Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78723
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (12 and up)
OTHER COVID-19 HEADLINES:
- As struggle to find at-home COVID-19 tests continues, local parent goes outside the city to get them
- New COVID-19 infections in Texas children raises alarm
- Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19
- Austin ISD leaders, parents hope COVID-19 testing and health protocols will keep kids safe as they head back to school
- Yes, surgical masks offer better protection against COVID-19 than cloth masks