AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Saturday'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 April 16 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 48,400 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 81,002 cases have been reported and at least 837 people have died. At least 79,090 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 17,760 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 238 people have died. At least 16,946 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 38,033 cases have been reported in the county and at least 461 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data April 16, 2021
Updates:
6:10 p.m. – Travis County reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Friday along with 93 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 81,002 cases and 837 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 79,090 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 138 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 41 in the ICU and 23 on ventilators.
5:25 p.m. – Starting Saturday, Austin Public Health will shift its first-dose appointment schedule. Appointments for the upcoming week for anyone 18 and up will be available to schedule beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday through 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
“As we have begun to reach a place of equilibrium between the supply and demand for vaccinations in our community, our strategy must shift,” said APH Director Stephanie Hayden. “We know people still want the vaccine, but the barriers to accessing must be limited and this is one step toward that goal as it allows people to plan ahead for their week.”
To pre-register, click here.
5:05 p.m. – Both Travis and Williamson counties have now surpassed 50% of the estimated 16+ population with at least one dose of a vaccine. Texas is at 44%, with 6.2 million fully vaccinated.
Texas is reporting an average 2,300 new COVID-19 cases per day over the past week – up 10% from a week ago but down 29% from a month ago. The state reported 83 new deaths on Friday, bringing the total to 48,508. There are 2,917 COVID-19 patients currently in Texas hospitals statewide, up 1.8% from a week ago but down 25% from a month ago.
The Austin metro area has reported an average of around 230 new COVID-19 cases per day over the past week. The metro area's positivity rate average is at 5.34%. There have been 2,146 deaths from COVID-19 in the 12-county Central Texas KVUE viewing area since the start of the pandemic.
5 p.m. – The state of Texas will receive more than 1.9 million first doses of COVID-19 vaccines the week of April 19, as well as 686,640 second doses for people who have already been vaccinated. For a list of where they're going, click here.
7:43 a.m. – Round Rock ISD is keeping its COVID-19 guidelines in place through the end of the school year. The school board met Thursday night through well after midnight Friday, to decide whether or not to change the district's mask policy.
5:50 a.m. – Austin Public Health will host its weekly COVID-19 Q&A at 10 a.m. to provide updates and answer questions about coronavirus numbers and vaccine efforts in the Austin area.
5:30 a.m. – At 10 a.m., the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), in collaboration with the City of Austin, C3 Presents and Sendero, will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The event is open to all HAAM members and music industry professionals and will be hosted at Emo’s on East Riverside Drive.
Austin Public Health will be administering 800 Moderna doses between Friday's event and another on Thursday, April 29. Those who wish to sign up for either event are asked to visit https://www.myhaam.org/covid-vaccinations.
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