AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.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 20 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 48,600 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 81,470 cases have been reported and at least 839 people have died. At least 79,544 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 17,876 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 238 people have died. At least 17,096 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 38,271 cases have been reported in the county and at least 462 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:
5:50 p.m. – Travis County reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday along with 128 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 81,470 cases and 839 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 79,544 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 137 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 39 in the ICU and 20 on ventilators.
5:20 p.m. – Austin Public Health will be expanding its online scheduling and pilot walk-up vaccination operations on Thursday and Friday from 12 to 7:30 p.m., or until vaccines run out, at the Delco Activity Center.
“We have the vaccine supply and we want to continue to put as many shots in arms as we can,” said APH Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard. “As we see a nationwide decline in appointment scheduling, we know we must decrease barriers for individuals to get vaccinated without technological barriers.”
During the clinic at Delco, residents 18 years or older can arrive without an appointment. Residents are not required to pre-register in the APH system. Still, it is highly encouraged to create an account and pre-register here before arriving at the clinic.
4:35 p.m. – As part of its campaign to encourage Texans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the Department of State Health Services will host a vaccine outreach display at the Walmart located at 710 E. Ben White Blvd. on Thursday, April 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A 16-foot display will feature an outdoor video wall in the store parking lot with information about the vaccines and their effectiveness. It will also address common concerns people have about getting vaccinated.
3 p.m. – Local health leaders say while fewer people are being tested for COVID-19, the number of new cases and hospitalizations is beginning to tick up again.
"COVID is still here. It's still spreading. We're still seeing people infected and hospitalized, so that means we have to continue those measures of washing our hands, wearing our masks," Dr. Mark Escott said.
While more Central Texans are getting vaccinated, health officials say we aren't yet close to herd immunity. Roughly 30% of the Austin-Travis County population is fully vaccinated, while another 15% has received one shot.
2:30 p.m. – The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Texas Military Department (TMD) have announced 24 counties participating in the eight week of the Save Our Seniors COVID-19 vaccination initiative, including Caldwell County.
As part of the initiative, TDEM and TMD work alongside local jurisdictions to set up central drive-thru vaccine clinics in each community or administer directly to homebound seniors. The State said to date, more than 62,000 Texans have been vaccinated through the Save Our Seniors initiative.
Counties included in the eighth round of the program are Angelina, Atascosa, Caldwell, Cherokee, Culberson, Eastland, El Paso, Hale, Henderson, Hildago, Hopkins, Houston, Jim Hogg, Kimble, Leon, Llano, Maverick, Milam, Nueces, Rusk, Taylor, Tyler, Val Verde and Webb. Many of these counties are participating for a second time to administer second doses to eligible residents.
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