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Coronavirus updates in Central Texas: Hays County reports 3 new COVID-19 deaths

Here are the latest COVID-19 updates, closures and postponements in Central Texas for Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Editor's note: This live blog is no longer updating. For coronavirus updates in Central Texas, check out KVUE's Aug. 6 live blog.

KVUE is keeping you updated with the latest coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, news in the Austin area.

Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's Aug. 5 live blog.

COVID-19 numbers:

  • Texas: More than 450,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 7,200 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Central Texas counties: 
    • Travis County: Over 21,800 cases have been reported and at least 287 people have died. At least 19,570 people have recovered from the virus.
    • Hays County: More than 4,900 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 34 people have died. At least 2,000 people have recovered from the virus.
    • Williamson County: More than 5,900 cases have been reported in the county and at least 80 people have died. More than 5,200 people have recovered from the virus.

Updates:

6:20 p.m. – Austin Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza, Council Member Ann Kitchen and Constables George Morales and Stacy Suits will be hosting two distributions for masks, sanitizer and basic school supplies.

There are two options for the pickups, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Aug. 8.

  • Mendez Middle School (5106 Village Square Drive)
  • Akins Early College High School (10701 S. First St.)

Contactless drive-thrus will be set up, but walkups are welcomed. Click here for more information.

6 p.m. – Austin-Travis County health leaders are now reporting a total of 22,024 cases and 20,059 recoveries. Deaths remain the same at 287.

5:40 p.m. – Four more youth at the Giddings State School have tested positive. Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 40 staff members and 82 youth have tested positive.

5:30 p.m. –  Williamson County is now reporting a total of 83 deaths, 5,251 recoveries and a total of 5,949 confirmed cases.

4:52 p.m. – Hays County reported three new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the county total to 34. The three victims were a woman from Kyle in her 60s, a woman from Buda in her 70s and a man from Buda in his 80s. The county also reported 38 new cases and 66 recoveries, which brings the total number of active cases to 2,848. For more information on Hays County coronavirus numbers, click here

3 p.m. – The COVID-19 testing site in Del Valle has extended its hours, now operating from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The testing site at Del Valle Middle School is a free, walk-up location open every day through Aug. 16. People will be tested on a first come, first served basis. Residents do not need an appointment, doctor's referral or insurance.

2:15 p.m. – On Aug. 17, the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) will temporarily move triage case management services to Terrazas Branch Library, located at 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. Hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday will remain unchanged. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) has offered walk-in triage case management services to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with information on COVID-19 and safety planning, provide access to resource navigation and basic needs, and help facilitate connection to other essential services.

Since March, the average daily individuals served through triage case management have continued to increase with an average of 37 people served per day in July, compared to an average of 22 individuals in March. These numbers do not reflect the numerous individuals daily who are able to access basic hygiene resources through use of the restrooms at DACC, or the clients that case managers continue to work with remotely.

“Temporarily moving DACC services to Terrazas Branch Library is the best option available to enable us to meet the growing need for assistance and provide the highest quality services possible to the individuals seeking help,” said DACC Director Peter Valdez. “I’d like to thank Roosevelt Weeks, the director of Austin Public Library, for his willingness to collaborate and come up with creative solutions across multiple City departments to help us improve how we serve the public during these unprecedented times.”

1:30 p.m. – Gov. Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced that the federal government has extended the deadline to apply for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to Aug. 28 for Medicaid and CHIP providers.

Starting Aug. 10, Medicare providers can apply for additional funding from the $20 billion portion of the $50 billion Phase 1 Medicare General Distribution.

"I urge eligible CHIP and Medicaid providers to apply for this federal funding to help cover costs incurred from COVID-19," said Gov. Abbott. "Our providers play a crucial role in caring for our fellow Texans, and we are grateful for their ongoing partnership as we respond to this virus."

Click here for more information.

11:32 a.m. – Pflugerville ISD is considering extending remote learning by an additional four weeks.

11 a.m. – In its weekly COVID-19 media Q&A, Austin health officials said the City would revert to testing asymptomatic residents for COVID-19. As cases and hospitalizations spiked in July, the City focused its testing to only to those who showed coronavirus symptoms. For more, watch the full press conference on KVUE's Youtube channel below.

10 a.m. –  Austin Public Health is giving an update on the state of coronavirus in Austin. You can watch the full press conference on KVUE's YouTube channel:

8:45 a.m. - Amid the pandemic, Austin Mayor Steve Adler is set to give his annual "State of the City" address Wednesday night. The mayor is expected to discuss the city's challenges, successes and what the city can expect in the near future. The "State of the City is scheduled to happen at 6 p.m. You can watch it on KVUE.com or KVUE's YouTube channel.

7 a.m. - Leaders with the Austin Emergency Center will offer free coronavirus testing this week. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., you can go to their South Lamar Boulevard location, 4015 Lamar Blvd., or you can go to their Anderson Mill location, 13435 U.S. 183. Appointments are not required.

As a reminder, there is free testing also happening at the Del Valle Middle School every day until Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No insurance or referral is needed, and the walk-up testing will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

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