AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates, check out our new blog here.
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. 10 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 486,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 8,400 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 22,700 cases have been reported and at least 298 people have died. At least 21,307 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: More than 5,000 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 34 people have died. At least 2,175 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: More than 6,200 cases have been reported in the county and at least 90 people have died. More than 5,500 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Aug. 10
Updates:
10 p.m. – During an AISD Board of Trustees meeting Monday evening, the district mourned the death Manuel de Jesus Alvarado Espino. He died of COVID-19. He was a custodian at Crockett Early College High School for 12 years.
"Mr. Alvarado will be greatly missed, and our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones," District 6 Trustee Geronimo Rodriguez said.
6:05 p.m. – Williamson County is now reporting a total of 93 deaths, 6,893 cases and 5,592 recoveries.
6 p.m. – Travis County announces five new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing total to 303. The area is now reporting 22,953 total cases and 21,570 recoveries.
5:25 p.m. – Hays County announces one more coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 35. A total of 5,050 cases and 2,228 recoveries are now being reported.
5 p.m. – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards releases updated data on COVID-19 testing as of Aug. 9:
Williamson County
- Number of inmates with positive test confirmation: 14
- Number of inmates pending test results: 9
- Number of inmates quarantined/isolated, not active: 84
- Number of inmates being treated offsite for active COVID-19: 0
- Number of confirmed deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of suspected deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of jailers (staff) with active positive test confirmation: 9
- Number of jailers (staff) quarantined/isolated pending test results: 1
Hays County
- Number of inmates with positive test confirmation: 1
- Number of inmates pending test results: 9
- Number of inmates quarantined/isolated, not active: 19
- Number of inmates being treated offsite for active COVID-19: 0
- Number of confirmed deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of suspected deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of jailers (staff) with active positive test confirmation: 4
- Number of jailers (staff) quarantined/isolated pending test results: 0
Travis County
- Number of inmates with positive test confirmation: 9
- Number of inmates pending test results: 2
- Number of inmates quarantined/isolated, not active: 30
- Number of inmates being treated offsite for active COVID-19: 0
- Number of confirmed deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of suspected deaths related to COVID-19: 0
- Number of jailers (staff) with active positive test confirmation: 3
- Number of jailers (staff) quarantined/isolated pending test results: 3
11:46 a.m. – The Austin Public Library will receive a $49,975 federal grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced. The grant is a part of the $2.6 million Texas received from the Institute for Museum and Library Services as part of the CARES Act.
“These funds will help allow Texans to safely utilize local library services and resources,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I applaud area leaders in Austin for their work to obtain these grants and for putting the safety of Texans first as we continue to persevere through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
11:42 a.m. – The Lake Pflugerville Trail is officially reopening. Other park amenities will remain closed, but you'll be able to walk along the trail starting Monday, Aug. 10. Pflugerville leaders are asking people to practice social distancing to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
11:22 a.m. – The City of Pflugerville is partnering with the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC), and the Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce to launch the Pflugerville Cares Small Business Grant Program (Pflugerville Cares) to award $920,000 in grants to eligible businesses that have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Registration and information are available at the PCDC website.
10:30 a.m. – The University of Texas College of Natural Sciences released a model that predicts a harrowing future for the state's COVID-19 outlook.
According to UT's model, Texas is predicted to see a steep increase in coronavirus deaths by the end of August. By Aug. 31, the model predicts nearly 23,460 Texans will have died from coronavirus. As of Aug. 10, 8,459 people have died, according to the State's coronavirus dashboard.
After this story was published, UT told KVUE a data point from July 27, where the State reported 1202 deaths that day, "may be affecting the model’s projections."
Researchers acknowledge the model was thrown off when the State changed how it reports deaths a few weeks ago, so the projections could change as new data becomes available.
UT officials sent KVUE the following statement:
Several news outlets have reported today on the UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium’s projections for deaths through the end of August in Texas. The model uses anonymized cell-phone mobility data alongside historic death data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University to project future deaths at the Metropolitan and State level. There was an erroneous data point for deaths on July 27 that is biasing the projections, which we are working to correct. Additionally, the model is projecting increasing numbers of deaths in the coming weeks based on recent upticks in deaths across the state coupled with elevated mobility patterns. The mortality data do not yet reflect the slowdown in transmission that occurred following mid-June changes in COVID-19 policies and behavior. If mortality data begin to decline, similar to recent declines in COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations, then the model will naturally update to reflect the trend and its projected deaths will decrease.
For more information on the model, read about it here on KVUE.com.
5:24 a.m. - Thrall ISD is reopening its classrooms Aug. 10 to its students and teachers. It's one of the first Central Texas school districts to begin in-person learning.
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