AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated.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 Feb. 26 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.2 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 42,200 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 75,362 cases have been reported and at least 743 people have died. At least 73,328 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 16,270 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 213 people have died. At least 15,577 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 34,527 cases have been reported in the county and at least 362 people have died. At least 33,250 people have recovered from the virus.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Feb. 26
Updates:
5:55 p.m. - Travis County reported nine more COVID-19 deaths along with 315 new confirmed cases on Friday, bringing the total to 75,362 cases and 743 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 73,328 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County has 298 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 101 in the ICU and 67 on ventilators. There are 34 people being treated at the alternative care site at the Austin Convention Center.
4:40 p.m. - Texas reported 5,192 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total to 2,275,506. The seven-day average is at 4,789 cases per day over the past week. There were 290 COVID-19 deaths reported statewide on Friday, bringing the total to 42,575. There are 6,185 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals – the fewest since Nov. 10 and down 20% from a week ago. The state's positivity rate average is at 11.87%.
Hospitalizations in the Austin metro area are the lowest since Dec. 8, at 330. Capacity is around 86%, with around 7% of that COVID-19 patients. ICUs in the Austin area have 124 COVID-19 patients, the fewest since Christmas Day. ICUs are at 90% capacity, with COVID-19 patients making up 23%.
4:35 p.m. - Hays County reported another death from COVID-19 on Friday, a Kyle man in his 60s. Health officials also reported 46 new confirmed cases along with two new hospitalizations and one new hospital discharge. There are 63 additional people considered recovered.
4:05 p.m. - Austin Public Health partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) to identify a location that had maintained power and running water last week and stood up a vaccine site to address the backlog of second doses delayed due to the storm.
The AISD Performing Arts Center was converted into a mass vaccine site, with the main stage used as a location to administer the shots. Staff at this location alone administered more than 10,000 vaccines this week, APH said. The location has ADA access and a lobby used for a post-vaccine observation area.
3:15 p.m. - The state of Texas will receive 676,280 first doses of COVID-19 vaccines the week of March 1, as well as 429,600 second doses for people who have already been vaccinated.
3:10 p.m. - Texas has now surpassed 5 million vaccine doses administered. There are now more Texans fully vaccinated than those with just one dose. The state is up to 15% of the vaccine-eligible population with at least one dose. As of Friday, 78% of all the doses Texas has been shipped have been administered.
1 p.m. - Austin Public Health (APH) held its weekly Q&A with the media Friday morning, fielding questions about masks, vaccine distribution and the potential impacts of last week's winter storm on COVID-19 infection in the community.
KVUE broke down some of the key points APH touched on
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