AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates on Tuesday, check out our new live 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 March 30 live blog.
Top Headlines:
- Gov. Abbott expands order requiring certain travelers to quarantine, issues order banning the release of 'dangerous felons'
- Austin coronavirus cases reach 200
- Austin CEO delivers thousands of masks from Mexico to Texas doctors in need of protective equipment
- LIST: Confirmed Central Texas coronavirus cases by county
- Austin media outlets announce joint telethon to raise funds for All Together ATX
Updates:
11:20 p.m. – Bastrop County confirms six positive coronavirus cases.
7:45 p.m. – The Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) has approved the Section 1135 Medicaid Waiver submitted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) last week. The approval grants the state more flexibility in administering Medicaid.
Click here for more information.
7 p.m. – Llano county has also issued a stay-at-home order. More details can be found here.
6:30 p.m. – Bastrop County issues a stay-at-home order. You can read it here.
5:50 p.m. – Hays County health officials confirm 18 active lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
All cases reported so far have been adults. As of March 30, Hays County said it has had 24 lab-confirmed cases, 18 of which are still active. The other six have recovered.
The breakdown of cases by city as of March 30 is:
- Austin (some Hays County addresses are Austin) – 1
- Buda – 4
- Kyle – 5
- San Marcos – 8
5 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott waives a number of statutory provisions to ensure public safety employees who contract COVID-19 while employed will be reimbursed for reasonable medical expenses related to their treatment. This ensures that public safety employees who contract the virus are not also financially penalized.
Del Valle ISD announces the launch of its e-learning website to provide students and families access to online learning while schools are closed.
Last week the district checked out 4,200 Chromebooks over two days to students in grades 3-8. This adds to the 3,000 Chromebooks previously given out to high school students in their 1:1 technology initiative.
To prepare personnel, the Curriculum and Instruction and Technology Departments hosted a number of virtual professional development opportunities last week for all teaching staff.
Meals continue to be available to students at campuses and on modified bus routes. Buses also deliver work packets to Pre K-2nd grade students and any other student in the district who is not using e-learning.
4:20 p.m. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announces it will temporarily close Security Checkpoint 1 at the Austin airport beginning March 31 and will continue to monitor passenger levels to determine when it will be reopened. All passengers will be screened through Checkpoint 2 until further notice.
Airport travel has been steadily declining across the U.S. TSA screened 180,002 people across the country on March 29, the lowest number so far since the coronavirus outbreak started – down from 2,510,294 on the same day one year ago.
4 p.m. – Austin-Travis County officials confirm the area's second COVID-19 death. The number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases is now 206.
Statewide, the Department of State Health Services is reporting 2,877 cases, with 38 deaths.
3:30 p.m. – Hays CISD Board votes to postpone May 2 bond election to Nov. 3. To read more about that bond proposal, click here.
Hays CISD said all trustee election races were uncontested and the board was able to cancel the trustee election prior to the coronavirus pandemic and declare the uncontested candidates elected. They will take office for their new terms in May. The bond election is considered a separate election, based on the Texas election code.
2:45 p.m. – Caldwell County issues a stay-at-home order. Click here to read more.
12:30 p.m. – The City of Austin announced it is creating "isolation facilities" for nursing home patients who have tested positive for coronavirus but do not need hospitalization or who have been discharged. You can watch a press conference on KVUE's YouTube page to get a breakdown from the City of Austin about how leaders are working to protect nursing home patients with COVID-19.
WATCH: Coronavirus in Austin, Texas: How is the city protecting nursing home patients with COVID-19?
12:20 p.m. – Williamson County reported five new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the county's total to 42.
12:17 p.m. – Capital Metro suspended its fares and MetroExpress routes, excluding the Manor/Elgin route, due to a 90% drop in ridership.
11:30 a.m. – The City of Pflugerville announced it is closing Lake Pflugerville Park until further notice starting at noon Monday. The city said it had to close the lake due to "overcrowding."
11 a.m. – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will receive a $2,077,613 federal grant for its Hospital Preparedness Program, according to U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas). Cornyn's office said the Hospital Preparedness Program works with Texas’ 22 trauma service areas (TSAs) to develop and implement health care coalitions with the aim of better supporting state and local efforts in emergency preparedness and to integrate the work of the public health and first responder communities.
Check back on this live blog for the latest updates on Monday.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
- Wall Street futures show modest gains to start week
- Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, others livestream concert from home for coronavirus response
- Coronavirus: Make-A-Wish Foundation pauses wish trips, asks community to send messages of hope
- Coronavirus: Tips for staying sane while working from home
- President Trump adds 30 days to social distancing guidelines as coronavirus spreads