AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This live blog is no longer updating. For the latest coronavirus news and updates, keep up with KVUE's June 16 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 June 15 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 87,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 1,900 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The department estimates more than 58,000 people have recovered from the virus.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 4,400 cases have been reported and at least 104 people have died. At least 3,425 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: Over 800 cases have been reported and at least five people have died. At least 266 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: More than 800 cases have been reported in the county and at least 30 people have died. More than 560 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Texas coronavirus data June 15
Top headlines:
Latest updates:
10 p.m. – Austin ISD reiterates to parents that the first day of the fall semester will be Aug. 18. The district plans to follow the board-approved calendar and is making plans to offer in-person and online instruction in order to be flexible for students and their families.
AISD also said new precautions for the upcoming school year may include:
- Staff and students ages six and older wearing facial coverings.
- Commonly used surfaces and areas will be thoroughly and frequently disinfected.
- Frequent handwashing practices will be implemented, including easily accessible hand sanitizer dispensers stationed across each campus.
- Measures will be implemented for students to maintain 6 feet between each other to encourage social distancing.
- Students and staff will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival at campuses.
- Staff will receive extensive training on new health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.
- Students and staff will be encouraged to stay home if they, or anyone in their household, have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or are showing any symptoms.
6:45 p.m. – Travis County health officials announce 119 new cases and two new deaths in the area. There have now been 4,664 cases, 3,587 recoveries and 106 deaths in the area.
Williamson County health officials have added 49 new active cases and zero new deaths. There have now been 960 cases, 584 recoveries and 30 deaths in the area.
5:45 p.m. – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) warned all bar and restaurant operators that they must follow the state’s protocols to help ensure health and safety as Texas reopens or face license suspensions. These requirements include indoor customer capacity limits of 50% for bars and 75% for restaurants, along with social distancing of at least 6 feet between groups of customers. TABC said it is strictly monitoring bar and restaurant activity and will pursue emergency liquor license suspensions if there are violations that are a threat to public health and safety. The first infraction will result in up to a 30-day license suspension, and the second infraction will result in up to a 60-day suspension, according to TABC.
5:40 p.m. – The Travis County Commissioners court announced that due to the state of disaster declared by the governor, Austin's "Stay Home, Work Safe" order extension and emergency orders issued by the Supreme Court of Texas, the Travis County Civil and Family Courts have suspended in-person hearings until June 29. For more information, visit www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/civil-courts-covid-19-information.
5:35 p.m. – Hays County Local Health Department reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, June 15. Epidemiologist Eric Schneider said the county’s total of lab-confirmed cases is now 938. The number of individuals considered recovered is 267. Hays County has 666 active cases as of June 15.
5:19 P.M. – Mayor Adler tweeted that the City extended the "Stay Home, Work Safe" order to August 15. The current order was set to expire on June 15. The order extension continues the provisions from the previous order, which include wearing fabric face coverings when in public, socially-distancing six feet away from others and practicing excellent hygiene by "washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds, cleaning high touch surfaces, covering sneezes, etc.
For more information, click here.
4:40 p.m. – The City of Pflugerville will reopen the following City services and facilities starting Tuesday, June 16:
- Athletic fields (including 1849 Park)
- Basketball and volleyball courts
- The beach, playground, pavilion, boat ramp and fishing piers at Lake Pflugerville
- Lap swim and open swim at Gilleland Creek Pool by reservation.
- The Pflugerville Animal Shelter will reopen to the public and resume normal operations (will not accept feral cats over 3 months until further notice).
The Pflugerville Library will begin providing curbside care kits, as a modified version of the Care Cabinet, with personal hygiene items for citizens in need.
All visitors to reopened City facilities must wear a face covering indoors and practice social distancing. Please follow any signage, floor markings and capacity restrictions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
3:45 p.m. – The Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) reported that of the 1,763 inmates in the Travis County Jail, 230 inmates were in isolation and 18 were in quarantine (none of them confirmed COVID-19 positive). To date, 204 inmates have been tested. TCSO reported 162 negative results, three positive results and 39 pending tests as of June 15. TCSO noted that the three positive inmate cases represented its total numbers occurred in previous weeks. All of those inmates were released either upon sentence completion or on bond, according to TCSO.
2:30 p.m. – At a June 15 press conference, Austin and Travis County leaders adopted revised orders in order to slow the spread of cases and the hospitalization rate. In addition to the orders, leaders are asking citizens to continue to practice good hygiene, to practice social distancing and to wear face coverings.
The City announced it encourages businesses operate at a minimal indoor capacity – ideally 25% or below. The order is merely a recommendation and is not mandated because the governor's order allowing businesses to reopen at a higher capacity supersedes local orders.
For more details on the City's announcement, click here.
12:15 p.m. – The City of Taylor announces that all of its park facilities will remain closed until further notice due to an uptick in coronavirus cases.
Large gatherings and events at public facilities will remain restricted. Open spaces in City parks will be closed to the public July 4 and 5, with trails and sidewalks to remain open for walking and running purposes only.
All scheduled programs, activities, games and rentals scheduled at Taylor parks will be canceled until further notice.
9:11 a.m. – At a 2:30 p.m. press conference, leaders in Austin and Travis County will announce revised orders in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This comes after a "troubling rise in cases and hospitalizations," the City of Austin said in a statement.
5:22 a.m. – With 30 new hospital admissions reported on Sunday, the City of Austin has entered stage four of its risk-based levels.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: