AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.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 and COVID-19 news in the Austin area.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's Oct. 28 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 874,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 17,500 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 31,851 cases have been reported and at least 449 people have died. At least 30,505 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 6,103 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 86 people have died. At least 5,620 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 9,509 cases have been reported in the county and at least 152 people have died. At least 9,113 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Oct. 28
Updates:
6:25 p.m. – On Thursday evening, students from the Dell Medical School will help Austin Public Health staff set up a candle display with 449 candles to remember those who have died due to COVID-19 in our community. The candle-lighting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Long Center for Performing Arts.
6:20 p.m. – Travis County reported another 76 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 31,851 cases and 449 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 30,505 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 114 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 39 in the ICU and 20 on ventilators.
Williamson County reported another 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 9,509 cases and 152 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 9,113 people have recovered from the virus.
Williamson County currently has 26 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 12 in the ICU and three on ventilators.
4:45 p.m. – Hays County reports six new lab-confirmed cases and 69 new recoveries. There were zero new hospitalizations or discharges since Tuesday.
4:30 p.m. – The active COVID-19 case counts for Hays County will be changing moving forward, according to the epidemiology team at the Hays County Local Health Department.
Following a week-long internal review of COVID-19 cases, the department found active case counts that were incorrect. While the change that will be reflected in the update impacts all areas of the county, the cities of San Marcos and Kyle will see more variability.
“Our data review showed San Marcos has 29 active cases just in the past 21 days, yet we received reports about 117 new COVID-19 cases in October,” Epidemiologist Eric Schneider said. “At that point, we knew not all of those had been cleared yet, so we continued digging into the data.”
He said the San Marcos active case counts will increase. Conversely, Kyle’s active cases will go down.
3:20 p.m. – CVS is expanding its COVID-19 testing to include rapid tests. Nearly 100 rapid-result test sites will be fully operational across the U.S. this week, including one in Austin, one in Lakeway and one in Pflugerville.
12:35 p.m. – As spikes continue in the coronavirus pandemic this month, Central Texas blood bank We Are Blood said it will test all donations for COVID-19 antibodies starting on Wednesday. It said all whole blood, platelet, ALTX and convalescent plasma donations will be tested for antibodies. An individual's results will be displayed under "wellness info" in their personal profile on We Are Blood's donor portal. The antibody results will be available approximately seven days after donation, We Are Blood said.
8:30 a.m. – At 10 a.m., leaders with Austin Public Health are scheduled to give a briefing on the state of the coronavirus pandemic. KVUE will live stream the briefing when it starts.
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