AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer live. For the latest updates, click on the Nov. 27 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 Nov. 26 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 1.1 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 20,900 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 37,238 cases have been reported and at least 483 people have died. At least 34,196 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 7,097 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 99 people have died. At least 6,290 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 12,272 cases have been reported in the county and at least 162 people have died. At least 11,304 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Nov. 26
Updates:
9 p.m. – For Austin firefighters working on Thanksgiving, there is a long-standing tradition that their family members from home join their "fire family" at the station so they can break bread together. But because of COVID-19, that tradition can't happen this year. In a statement on Thursday, the Austin Fire Department said:
"Our crews and their families are finding creative ways to 'be together' without 'being together.' For example, take the C-shift crews at Stations 2, 3 and 23 (along with Medic 13 from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services) who spent some time remotely 'with' their families this evening while both station personnel and those at their respective homes all had their Thanksgiving meals. It’s certainly not perfect or the way we all wish it could be, but a worldwide pandemic doesn’t seem to care that it’s Thanksgiving; like millions of other families around the country, everyone is doing the best they can under difficult circumstances."
2:45 p.m. – Texas reported 12,423 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the seven-day average to 11,505 cases per day over the past week – up 25% from a week ago and up 125% from a month ago. There were 206 newly reported deaths statewide on Thursday, brining the total to 21,156.
Texas currently has 8,706 COVID-19 patients in hospitals statewide – the most since Aug. 3, up 9% from a week ago and up 65% from a month ago. The state's positivity rate average is at 10.47%.
On Thursday there were 127 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Austin metro area (Williamson and Hays counties did not report new data because of the holiday), bringing the seven-day average to 479 cases per day. The positivity rate average for the Austin metro area is at 4.72%.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: