AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Monday'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 July 23 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.5 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 51,700 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Austin-Travis County: The seven-day moving average of new admissions is 35, and an average of 191 people are hospitalized. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 148. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 86,826 cases have been reported and at least 894 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 532 active cases and 15 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 19,742 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 265 people have died. At least 18,945 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: There are 209 new cases, and 14% of hospital beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 41,305 cases have been reported in the county and at least 487 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data July 22, 2021
Updates:
4:50 p.m. – Community Coalition for Health (C2H) will host the Walk-in Citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Fair on Saturday, July 24, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The fair will be located at 12224 Jourdan Crossing Blvd (R.O.C.K. Austin). The event is free and open to the public. Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available to all adults and children 12 years old and older. C2H also partnered with El Buen Samaritano to provide a meal to each person after they have received their COVID shot.
11:30 a.m. – Austin-Travis County is moving into Stage 4 of its COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. The city surpassed Stage 4 levels earlier this week. Under Stage 4, Austin Public Health recommends everyone wear a mask, even if they’re fully vaccinated.
Fully vaccinated people should wear a mask when participating in indoor private gatherings, traveling and dining or shopping and should wear a mask for outdoor gatherings if they are unable to socially distance. Partially or unvaccinated individuals should avoid private gatherings, travel, dining and shopping unless essential and should wear a mask when conducting essential activities.
Read more about the move to Stage 4.
9:30 a.m. – The Biden administration is providing $7,033,118 to support rural health clinics (RHCs) in Texas with vaccination efforts. The funds will go to 142 RHCs, which will use the resources to combat COVID-19 misinformation. The funding was made available through the American Rescue Plan and will be administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence (RHCVC) Program.
The HRSA is making grant awards to RHCs based on the number of certified clinic sites they operate, providing approximately $49,500 per clinic site. The HRSA also awarded a $750,000 cooperative agreement to the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health to provide technical assistance to the RHCs participating in this program.
6 a.m. – Austin Community College's Riverside campus is hosting a drive-thru food distribution event. The campus, located at 1020 Grove Blvd. in southeast Austin, is partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank and H-E-B.
Individuals facing increased food insecurity due to the pandemic can get free food from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. During that same time frame, people 12 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: