AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Wednesday'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 Aug. 17 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.8 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 53,100 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 77, and an average of 598 people are hospitalized. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 468. Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 96,668 cases have been reported and at least 923 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 2,137 active cases and 67 people are currently hospitalized (54 unvaccinated, 13 vaccinated). Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 23,287 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 292 people have died. At least 20,858 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: There are 543 new cases, and 12% of hospital beds are available and 1% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 48,585 cases have been reported in the county and at least 507 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Aug. 17, 2021
Updates:
6 p.m. – Travis County reported four more COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday along with 659 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 96,668 cases and 923 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 93,115 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 608 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 217 in the ICU and 137 on ventilators.
5:05 p.m. – Hays County reported 164 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday along with eight new hospitalizations and eight new hospital discharges. There are 209 additional people considered recovered.
4 p.m. – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said on Tuesday afternoon.
"Gov. Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” Office of the Governor Communications Director Mark Miner said. “The governor has been testing daily, and today was the first positive test result. Gov. Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently.”
Miner said the governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily. He said Gov. Abbott is receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.
2:55 p.m. – Texas reported 20,123 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the average to 12,622 per day over the past week – the highest since Feb. 5, up 20% from a week ago and up 448% from a month ago. There are 12,227 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized statewide in Texas – the most since Jan. 27, up 22% from a week ago and up 316% from a month ago. Texas reported 96 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to 53,196 since the start of the pandemic.
In the 11-county Central Texas area, there are 679 COVID-19 patients hospitalized – the most since Jan. 20. COVID-19 patients make up 16.78% of hospital capacity in the area. COVID-19 patients in Austin-area ICUs are at a new pandemic high of 242, with three staffed ICU beds available. COVID-19 patients make up 49.3% of ICU capacity. There are 137 COVID-19 patients on ventilators in the Austin metro area, a new pandemic high. COVID-19 hospitalizations are at an average of 77 per day over the past week. For the Austin area (Bastrop, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties), there has been an average of 982 new COVID-19 cases per day over the past week – the highest since Feb. 7, up 15% from a week ago and up 335% from a month ago.
Around 55% of eligible 12+ Texans are fully vaccinated.
1:23 p.m. – In its update to local leaders on Tuesday, Austin Public Health reported that it has confirmed a total of 2,663 breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in people who were fully vaccinated.
1:10 p.m. – COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to spike in Austin-Travis County and the health authority says plans are ready for an alternate care site.
9:18 a.m. – Austin and Travis County leaders are getting a COVID-19 update. Watch on KVUE's YouTube channel.
7:20 a.m. – Georgetown ISD has created a central dashboard for parents to see COVID-19 information. On it, parents can find a case number tracker based on campus and additional resources.
6:15 a.m. – Round Rock ISD has announced that starting on Wednesday, Aug. 18 – the district's first day of school – masks will temporarily be required at all schools and facilities.
The requirement expires on Sept. 17, but the Board of Trustees has a regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 16 and could vote to extend the requirement at that time if conditions warrant.
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