AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This live blog is no longer being updated. For the latest updates in Central Texas check out KVUE's Sept. 22 live 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 Sept. 21 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 3.2 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 60,800 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 for new hospital admissions is 49, and an average of 513 people are hospitalized. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 343. Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 113,132 cases have been reported and at least 1,058 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 1,952 active cases, and 48 people are currently hospitalized (39 unvaccinated, 9 vaccinated). Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 27,892 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 353 people have died. At least 25,587 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: There are 209 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Thirteen percent of hospital beds are available, and 0% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 59,768 cases have been reported and at least 600 people have died.
- Central Texas school districts:
- Austin ISD: As of Sept. 20, there are a total of 146 new COVID-19 cases (126 students, 17 employees, 3 other) and a total of 843 new exposures (829 students, 14 employees). Since Aug. 16, there have been 850 cumulative positive cases (684 students, 155 employees, 11 other) and 5,062 cumulative exposures (4,975 students, 77 employees, 10 other).
- Round Rock ISD: As of Sept. 20, there are 45 new positive cases (43 students, 2 employees) and 257 new "close contacts" (228 students, 29 employees). There have been 1,225 total cumulative positive cases (1,078 students, 147 employees) and 11,380 total cumulative "close contacts" (10,447 students, 933 employees).
- Leander ISD: For the week of Sept. 18-24, there have been 37 total positive cases. There have been 1,280 total cumulative positive cases.
- Pflugerville ISD: For the week of Sept. 20-24, there have been 0 total positive cases. There have been 795 total cumulative positive cases.
- Hays CISD: As of Sept. 20, there are 211 active student cases and 33 active staff cases. There have been a total of 613 cumulative student cases and 115 cumulative staff cases.
- Texas Public Schools (2021-22 school year; updated on Fridays with data from the previous Monday-Sunday)
- Cumulative positive student cases: 126,687, up from 60,527 on Aug. 29
- Cumulative positive staff cases: 24,476, up from 14,377 on Aug. 29
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here. KVUE is tracking COVID-19 data from five school districts in Central Texas. Many school districts have their own COVID-19 dashboard.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Sept. 21, 2021
Updates:
5:45 p.m. – A youth development coach and one member of the medical staff at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) said. TJJD currently has 21 active cases across its facilities (19 staff and two youth).
5:05 p.m. – The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Texas is at 11,049 per day – the lowest since Aug. 13, down 28% from a week ago and down 21% from a month ago. There were 346 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Texas on Tuesday, bringing the total to 61,178. There are 11,658 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals statewide – down 10% from a week ago and down 11% from a month ago.
Around 60.5% of the eligible Texas population is fully vaccinated, around 50% of the entire population of Texas. Travis County is at 70.1% of the eligible population and 59% of the entire population fully vaccinated.
The Austin metro area is at an average of 795 new COVID-19 cases per day over the past week – the fewest since Aug. 2, down 34% from a week ago and down 30% from a month ago. There are 579 COVID-19 patients in Central Texas hospitals, the fewest since Aug. 6. There are 214 COVID-19 patients in area ICUs, with 1.8% availability. Around 42% of ICU capacity is taken by COVID-19 patients, down from 54% on Aug. 24. There have been 2,896 deaths from COVID-19 in the 12-county Central Texas KVUE viewing area since the start of the pandemic.
4:50 p.m. – Austin-Travis County has entered Stage 4 territory of its risk-based COVID-19 guidelines for the first time since the end of July as daily hospitalization numbers decline. The seven-day moving average of daily COVID-19 hospital admissions is at 49, just below the Stage 5 level of 50. The number is down from a peak of 84 average daily hospital admissions on Aug. 11.
Despite the improving hospitalization numbers, Austin-Travis County officially remains in Stage 5.
"While APH monitors the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 new hospital admissions as the primary key indicator for the Risk-Based Guidelines, additional key indicators, including positivity rate, the doubling time of new cases and current ICU and ventilator patients, are monitored to determine the current staging," a spokesperson for the City told KVUE. "We will continue to evaluate these other data points to determine if/when Stage 4 will happen."
4:45 p.m. – Travis County reported three more deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday along with 512 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 113,132 cases and 1,058 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 108,793 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 492 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 195 in the ICU and 137 on ventilators.
4:40 p.m. – Hays County reported four more deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday – a Kyle man in his 60s, a Kyle man in his 40s, a San Marcos woman in her 90s and a Wimberley man in his 60s. Health officials also reported 73 new confirmed cases along with five new hospitalizations and six new hospital discharges. There are 75 additional people considered recovered.
8:56 a.m. – Austin-Travis County leaders are receiving their weekly COVID-19 update from local health experts at 9 a.m. Watch in the video above or on KVUE's YouTube channel:
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Medical Director Dr. Desmar Walkes said that looking at the curve Austin Public Health (APH) has been monitoring over the last 18 months, cases are starting to decline and the positivity rate also appears to be going down.
Interim Austin Public Health (APH) Director Adrienne Sturrup said 80.28% of Travis County residents had received the first dose of the vaccine, while 70.03% were fully vaccinated.
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
Ana Lark Center (APH)
- 1400 Tillery St. Austin, TX 78721
- 1 pm – 7 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Little Walnut Creek Library (APH)
- 835 W. Rundberg Ln. Austin, TX 78758
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Southeast Library (APH)
- 5803 Nuckols Crossing Austin, TX 78744
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Texas Empowerment Academy (APH)
- 6414 North Hampton Dr. Austin, TX 78723
- 4 pm – 6 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Perez Elementary School (Travis County)
- 7500 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. Austin, TX 78744
- 4 pm – 8 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 9111 FM 812 Austin, TX 78719
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 8807 Cameron Rd. Austin, TX 78754
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6506 Decker Ln. Austin, TX 78724
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6759 FM 535 Cedar Creek, TX 78612
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Dr. Austin, TX 78724
- 9 am – 12 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Ana Lark Center (APH)
- 1400 Tillery St. Austin, TX 78721
- 9 am – 4 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Pflugerville Library (APH)
- 1008 W. Pfluger St. Pflugerville, TX 78660
- 2 pm – 7 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
La Finca Supermercado (Travis County)
- 9616 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78753
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
La Michoacana Meat Market (Travis County)
- 2237B E. Riverside Dr. Austin, TX 78741
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
El Rancho Supermercado – Research (Travis County)
- 8752 Research Blvd. Austin, TX 78758
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
El Rancho Supermercado – Berkman (Travis County)
- 6800 Berkman Dr. Austin, TX 78723
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Dr. Austin, TX 78724
- 9 am – 12 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Ana Lark Center (APH)
- 1400 Tillery St. Austin, TX 78721
- 9 am – 4 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Guerrero Thompson Elementary School (Travis County)
- 102 E. Rundberg Ln. Austin, TX 78753
- 4 pm – 8 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 9111 FM 812 Austin, TX 78719
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 8807 Cameron Rd. Austin, TX 78754
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6506 Decker Ln. Austin, TX 78724
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
JD’s Supermarket (Travis County)
- 6759 FM 535 Cedar Creek, TX 78612
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Locations & Hours of No-Appointment Operation Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
Delco Activity Center (APH)
- 4601 Pecan Brook Dr. Austin, TX 78724
- 9 am – 12 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Consulate General of Mexico (Travis County)
- 5202 E. Ben White Blvd. #150 Austin, TX 78741
- 9 am – 1 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Ana Lark Center (APH)
- 1400 Tillery St. Austin, TX 78721
- 1 pm – 7 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Little Walnut Creek Library (APH)
- 835 W. Rundberg Ln. Austin, TX 78758
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
Southeast Library (APH)
- 5803 Nuckols Crossing Austin, TX 78744
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Moderna (18 and up), Pfizer (12 and up)
La Mexicana Market (Travis County)
- 5717 South IH 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78744
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Poco Loco Supermercado – Cameron (Travis County)
- 6305 Cameron Rd. Austin, TX 78723
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Poco Loco Supermercado - Airport (Travis County)
- 1148 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX 78702
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Poco Loco Supermercado – Ben White (Travis County)
- 611 W. Ben White Blvd. Austin, TX 78704
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
Music in the Park (Travis County)
- 515 City Park Rd. Pflugerville, TX 78660
- 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
- Pfizer (12 and up)
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