AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.
KVUE is keeping you updated with the latest coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, news in the Austin area.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's June 6 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: Nearly 75,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 1,800 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The department estimates more than 49,700 people have recovered from the virus.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 3,800 cases have been reported and at least 98 people have died. At least 3,098 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: Over 400 cases have been reported and at least 5 people have died. About 230 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: There have been at least 690 cases reported in the county and at least 28 people have died. More than 500 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Texas coronavirus data June 7
Top headlines:
Updates:
6 p.m. – Travis County reports new COVID-19 death, bringing the total to 98. There have been 3,815 confirmed cases in Travis County, with at least 3,098 recoveries.
5 p.m. – Hays County is reporting 43 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 441 lab-confirmed cases. Of those, 203 are still active. At least 233 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Hays County.
4:50 p.m. – The Travis County Sheriff's Office reports two new COVID-19 cases among the inmate population. The two inmates who tested positive in the last week are no longer in custody, but prior to being released, both were housed in isolation and were never part of the general population, according to TCSO. There are no new COVID-19 cases among TCSO employees. This brings the total among inmates to three.
4:35 p.m. – The Austin Parks and Recreation Department announces free summer programs for children and families starting July 6, at a variety of recreation center sites, as well as online programs. COVID-19 operational guidelines will be implemented at recreation centers.
4:30 p.m. – Texas has hit a record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations. As of June 8, there are 1,935 patients in Texas hospitals receiving treatment for coronavirus.
12:30 p.m. – CommUnityCare Health Centers, along with Quest Diagnostics and Centene Corporation, announce that they will be providing free testing for people with no symptoms to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
“The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers is one of the biggest challenges we are currently facing during this pandemic – especially for at-risk populations,” CommUnityCare Health Centers CEO Jaeson Fournier said. “A carrier of the disease who doesn’t know they have it is more likely to pass it to others without even knowing it. One of our strongest weapons in combating the coronavirus pandemic is increased testing and our ability to do this is in large part due to the partnership with Quest and Centene Corporation.”
For information about testing near you, call CommUnityCare’s COVID-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775.
12 p.m. – Hospital volunteers and community members will be holding a car parade at St. David's Georgetown Hospital to honor the work of health care professionals during the pandemic. The parade is taking place today at 6:30 p.m.
11:17 a.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is coordinating with local officials, public health officials and emergency management offices in cities across the state to identify and rapidly expand COVID-19 testing in underserved and minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. This mission is part of TDEM's ongoing partnership with the Texas Military Department (TMD), the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and increase testing where needed, according to the Office of Greg Abbott. A press release from Abbott's office said TDEM is already working with local officials in the cities of Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, Abilene, the Rio Grande Valley, the Coastal Bend, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa to identify and establish walk-up and drive-thru testing sites that will meet the needs of each community, and is in the process of working with other cities to bring more sites online in the coming days. TDEM is also working with local leaders to expand walk-up and drive-thru testing in urban areas where large-scale protests have taken place.
10:27 a.m. – Austin Community Foundation (ACF) and United Way for Greater Austin announced a new request for proposals (RFP) for funding from All Together ATX, a philanthropic effort to support communities experiencing economic and health-related hardships caused by COVID-19 in Central Texas. ACF and United Way are distributing funds to local organizations providing critical services related to domestic and child abuse, digital equity, mental health, aging populations, and utility assistance. The size of grants will range, up to $100,000. Applications are now open; the deadline to apply is 5 p.m., June 26, 2020.
Check back for updates.
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