AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates, check out our new live blog here.
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 April 24 live blog.
Top Headlines:
- How 'retail to-go' will work in Texas
- New task force created to help reopen businesses, Austin leaders say
- Austin-Travis County coronavirus cases reach 1,312, 31 deaths
- Texas' peak in COVID-19 deaths most likely a couple weeks away, UT research shows
- Amid COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 481K jobs available across Texas, Gov. Abbott says
- When and where you can get an 'emergency food' kit from the Central Texas Food Bank this month
- LIST: Confirmed Central Texas coronavirus cases by county
- Need a job? These Austin-area stores, other businesses are hiring right now
Updates:
6:45 p.m. – Travis County is now reporting 1,379 confirmed cases, 32 deaths and 378 recoveries.
5:40 p.m. – Georgetown ISD said a graduation car parade will be held on May 29 for all seniors. Individual campus principals are now working on specific details, including cap and gown distribution, speeches and diplomas, the school district said.
The events will have limited community participation, according to Georgetown ISD, and anyone watching the parade must follow social distancing guidelines.
4:35 p.m. – Hays County reports one new case overnight and today, bringing the total to 148. At least 71 of those have recovered and are out of quarantine.
4:15 p.m. – The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of State Health Services have launched an online COVID-19 test collection map.
The map helps Texans locate test collection sites in their neighborhood and displays information on public and private mobile, walk-in and drive-thru collection sites, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Contact information as well as hours of operation are available for each site.
The map features more than 340 collection sites across Texas, with additional locations to be added. Texans wanting to submit updated information are asked to fill out an online form.
4:10 p.m. – Ascension Seton said it is implementing a phased approach to return to surgeries and other health care services after Gov. Greg Abbott loosened restrictions made to help dedicate resourced to fight COVID-19.
The health care provider said most of its hospitals will begin scheduled surgeries and procedures, prioritizing those that are most urgent, beginning on Monday. Hospitals will have extra safety measures in place, including visitor restrictions and temperature checks. A negative COVID-19 test will be required for any patient scheduled for surgery.
3:45 p.m. – Caldwell County will offer a one-day drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on Tuesday, April 28, operated by the Texas Military Department with coordination support from the Emergency Medical Task Force.
The drive-thru testing site will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lockhart Junior High School at 500 City Line Road.
Anyone wishing to be tested must have an appointment and be pre-screened. Those interested are asked to call 512-883-2400 or visit txcovidtest.org.
Hensel Phelps, the general contractor on-site for Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, confirms, workers have tested positive for COVID-19:
"Hensel Phelps continues to take a proactive approach to maintaining the health and safety of the jobsite. Hensel Phelps was notified yesterday that workers received positive test results for COVID-19. As a precaution, Hensel Phelps shut down the affected areas to allow for the professional cleaning and sanitization of the jobsite, as well as implement further measures to mitigate or limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community."
12 p.m. - Williamson County announces 24 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 206. Currently, there are 12 people hospitalized. So far, 124 people have recovered.
10:30 a.m. - For Texans "experiencing housing challenges" due to COVID-19, a HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance program has been created, according to the office of Gov. Greg Abbott. The waivers will help families and individuals with up to 100% of their rent, security deposit payments and utility bills. Around $11.3 million in funds will be available for those in need across Texas.
6 a.m. - Retail to go officially starts in Texas as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to gradually reopen businesses. Customers will be able to go to stores to pick up things they're buying, but they can't go inside. For more information, click here.
Check back on this live blog for the latest updates Friday.
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- COVID-19 testing capacity in Travis County needs to be 8x better, says Travis Co. judge
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- Austin City Council passes numerous items to aid in COVID-19 relief