AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated.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 Aug. 20 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.8 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 53,500 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Austin-Travis County: The 7-day moving average for new hospital admissions is 78, and an average of 606 people are hospitalized. The 7-day moving average for new cases is 565. Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 99,009 cases have been reported and at least 924 people have died.
- Hays County: 132 new cases of the coronavirus were reported Friday. There are currently 2,231 active cases, and 55 people are currently hospitalized (47 unvaccinated, 8 fully vaccinated). Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 23,759 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 296 people have died. At least 21,232 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: There are 244 new cases of the coronavirus in Williamson County. 11% of hospital beds are available, and 1% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 49,549 cases have been reported and at least 516 people have died.
- Central Texas school districts:
- Austin ISD: As of 5 p.m. on Aug. 19, there are a total of 48 new COVID-19 cases (23 students, 22 employees, three other) and a total of 162 new exposures (156 students and six employees). At its mass testing clinics on Monday, AISD said 188 people were tested with 25 coming back positive.
- Round Rock ISD: As of Aug. 19, there are zero new positive cases and zero new "close contact" cases. **Data will be updated starting 08/20/2021**
- Leander ISD: For the week of Aug. 20 (Saturday through Friday), there are 169 new positive cases.
- Pflugerville ISD: For the week of Aug. 20, there are 107 new positive cases.
- Hays CISD: Hays CISD's data posts on Monday, Aug. 23.
- Texas Public Schools (2021-22 school year)
- Cumulative positive student cases: 4,729
- Cumulative positive staff cases: 3,373
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 Aug. 20, 2021
Updates:
3:20 p.m. - As Austin Public Health pushes for more people to get vaccinated, the following locations are open this weekend, starting Friday:
Friday, Aug. 20:
Austin Community College Eastview Campus (Travis County)
- Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
- Address: 3401 Webberville Rd., Austin TX 78702
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ only)
Ana Lark Center, Central Texas Allied Health Institute (APH - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GIFT CARD INCENTIVE)
- Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Address: 1400 Tillery Street, Austin, TX 78721
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years)
Southeast Library (APH)
- Time: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Address: 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd, Austin, TX 78744
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Moderna (18+ years only)
Little Walnut Creek Library (APH)
- Time: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Address: 835 W Rundberg Ln, Austin, TX 78758
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Moderna (18+ years only)
Covington Middle School (Travis County)
- Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Address: 3700 Convict Hill Rd., Austin 78749
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Huston-Tillotson University (Travis County)
- Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Address: 900 Chicon St., Austin, TX 78702
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
La Mexicana Market (Travis County)
- Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Address: 5717 South IH 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78744
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
QC Market (Travis County)
- Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Address: 730 W. Stassney Ln., Austin, TX 78745
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years)
Saturday, Aug. 21:
Travis County Expo (Travis County)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Ana Lark Center, Central Texas Allied Health Institute (APH - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GIFT CARD INCENTIVE)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Address: 1400 Tillery Street, Austin, TX 78721
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years)
Dailey Middle School (Travis County)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 14000 Westall St., Austin, TX 78725
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Del Valle High School Opportunity Center (Travis County/APH)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 5301 Ross Road, Del Valle, TX 78617
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
La Moreliana Meat Market (Travis County)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Address: 5405 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. #E, Austin, TX 78744
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
La Buena Supermercado (Travis County)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Address: 512 W. Stassney Ln. #107B, Austin, TX 78745
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Southeast Library (APH)
- Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd, Austin, TX 78744
- Vaccine: Moderna (18+ years only)
Little Walnut Creek Library (APH)
- Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 835 W Rundberg Lane, Austin, TX 78758
- Vaccine: Moderna (18+ years)
Turner Roberts Recreation Center (APH)
- Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 7201 Colony Loop, Austin, TX 78724
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Moderna (18+ years only)
Wells Branch Community Center (Travis County)
- Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Address: 2106 Klattenhoff Dr., Austin, TX 78728
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Video Super (APH)
- Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Address: 5310 S Pleasant Valley Rd # B, Austin, TX 78744
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Huston-Tillotson College (Travis County)
- Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Address: 900 Chicon St., Austin, TX 78702
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
Sunday, Aug. 22:
Travis County Expo (Travis County)
- Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 7311 Decker Ln. Austin, TX 78724
- Vaccine: Pfizer (12+ years), Johnson & Johnson (18+ years only)
3:11 p.m. – Here's a closer look at today's COVID-19 data:
TEXAS
- 13,452 cases/day over the past week
- Up 25% from a week ago
- Up 401% from a month ago (2,684)
- 174 new deaths – 53,738 total to date
- 12,841 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals
- Up 14% from a week ago
- Up 260% from a month ago (3,566)
LOCAL
- 698 (+23) COVID-19 patients in TSA O hospitals
- 251 (-6) COVID-19 patients in TSA O ICUs
- 3 available beds out of 511 – 0.6% availability
- New pandemic highs for Austin MSA (APH numbers)
- 162 (+9) COVID-19 patients on ventilators
- 620 COVID-19 patients in the hospital
- 77.6/day hospital admissions for the MSA
- Cases still climbing – 1,127 cases/day over the past week
- Up 34% from a week ago
- Up 358% from a month ago
2:26 p.m. – Has Austin-Travis County reached its peak for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations? Local experts say it's not clear – and things could get worse before they get better.
10:38 a.m. – Austin-Travis County health leaders are giving a COVID-19 update and answering questions. Watch in the video above or on KVUE's YouTube channel.
9:30 a.m. – The University of Texas Division of Student Affairs says that free face masks will be available at two locations. Masks will be available at the Texas Union until 8 p.m. today and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Masks will also be available at the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center until 6 p.m. today.
7 a.m. – Round Rock ISD is considering making masks a part of the dress code. On Thursday night, board members gathered student and parent input.
This comes after Paris ISD in northeast Texas made masks a dress code requirement earlier this week. RRISD didn't take any further action on the item, but the issue will be revisited sometime in early 2022.
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