AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated.
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 Sept. 4 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 625,300 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 13,000 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: Over 26,800 cases have been reported and at least 393 people have died. At least 25,668 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: More than 5,400 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 50 people have died. At least 3,434 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: More than 8,000 cases have been reported in the county and at least 126 people have died. More than 7,700 people have recovered from the virus.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data Sept. 4
Updates:
6:10 p.m. – Williamson County reported another 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the county's total to 8,024 cases and 126 deaths. At least 7,794 people have recovered.
6 p.m. – Travis County reported another four deaths from COVID-19 on Friday along with 128 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 26,854 cases and 393 deaths. At least 25,668 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 128 people hospitalized from COVID-19, with 47 in the ICU and 27 on ventilators.
5:55 p.m. – The Texas Juvenile Justice Department announces that five more youth at the Giddings State School tested positive this afternoon. Since the start of the pandemic, 42 staff members and 89 youth have tested positive at the school.
5:25 p.m. – Texas reported 4,215 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total to 630,829. The weekly average for new cases is down 14% from a week ago.
The state reported 140 new deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, now 13,231 total statewide.
There are 3,889 hospitalizations across the state from COVID-19, the fewest since June 22.
The state's positive test rate average is at 9.74% as of Friday, up from Thursday and just below the 10% threshold the governor aims to stay below.
4:05 p.m. – Hays County reported 25 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, along with two new hospitalizations and 66 additional recoveries. The total number of confirmed cases is 5,471, while at least 3,434 people have recovered from the virus.
3 p.m. – Travis County announces that the majority of its parks are now reopened. The exceptions include Cypress Creek Park, Sandy Creek Park, Hamilton Pool Preserve and athletic fields.
Open parks will have limited capacity and amenities due to the pandemic. As the area is still in Stage 3 of the risk-based guidelines, gatherings of 10 of more people are discouraged. Parks will close if capacity is reached and visitors are urged to wear face masks, practice social distancing and bring their own hand sanitizer.
Check the Travis County Parks website for more details. Officials will also post updates on Facebook and Twitter on capacity-related closures.
Note: No commercial/rental use of Travis County Parks boat ramps on Lake Travis or Lake Austin will be allowed. The launching or retrieving of rental watercraft and watercraft for hire is prohibited. The loading or unloading of passengers from such watercraft is also prohibited.
2 p.m. – Austin Public Health officials answer coronavirus-related questions in their weekly media Q&A session ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
Read more about what they had to say here.
11:10 a.m. – Frontline construction industry workers will be able to receive free COVID-19 testing and PPE supplies on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 5909 Reicher Road.
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