AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Wednesday'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 daily live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas:
- More than 5.1 million cases have been reported in the state, and around 78,100 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 96, and an average of 613 people are hospitalized. The community transmission rate is 714.3 (high) and the positivity rate is 25.6%. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 169,561 cases have been reported and at least 1,273 people have died.
- Hays County: There are currently 8,448 active cases, and 35 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 47,841 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 447 people have died.
- Williamson County: There are 389 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Five percent of hospital beds are available, and 1% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 104,998 cases have been reported and at least 796 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: COVID-19 data Feb. 1, 2022
Updates:
9:55 p.m. – Austin Public Health COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 3, and Friday, Feb. 4, due to anticipated inclement weather. Patients with appointments have been notified, APH said.
5:30 p.m. – Travis County reported nine deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday along with 821 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 169,561 cases and 1,273 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 163,539 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 598 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 149 in the ICU and 63 on ventilators.
5:20 p.m. – Four youth at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday night, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department said. At this time, TJJD has 64 active cases across its facilities (36 staff and 28 youth).
6 a.m. – A new federally funded COVID-19 testing site will open at Metz Elementary School, located at 84 Robert T. Martinez Jr. St. in Austin. The site will offer free PCR testing.
According to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the site will be set up at noon Tuesday. After that, it will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
To schedule an appointment with the independent contractor operating the site, eTrueNorth, visit ineedacovid19test.com or dial 800-635-8611. Registration is not required, however, and walk-ups are accepted. Results will be available online or via phone.
Here's a closer look at today's data:
TEXAS
- 28,471 new cases
- 7-day average: 28,145/day
- Down 3.5% day-to-day
- Down 37% from a week ago
- Up only 29% from a month ago
- 7-day average: 28,145/day
- 200 new deaths
- 78,360 total to date
- 12,156 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals
- Up a hair day-to-day, breaks a 4-day downward streak (up 0.3%)
- Down 8.5% from a week ago
- Up 85% still from a month ago
LOCAL
- 661 COVID-19 patients in Austin area (TSA O) hospitals
- -7 day-to-day
- 6% bed availability
- 172 COVID-19 patients in Austin area (TSA O) ICUs
- +12 day-to-day
- 5% bed availability
- 33% COVID/capacity
OTHER COVID-19 HEADLINES:
- AP source: Pfizer to ask FDA to authorize COVID vaccine for kids under 5
- Travis County judge substitute teaches at AISD amid high absences
- At-home COVID-19 test results can be impacted by weather
- Yes, the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have received FDA approval
- Austin breast milk bank experiencing shortage caused by pandemic, stress