AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest COVID-19 updates, click here.
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 May 18 live blog.
COVID-19 numbers:
- Texas: More than 2.4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 49,900 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Central Texas counties:
- Travis County: At least 83,403 cases have been reported and at least 866 people have died. At least 81,994 people have recovered from the virus.
- Hays County: At least 18,731 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 245 people have died. At least 18,191 people have recovered from the virus.
- Williamson County: At least 39,551 cases have been reported in the county and at least 474 people have died.
For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.
GRAPHS: Coronavirus data May 17
Updates:
7:10 p.m. - The St. John's COVID-19 testing site will be closed on Wednesday due to weather. Operations are expected to resume on Thursday.
5:50 p.m. - Travis County reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday along with 37 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 83,403 cases and 866 deaths since the start of the pandemic. At least 81,994 people have recovered from the virus.
Travis County currently has 81 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with 28 in the ICU and 14 on ventilators.
5:45 p.m. - Mozart's Coffee Roasters said it will no longer require customers to wear masks in the store should they not desire to wear them.
4 p.m. - On Tuesday, Austin Public Health officials announced the city and Travis County have moved to Stage 2 of the area's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. With that, Capital Metro announced all vehicles will open to full capacity on Wednesday, with the exception of MetroAccess.
Masks are still required on all CapMetro services, per federal regulation. CapMetro is also continuing several procedures to keep customers and staff safe.
10 a.m. - The City of Austin on Tuesday made some big announcements. The City and Travis County are moving to Stage 2 of the risk-based guidelines for the coronavirus. Austin leaders also said that businesses can require masks in certain settings after the CDC changed its guidelines for the fully-vaccinated.
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