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Coronavirus updates in Central Texas: Travis County reports another death from COVID-19, 161 new cases

Here are the latest COVID-19 updates, closures and postponements in Central Texas for Tuesday, June 9.

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active.

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 June 9 live blog.

COVID-19 numbers:

  • Texas: More than 75,000 cases have been reported in the state, and more than 1,800 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The department estimates more than 50,400 people have recovered from the virus.
  • Central Texas counties: 
    • Travis County: Over 3,900 cases have been reported and at least 99 people have died. At least 3,182 people have recovered from the virus.
    • Hays County: Over 460 cases have been reported and at least 5 people have died. About 250 people have recovered from the virus.
    • Williamson County: Nearly 700 cases have been reported in the county and at least 28 people have died. More than 500 people have recovered from the virus.

Top headlines: 

Updates

6:20 p.m. – Travis County reported another death from COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 99. The county also reported 161 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 3,976. At least 3,182 people have recovered from the virus.

5:05 p.m. – Hays County on Tuesday reported 24 new COVID-19 cases, along with 17 additional recoveries. There were no new hospitalizations in the county.

Hays County now has 210 active cases.

5 p.m. – Austin Public Health (APH) closed its drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites early on Tuesday thanks to the heat. Tuesday was the hottest day of 2020 so far.

In a statement, APH said:

"Due to increasing temperatures we've had to factor in additional time to allow our staff operating the site to rotate shifts to ensure their health and safety from heat-related illness while in full personal protective equipment (PPE). For those scheduled between 12:30-1 p.m. today, our staff will reach out to reschedule their appointment as soon as possible."

4:35 p.m. – Williamson County announces its 29th death, a woman in her 90s.

4:30 p.m. – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will resume a limited number of on-the-ground safety inspections and enforcement investigations starting Wednesday. 

All agency employees will continue to observe practices that limit the spread of COVID-19:

  • identify themselves and show their TDLR-issued ID
  • make all reasonable efforts to practice social distancing
  • wear masks during all inspections or investigations
  • limit the distribution of paper forms or postings
  • disinfect any equipment they use before entering and after leaving a facility or place of business

TDLR employees will not:

  • ask any member of the public to remove their mask at any time
  • require a signature on any document.

4:15 p.m. – UTOPiAfest will be held as scheduled Sept. 17 through 19 at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, Texas. The festival's team said fest-goers will have "ample room in the 1,300-acre ranch to camp, bike, play disc golf, dance and more with plenty of space." They also said hand sanitizer will be readily available, there will be enhanced safety measures at the front gate and food and retail vendors and Private Camp Port-Os will be available to rent.

4 p.m.  Texas has hit another record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations. Here's a look at some of the latest data from the Texas Department of State Health Services

3 p.m. – Hospitalizations in Texas hit 2,056 on Tuesday, the highest yet and the first time over 2,000.

12:20 p.m. – Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is distributing six additional cases of the antiviral drug Remdesivir to four hospitals across the Austin area. These cases have been provided to DSHS through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. DSHS will allocate 125 total cases of the liquid-form of Remdesivir across the state, enough to treat approximately 500 patients. This is the fourth round of distribution total from the federal government, and will bring the total number of cases distributed by DSHS to Texas hospitals to 609.

"By allocating additional cases of Remdesivir to communities across the state, Texas is prioritizing the health and recovery of our fellow Texans," said Gov. Abbott. "It is imperative that we continue to equip Texas medical providers with the supplies they need to respond to COVID-19, and I am grateful to our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their continued assistance in providing cases of Remedisivir." 

9 a.m. – Due to public safety concerns, the Central Texas Food Bank has shortened two of its upcoming drive-through food distributions due to hot weather:

The event scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at Nelson Field will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instead of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

The event scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at Del Valle High School will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (instead of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Here’s the complete revised schedule of remaining distribution events for June:

Thursday, June 11 

Toney Burger Stadium 
3200 Jones Rd, Austin, TX 78745
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Please enter at the north side of the facility, from the eastbound Hwy 290 frontage road 

Saturday, June 13 

Nelson Field
7105 Berkman Drive Austin, TX 78752
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Thursday, June 18 

Smile Direct Facility (across from Home Depot)
300 Vista Ridge Drive, Kyle, TX 78640
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, June 20 

Del Valle High School
5201 Ross Roa, Del Valle, TX 78617 
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Thursday, June 25

Nelson Field
7105 Berkman Drive Austin, TX 78752
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WATCH: Texas hits record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations

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