Photo by Roschetzky Photography
The number of new cases of COVID-19 has grown slightly since yesterday in Austin and Travis County. Austin Public Health says there are now 206 confirmed cases. Yesterday, that number was 200. A second person has reportedly died. Bastrop County’s number has doubled since yesterday, now up to six, and a new shelter-at-home order has been issued. 42 cases in Williamson County. Hays County reporting 18.
The City of Austin identifies two nursing facilities to house elderly patients who test positive for Coronavirus. The two facilities will have a combined 100 beds and will house only elderly nursing home residents who test positive for Coronavirus.
Dr. Liam Fry says there will be specially trained staff, “if you or your mother or grandmother has COVID-19, you would want them to be cared for in that facility because that’s where people who know how to take care of those patients would be.”
Fry says predictions are that these facilities could fill quickly in the next few weeks, and if they do, then the city will identify other facilities.
Staffing problems grow for the Salvation Army after a homeless person tested positive for COVID-19 last week at the downtown Austin shelter. Major Lewis Reckline told CBS Austin some staff members are being quarantined after they’ve had contact with that person.
“We have some who are concerned about coming in so they called in,” says Reckline, “but they haven’t quit.”
More than a dozen other people staying in the same room are also in quarantine. Reckline says shelters are being cleaned and sanitized much more often now,
The Austin school board wraps up its first online meeting without answering a lot of questions being posed by concerned parents. The board says more Chromebooks and WiFi hot-spots to be handed out to students. But a lot of questions submitted by parents last night were about how the current changes will be impacting graduating seniors. The board, though, did not address that issue.
An Austin Cop tested positive for Coronavirus. APD reports they have contacted other city employees that officer made contact with, adding she is in self quarantine at this time. Officials say APD staffers with Coronavirus symptoms have been getting tested at designated first responders test sites. This is the second confirmed case of an Austin first responder coming down with a virus. Just last week, an Austin Travis County EMS Medic, also tested positive.
Austin Regional Clinic is now offering drive-through testing at several locations around the area. One location is already open on South First Street. Another Austin location will open up today, along with one down in Kyle. By late next week, two more in Round Rock and Cedar Park are expected to open. People wanting to get tested there must have a referral from a physician with Austin Regional Clinic.
Hays County is feeling pretty optimistic it will get a new infusion of COVID-19 test kits by tomorrow. County Judge Ruben Becerra says they partnered with Austin based company MDBox to allow 50,000 kits to be sold to residents online.
He tells KVUE, “you take a little blood from your finger and results come back in 15 minutes if you’re positive on these fronts. As these symptoms evolve, you will be monitored through telemedicine and medical professionals on the other side.”
The kits cost $49 and Hays is the first county in Texas to try this in home testing.
As restaurants adjust to life with only takeout and delivery options, many are having to permanently close. Anna Tauzin, with the Texas Restaurant Association, says 2% of the more than 50,000 eateries in the state have already shut the doors for good.
“Because President Trump said that we need to consider shelter-in-place until the end of April,” says Tausin, “we anticipate that these numbers are just going to keep getting worse.” Another one in 10 owners say they plan to close within the next 30 days.
An abortion clinic claims victory is a federal judge blocks the portion of Governor Abbott elective surgery ban. U. S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled in favor of the clinic, saying the Supreme Court has spoken clearly that there can be no outright ban on such a procedure. The Center for Reproductive Rights is in on the lawsuit.
“We’re likely to succeed on the merits that this is an unconstitutional ban on abortion,” says their CEO, Nancy Northup.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has already appealed the decision. Paxton spokesman Mark Rylander says, “our office will fight tirelessly against this politically driven lawsuit to protect the health of Texans suffering from this COVID-19 crisis.”
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