Coronavirus: Austin Illness Count Up To 554, 7th Death Reported

AUSTIN, TX — The number of coronavirus cases grew to 554 on Tuesday — up 52 from the previous day — and the region's seventh fatality from respiratory illness was reported.

The numbers were updated on an Austin Public Health dashboard containing data related to COVID-19, the virus that causes respiratory illness.

In neighboring Williamson County, health officials reported six new cases of the virus, bringing the total number to 87. The fourth person to die of the ailment, a womain in her 50s, also was reported.

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The upgraded count comes on the heels of new directives by both Travis and Williamson official for residents to start wearing protective fabric facecoerings to hep sow the spread of illness.

Previous stories:

• Coronavirus: WilCo Illness Count Grows To 81, 3rd Death Reported
• Coronavirus: WilCo Urges Residents To Wear Face Coverings
• Coronavirus: Travis County Illness Count Exceeds 500
• Coronavirus: 2nd Death Reported In Williamson County
• Coronavirus: Austin Officials Offer Face Coverings Guidance

Also on Tuesday, Austin announced a closure of all parks and other recreation areas ahead of Easter to promote social distancing — a tactic viewed as the most effective way to mitigate the spread of an illness for which there is no vaccine. Later in the day, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the immediate, if temporary, closure of all parks and historic sites to the same physical distancing ends.