Coronavirus: Travis County Count 4,238, 2 New Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — The number of cases of the coronavirus in Travis County grew by 129 on Thursday from the day before, and two more people died of the respiratory illness as reported by health officials as the region reached a grim milestone in crossing the 100-mark in fatalities.

To date, there have been 4,238 cases of the illness. The fatality count crossed the 100 mark on Thursday at 101. The data were updated on a statistical dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health. Officials noted that 3,316 patients have recovered from illness since contracting the virus.

Health officials also reported 112 people have been hospitalized, including 46 in intensive care units and 26 placed on ventilators. According to the dashboard, Hispanics continue being disproportionately impacted by the illness, representing 59 percent of the total while comprising some 34 percent of the Travis County population.

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The hospitalization barometer is worrisome to heath and city officials, who expressed hope of keeping the seven-day rolling average to under 20 daily hospitalizations. A streak of triple-digit increases in newly diagnosed patients has only added to the consternation. On Wednesday, another 133 new patients were positively diagnosed. The day before that, health officials reported 161 new cases — the biggest single-day increase in cases to date.

On Twitter, Mayor Steve Adler pointed to the latest seven-day daily average of 14. "Keeping this number under 20 is key," he wrote. "It increases chances we can continue to reopen while preventing our hospitals from experiencing an overwhelming surge in admissions."

County health officials only recently moved to expand testing sites in the county to enhance chances of testing among disproportionately affected minorities — namely black and Hispanic residents.

There also appears to be a more concerted effort to produce outreach in Spanish to keep those most vulnerable apprised of current illness trends as illustrated by a tweet from council member Sabino "Pio" Renteria.

"Over the past few days, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported per day in Austin-Travis County has jumped into the triple digits," health officials wrote in a previously emailed advisory.

"As more businesses reopen, Austin-Travis County leaders want to remind the public to continue to be vigilant and practice proper hygiene to prevent the disease from spreading," Austin Public Health officials added.

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: Texas Illness Count Cross 81K Mark, 35 New Deaths
• Coronavirus: Triple Digit Illness Spikes in Austin Spark Concern

To see more detailed data on reginal coronavirus illness trends, visit the Austin Public Health statistical dashboard.