Coronavirus: Travis County Logs 318 New Cases, 2 More Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County health officials reported the emergence of 318 new cases of the coronavirus from the previous day, bringing the historical level to 6,914. Another pair of deaths was reported in the same 24-hour span, increasing the fatality count to 116.

According to a statistical dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health, 4,796 patients have recovered since contracting the virus. Of the 274 people hospitalized, 106 are being treated at intensive care units and 42 are on ventilators.

The recent spike in illness rates were reported on the same day as the interim health authority for Travis County, Dr. Mark Escott was joined by other medical professionals to urgently plead with the public to take proven measures to blunt the spread of illness — wearing face coverings, maintaining a six-foot distance from others, washing one's hands often an staying at home unless absolutely necessary.

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In tandem with the rise in new diagnoses, hospitalizations also are on the rise. Whereas the city averaged eight to ten daily hospitalizations in the early part of the local contagion, Escott said admissions have risen to an average 40 per day under prevailing trends.

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Should the pace continue, Escott said he might be forced to suggest a citywide shutdown to get a handle on the scourge. “If we don’t make significant change right now — if the situation doesn’t improve in the next week to two weeks — I’m going to have to make a recommendation to the mayor and the [Travis County] judge that we shut down," Escott said. "And I don’t want to do that.”