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Travis County officials revising city and county orders as coronavirus cases spike

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Published  June 15, 2020 11:59am CDT
Coronavirus in Central Texas
FOX 7 Austin

Travis County officials revising city and county orders as coronavirus cases spike

In a recent news conference, officials had said the number of admissions was sitting at 13 and that if the number hit 20 then measures would be taken. According to the city's website, that number has been hit.

AUSTIN, Texas - Travis County, and the entire state of Texas, have seen a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases and the death toll continues to rise. The alarming numbers have local leaders determining what steps need to be taken to stop the spread.

The number Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Special Assistant to Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, Sarah Eckhardt, and Austin Public Health's Dr. Mark Escott have been saying to focus on is the seven day average of new, daily hospital admissions.

RELATED: Travis County leaders likely to extend stay-at-home order if COVID-19 hospitalizations increase

In a recent news conference, officials had said the number of admissions was sitting at 13 and that if the number hit 20 then measures would be taken. According to the city's website, that number has been hit.

Austin Public Health discusses latest COVID-19 numbers

Officials talks about the recent spike in cases and what the community needs to do.

Now that the number is at 20, it technically moves the city up a stage in its risk-based guidelines. Currently, in Stage 3, the new number means the city is considered to now be in Stage 4 but no official announcement has been made.

RELATED: New risk-based guidelines released to help community stay safe during COVID-19 pandemic

An announcement is expected at 2:30 p.m. today, June 15, when Adler, Eckhardt, and Dr. Escott hold a virtual news conference. FOX 7 Austin will be streaming it online and on our FOX 7 Austin Facebook page.

Officials will be discussing the rise cases and hospitalizations as well as remind the public to continue to practice COVID-19 guidelines like social distancing and wearing face coverings.

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Over the weekend there were 231 new confirmed cases in Travis County. Since the pandemic started, there's been 104 coronavirus related deaths. 

As for the state of Texas, on Sunday, June 14 alone there were more than 1,800 new cases and 19 deaths.

Mayor Adler has said that right now there is available room in hospitals but once Stage 4, or the orange zone, is hit than hospitals could be headed to an overwhelming surge. 

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FOX 7 Austin is working to keep you up to date with coronavirus, with both local and national developments. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news from around the country at coronavirusnow.com.