Travis County Gains 302 New Coronavirus Cases, 4 New Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County gained 302 more coronavirus cases on Wednesday, raising the historical illness count to 18,696. Additionally, four more people succumbed to the respiratory illness from the previous day, increasing the fatality toll to 222.

The number of new cases of coronavirus is roughly half of the 603 lab-confirmed diagnoses reported on Wednesday, when nine people were reported to have died of the illness.

The data are found on a statistical dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health. The statistics show that 453 Travis County residents are currently hospitalized, including 160 being treated at intensive care units and 111 on ventilators to help them breathe.

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An estimated 15,458 patients have recovered since contracting the virus, according to the dashboard data.

During a Wednesday morning news conference, health officials lauded residents whose adherence to safety guidelines seems to be contributing to a plateaued trend of new cases and hospitalizations. But officials stressed health guidelines — wearing protective face coverings and practicing physical distancing — must continue.

"Social distancing is here and it's going to be here for a while," Dr. Mark Escott, the interim health authority, said. "Masking is here and it's going to be here for a while," he added. He was joined in the news conference by Stephanie Hayden, the director of Austin Public Health.

In addition to mask wearing and physical/social distancing, Hayden said residents continue to be encouraged not to leave their homes for non-essential trips. Adherence to such safeguards will help flatten the illness curve further, she suggested.

Escott said the need for such guidelines are heightened given the imminent return to school for the city's youth. A safe return to classes would be ideal at a lower alert level than the Stage 4 in which the city now finds itself.

As a parent of two teenagers and husband of an educator, Escott said he recognized the value of having young people return to school — a sentiment shared by his medical colleagues. "You won't find a public health person that disagrees with the fact that children belong in schools," he said, "but we have to find that balance."

Despite the improving picture in terms of new cases and hospitalizations, the city is prepared for the worst. The Austin Convention Center remains a potential makeshift field hospital if needed, Hayden said. She said the city already has reached out to state agencies to help with staffing the de facto hospital should the need arise.