Travis County Gains 527 New Coronavirus Cases, 10 More Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — Austin health district officials reported 527 new coronavirus cases on Monday, pushing the cumulative illness count to 48,951. Ten new deaths were reported as well, bringing the total fatality count to 542 since the start of the pandemic.

The data are found in a statistical dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health. Hospitalization data also are input into the dashboard. As of Monday, there were 422 residents hospitalized for coronavirus, including 132 being treated at intensive care units and 77 placed on ventilators.

The concerning data come the same day Austin Public Health officials said the region is headed into a "state of emergency" in light of rising illness rates, a status that has spurred talk of a possible curfew to compel residents to stay home as a disease-mitigating step.

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Given such illness upticks, health officials on Wednesday placed the region in the highest alert level — the red-colored, Stage 5 tier — conveying rapid spread of the respiratory illness across the county. The highest of a five-tiered scale, Stage 5 triggers new restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Moreover, residents are urged to stay home and not gather with anyone outside their immediate households.