Travis County Gains 603 Coronavirus Cases, 9 New Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County health officials on Tuesday reported an additional 603 cases of the coronavirus and nine new deaths, bringing the historical, respective totals to 18,394 and 218 fatalities.

The data are found on a statistical dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health. The latest uptick brings the historical illness count above the 18,000 mark after 17,791 cases were reported on Monday. The data also show 459 patients are hospitalized, including 153 being treated at intensive care units and 106 placed on ventilators to help with their breathing.

According to the dashboard, Hispanics in the county continue to be disproportionately represented as far as diagnoses with 52 percent of all cases.

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Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health and St. David's HealthCare released a joint statement related to hospital capacity. As of Tuesday, the 2,473 staffed beds within all three healthcare systems are 75 percent occupied while the 483 ICU beds are 83 percent occupied, officials said.

To apprise the public further, Austin Public Health officials have scheduled a news conference as part of its weekly virtual media Q&A with reporters. To that end, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott, Austin Public Health Director Dr. Stephanie Hayden and Austin Public Health Chief Epidemiologist Janet Pichette will be available during the presentation scheduled at 10:30 a.m.

Related stories:

• Travis County Gains 145 New Coronavirus Cases, 6 New Deaths
• Texas Records Record Level Of Coronavirus Hospitalizations

Members of the public can view the event in several ways:

• LiveU signal
• Livestream feed ATXN 1: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live
• Livestream feed ATXN 3 (Spanish-language Simulcast): http://media.swagit.com/austintx/atxn3/.