Central Texas COVID-19 death toll nears 1,500; state toll approaches 44,000

TX – The statewide COVID-19 death toll rose by 315 Thursday as it climbed toward 44,000 and the Central Texas toll was nearing 1,500 even as the number of newly confirmed cases in the region continued to decline.

The virus has claimed the lives of 10 more Central Texas residents, according to data released Thursday.

As many as 1,509 area residents diagnosed with the COVID-19 have died, but according to Texas Department of State Health Services data, the regional death toll Thursday was 1,482 including 362 Bell County residents, 17 fewer than the local count of 379; 31 Bosque County residents; 78 Coryell County residents; 29 Falls County residents; 46 Freestone County residents; 25 Hamilton County residents; 98 Hill County residents; 30 Lampasas County residents; 39 Leon County residents; 63 Limestone County residents; 441 McLennan County residents, nine more than the local count of 432; 40 Milam County residents; 20 Mills County residents; 123 Navarro County residents, 10 fewer than the local count of 133; 38 Robertson County residents, and 19 San Saba County residents.

The statewide death toll Thursday was 43,878.

The total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Central Texas increased by 133 Thursday to 73,651.

DSHS reported 5,043 additional cases Thursday, 3,493 of the new, increasing the statewide total to 2,309,124.

Of the total, 152,267 cases were active Thursday, 2,458,818 patients have recovered, and 5,263 were hospitalized 245 fewer than on Wednesday.

In Trauma Service Area L, which includes Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam and Mills counties, at least 75 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalized Thursday, down from 85 on Wednesday, accounting for about 8% all hospitalizations and filling about 6.7% of available beds.

At least 42 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Thursday in Trauma Service Area M, which includes McLennan, Bosque, Falls, Hill and Limestone counties, accounting for about 9% of all hospitalizations and filling about 6.5% of available beds.

Hospitalization rates in both TSAs have dropped below the level that triggered bar closures, capacity reductions and halted elective surgeries under orders Gov. Greg Abbott issued on Sept. 17 and Oct. 7.

The statewide Lab Test Date positivity rate Thursday was 8.29% down from 8.65% Wednesday.

A positivity rate of 5% or less generally indicates the virus is contained, experts say.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new executive order Tuesday lifting most of the restrictions included in earlier orders including the statewide mask mandate and restrictions on business capacity.

“Under this updated guidance, a public school system’s current practices on masks may continue unchanged,” the TEA said Wednesday.

“Local school boards have full authority to determine their local mask policy.”

The order applies to counties in Trauma Service Areas where COVID-19 hospitalizations represent 15% or less of hospital capacity, but it does not allow county judges to impose jail time for failure to follow COVID-19 orders or imposing penalties for failure to wear a face mask.

VACCINATIONS

Another 2,100 Central Texas residents have received a first dose of vaccine and another 2,100 are fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, 96,578 or about 13% of the residents 16 or older in the 16 counties KWTX is tracking have received a first dose and 54,247 or just more than 7% are fully vaccinated.

Statewide, 3,911,642 or about 16% of residents 16 and older have received a first dose and 2,177,635 or about 8.8% of residents 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

Data Thursday from the state vaccination dashboard showed in Bell County, 27,747 residents, or just more than 10% of those 16 and older, have received the first dose and 18,044 or about 6.6% of those 16 and older, are fully vaccinated.

In McLennan County, 31,795 residents, or 15.8% of those 16 and older, have received one dose and 16,908 or 8.4% of those 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

In Bosque County, 16.6% of those 16 and older have received one dose and almost 10% are fully vaccinated; in Coryell County, 9.4% have received one and 6% are fully vaccinated; in Falls County, 14.5% have received one and 7.6% are fully vaccinated; in Freestone County, 9.5% have received one dose and 4.6% are fully vaccinated; in Hamilton County, 18.7% have received one dose and 9.7% are fully vaccinated; in Hill County, 13.5% have received one dose and 7.5% are fully vaccinated; in Lampasas County, 10.7% have received one dose and 5.6% are fully vaccinated; in Leon County, 11.5% have received one dose and about 5% are fully vaccinated; in Limestone County, 13% have received one dose and 5.3% are fully vaccinated; in Milam County 14.6% have received one dose and just more than 8% are fully vaccinated; in Mills County, 18% have received one dose and just more than 10% are fully vaccinated; in Navarro County 21.3% have received one dose and 10% are fully vaccinated; in Robertson County, 15.4% have received one and 6% are fully vaccinated, and in San Saba County, 6.7% have received one and 2.3% are fully vaccinated.

School teachers and childcare workers in Texas are now eligible for vaccination against COVID-19, the Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directed states to expand eligibility. The directive says “those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers,” are now eligible for the vaccine in addition to older adults and those with pre-existing conditions that put them at higher risk from the virus.

The state was expecting 24,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine this week and another 200,000 doses next week.

The state was due to receive 626,280 initial doses of Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines this week and 17,730 doses were designated for hub sites and other providers in Central Texas.

The six hub sites in Central Texas were due to receive a total of 14,760 doses.