DATA: There are 4,832 active COVID-19 cases in the KXAN viewing area as of Tuesday

Posted: Mar 18, 2020 / 03:28 PM CDT / Updated: Oct 26, 2021 / 08:18 PM CDT

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN is keeping track of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, across Central Texas. Click here for statewide data.

Where have cases been reported?

The first COVID-19-related death in Central Texas was reported March 27, 2020, in Travis County. Texas reports totals for two kinds of cases: confirmed and probable. A confirmed case is a person who has tested positive on a molecular test. A probable case is a person who has tested positive on an antigen test, or someone who has a combination of symptoms and known exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Where have deaths been reported?

Texas identifies COVID-19 deaths using the cause of death listed on death certificates. The total number of deaths does not include people who had COVID-19 but died from an unrelated cause. The first COVID-19-related death in Central Texas was reported March 27, 2020, in Travis County.

How many people have been vaccinated?

The chart below shows the percentage of all residents in each county who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The first vaccines in Central Texas were administered on December 15, 2020, at Dell Medical School in Austin. DSHS only counts people aged 12 and older when determining the coverage rate. The map below shows the percentage of residents in each county that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

KXAN is also keeping track of vaccination rates in each zip code across Central Texas. Click here to explore the data using our interactive map.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses for a person to be fully vaccinated. People who have taken one dose are considered partially vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose, so people who take that vaccine are automatically considered fully vaccinated.

The chart below shows the number of vaccine doses administered each day across the KXAN viewing area.

How has the number of cases changed over time?

KXAN is keeping track of the daily increase in COVID-19 cases across Central Texas. The highest daily jump occurred on February 1, 2021, when 3,618 new cases were added to the area total. On this day, several counties saw surges in case totals after DSHS reported ongoing “data entry and data cleaning efforts.”

The largest increase in deaths in a single day occurred on September 8, 2021, when 38 new deaths were reported.

How many people are in the hospital?

Austin Public Health reports hospitalization data for the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which comprises of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties. The Austin MSA hit a peak of 653 COVID-19 hospitalizations on August 25, 2021. The chart below shows how the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19 has changed throughout the pandemic.

The charts below show how hospital and ICU bed usage has changed throughout the pandemic.

What stage is Austin-Travis County in?

Austin Public Health uses a ‘risk-based guidelines’ system to determine the threat of COVID-19 in the local community. The threat levels range from Stage 1 (lowest) to Stage 5 (highest). The chart below shows which stage the community has been in since the system was introduced in May 2020.

APH uses several factors to determine which stage the community is in, mostly related to hospitalizations. The primary factor is the 7-day average of the number of people newly admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 each day. That average is portrayed as the black line in the chart below.

How many people have recovered?

Texas uses a formula to estimate when people recover from COVID-19. DSHS estimates that 80 percent of cases do not require hospitalization and recover after 14 days. For the remaining 20 percent of cases, the state assumes they do require hospitalization and recover after 32 days. Both confirmed and probable cases are included when calculating recoveries and active cases.