Coronavirus updates in Central Texas: Thursday stat tracker

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer being updated. Click here for Friday's blog.

KVUE is keeping you updated with the latest coronavirus and COVID-19 news in the Austin area. 

Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's daily live blog.

COVID-19 numbers:

• Texas: 
  • More than 4 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 75,000 people in Texas have died, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Central Texas counties: 
  • Austin-Travis County: The seven-day moving average for new hospital admissions is 82, and an average of 328 people are hospitalized. The community transmission rate is 1,066.8 and the positivity rate is 29.7. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 136,004 cases have been reported and at least 1,221 people have died.
  • Hays County: There are currently 5,213 active cases, and 15 people are currently hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 36,402 confirmed cases have been reported and at least 418 people have died. 
  • Williamson County: There are 920 new cases of coronavirus in Williamson County. Fifteen percent of hospital beds are available, and 4% of ICU beds are available. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 79,019 cases have been reported and at least 757 people have died.

For a look at COVID-19 data across all of the state's counties, click here.

Here's a closer look at the data:

TEXAS

• 35,453 new cases today
  • 7-day average: 39,257/day (another new record)
    • Up 10% from yesterday
    • Up 229% from a week ago
    • Up 952% from a month ago
• 126 new deaths
  • 75,014 total to date
• 8,740 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals (+611)
  • Up 7.5% from yesterday
  • Up 58% from a week ago
  • Up 178% from a month ago
• Positivity for the state is now above 35%

LOCAL

• 2,848 new cases for the 4-county Austin metro
  • 7-day average: 3,710/day (new record)
    • Up 9% from yesterday
    • Up 240% from a week ago
    • Up 1,439% from a month ago (15x where we were a month ago)
• Hospital admissions for the metro up to 82/day
• 408 COVID-19 patients in Austin area (TSA O) hospitals; +45 from yesterday
  • 10% COVID/capacity
  • 17 pediatrics (+3 from yesterday, +7 from a week ago)
• 91 COVID-19 patients in Austin area (TSA O) ICUs; +13 from yesterday
  • 28 beds available (17 adult, 11 pediatric); 6% available
  • 19% COVID-19/capacity

Updates:

7:45 p.m. - Austin Public Health said it will begin following recently announced guidelines from the CDC, offering vaccines to newly eligible populations. Those include:

• Expanded Pfizer COVID-19 booster dose eligibility for everyone 12 and older. 
• Moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds may get an additional primary dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
• The interval between initial doses and a booster is shortened from 6 months to 5 months for people who received the Pfizer vaccine. 

To schedule a vaccine appointment with Austin Public Health, click here. Residents can locate other vaccine providers in their area by clicking here.

3:15 p.m. - The City of Austin announced it would temporarily close walk-in utility customer service centers due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and the city moving back to Stage 5 of it's coronavirus guidelines. 

These offices will be closed starting Jan. 7:

• North Utility Customer Service Center at 8716 Research Blvd., Suite 115
• South Utility Customer Service Center at 1901 W. William Cannon Drive
• Rosewood Zaragosa Utility Customer Service Center at 2800 Webberville Road, Suite 110 has been closed since March 2020 and will remain closed

The City said customers could make utility payments online or over the phone by calling 512-494-9400 for service assistance. 

For a full list of payment and customer service options, click here.

11:18 a.m. - Amid the most recent surge of COVID-19 and the spread of the omicron variant, Austin health leaders have moved the city back to Stage 5, the strictest set of recommendations under the coronavirus guidelines. This means if you’re vaccinated and have a booster, you still need to mask up in public. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you should avoid both gatherings with others and traveling.

9:18 a.m. - At 10:30 a.m., Austin Public Health and city leaders are set to give an update on staging and the spread of the omicron variant. Watch in the video above or on KVUE's YouTube channel.

OTHER COVID-19 HEADLINES:

• Federal government approves state request for six COVID-19 testing sites
• What to know about the CDC's recommendation of COVID-19 boosters for children 12 and older
• CDC recommends Pfizer COVID boosters for younger teens
• More patients with COVID-19 going to the hospital but have less severe symptoms, Austin doctor says
• FDA warns against incorrect use of at-home COVID-19 test requiring nasal swab