COVID-19 update
Travis County saw a drop in hospitalizations from a day ago as of this morning. There are 265 people hospitalized for coronavirus, with 42 of those people requiring a ventilator. 81 are said to be in the ICU, which officials have said this week is actually quite common for any year. Overall, 41,092 cases were found, resulting in 37,808 recoveries. 2,785 cases were said to be active.
Today is the day the FDA will consider authorization of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Dr. John Carlo of the Texas COVID-19 task force says providers will be shipped their doses as soon as approval comes, meaning people could be vaccinated very, very soon
“As far as what I’m hearing, it could be any day for the vaccines as they’re coming out. Keep in mind this is one vaccine by one company, and we’re gonna potentially have different vaccines,” he says.
Among all Texas counties with a major metropolitan area, Travis County is still at the bottom of the list in terms of active coronavirus cases. Travis County Health Authority Mark Escott says that does bode well for how effective the vaccine will be here, compared to other areas with surging numbers
“Like El Paso, the vaccine may be less impactful because so much of the population has already been exposed,” says Escott.
But because of the smaller numbers in the Austin area, Escott says it’s highly advised that you get a vaccine when it becomes available to you, although for most of us that won’t be until well into next year.
Texas agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has tested positive for COVID-19. Miller says in a statement he’s feeling a little under the weather, but he does expect to make a full recovery. He says he’ll be in quarantine at his ranch as he deals with that virus.
Up in Williamson County, out of the 15,003 total cases of COVID found there, 1,165 are active at the moment and of those, 69 people are in the hospital. 13,664 people have recovered. Round Rock has seen the most cases of any city in the county.
High speed chase incident in Cedar Park
We’re expected to learn more today about an incident in Cedar Park yesterday that left a canine police officer and his dog injured. Please say that officer was hit by a car during a high speed chase, and the officer was treated for injuries at the hospital. The dog received some stitches from a veterinarian. One man was arrested, but it’s not clear what started that chase.
Austin Police Academy
Austin Mayor Steve Adler has again this week expressed an interest in getting the police academy up and running again in the spring. But he says doing so will require structural changes, including a much larger focus on diversity.
“Recognize that those cadet classes can really serve as the change agents, cultural change agents,” says Adler.
Many critics, though, point to the fact that the cadet class that was next in line this year, prior to being canceled, would have been the most diverse in the department’s history, comprising 51% minorities for the first time ever.
Governor Greg Abbott has put a lot of focus on Austin’s violent crime increases this year. But he’s also concerned about other cities like Houston, where he’s now sending DPS troopers to respond to violence there, including a rash of road rage shootings. Abbott says the DPS is assisting Houston PD and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Dan Patrick proposes changes to Senate
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is once again being accused of moving the goalpost on Texas Democrats in the State Senate. Patrick is recommending changing Senate rules to keep the Dems from blocking any Republican bills. It used to take the support of at least 21 members of the 31 that make up the Texas Senate just to get a bill to the floor for a vote. It was called the 2/3 Rule. When the Republicans fell below that number in 2015, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick lowered it to the 3/5. Now he’s talking about lowering it to 18.
“Now that Pete Flores has lost in the Republicans are down to 18. If the 3/5 rule had remained, they would have needed one Democrat to come on board and help them to pass any legislation,” says Rice University political scientist Mark Jones.
Austin tax allocation
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s monthly report on sales tax allocation shows a little more than $790 million being sent out to cities and other taxing districts, which actually reflects the numbers from back in October. Hegar says that’s a 3.7% drop from a year ago. Austin is getting $19.9 million of that, which is almost 3% less than one year ago.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-12-10-20
