Austin Public Health reported 571 new coronavirus cases July 2, ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order requiring Texans to wear a face covering in public in counties with more than 20 positive COVID-19 cases. The governor cited the state's rising positive testing rates as well as hospitalizations as reasons why masks will be required. Details about the order can be found here.
In a statement, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe said the county will be actively enforcing Abbott’s order, and gatherings of 10 or more will be prohibited in unincorporated areas of Travis County at least through the weekend.
Overall in Travis County there have a total of 10,695 cases since mid-March, when the pandemic began, as well as 7,584 estimated recoveries and 133 deaths. There are currently 415 individuals hospitalized locally due to the coronavirus, according to Austin Public Health. There were 71 new hospitalizations in the Austin metropolitan area July 2.