Travis County adds 18,136 new COVID-19 cases in January, but Austin-area hospitalizations have decreased over past 2 weeks

As the Austin-Travis County area remains in the highest COVID-19 community risk level, Stage 5, January saw 18,136 new COVID-19 cases reported in the county, according to data provided by Austin Public Health.

After beginning the month with a seven-day moving average of 69.3 COVID-19 hospitalizations per day, new hospitalizations peaked to 93.7 by Jan. 9.

However, APH data showed new hospitalizations have declined since, dropping to 87.8 by Jan. 19 and reaching 68 on Feb. 1, its lowest level since the new year.

Travis County added 3,901 cases from Jan. 26-Feb. 1 and saw 29 COVID-19-related deaths over the past week. There are an estimated 5,201 active COVID-19 cases in the county as of Feb. 1.

In total, Travis County has reported 69,408 coronavirus cases and 660 deaths since the start of the pandemic last March. An estimated 63,547 individuals have recovered from the virus locally, and 510 individuals remain hospitalized across the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area.