Austin Public Health investigating 9 clusters of COVID-19

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Public Health is investigating nine clusters of COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County.

In a news release Sunday night, the department said one cluster was reported at the Salvation Army's downtown shelter earlier this month. The Salvation Army Shelter previously reported that 12 people staying there tested positive. The facility was temporarily closed while it was sanitized. People staying there were put up in city-leased hotels.

RELATED: Downtown Austin homeless shelters identify more positive COVID-19 cases

The other eight COVID-19 clusters were reported at senior living communities or long term care facilities. APH did not name the facilities. It did, however, release the general areas where they are located. Those include:

• 1 in North Austin
• 2 in Central Austin
• 2 in South Austin
• 1 in Southeast Austin
• 2 in Southwest Austin

RELATED: LIST: Confirmed coronavirus cases by county

Austin Public Health said 14 of the 25 people who died from COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County were residents at senior living facilities.

APH said when a nursing home cluster is identified, the Infectious Disease Response unit is dispatched to the facility. The unit performs tests on additional patients and staff. Patients who test positive are isolated from other patients. Staffers who test positive are removed from patient care duties until their quarantine period is over. A bundle of Personal Protective Equipment is also sent to the nursing home to help control further spread.

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