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'The disease is still here': Austin's record COVID-19 caseloads 'a very concerning trend,' Escott says

Travis County reported its two highest daily caseload increases on Monday and Tuesday.
After two consecutive days of record-breaking daily COVID-19 caseloads, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said the spike is primarily related to the state's reopening plan and Memorial Day activities. An increase in hospitalizations related to the disease is likely to follow next week.
"None of the cases we're seeing right now are related to protests," he said during a virtual media call this morning.
Health authorities expect an increase in new cases on Mondays, due to weekend reporting delays, but that typically tapers off by Tuesday, Dr. Escott said. Instead, Travis County reported a record daily increase of 116 new cases on Monday evening only to report even more—161—yesterday.
"This disease is still here. It's still a risk for us. We still have people hospitalized. We still have people dying," he added. "That doesn't mean we need to live in fear."
Residents can protect themselves—and others—by maintaining (or resuming) precautions, such as masking, social distancing and hand-washing. "Quite frankly, we also have an increase in risk-taking behavior," Dr. Escott said.
Austin Public Health is also working to improve its response time, with the goal of residents being able to get tested within 24 hours of symptom onset and to receive results within 24 hours of being tested, Dr. Escott said. This would help city officials make more timely decisions in response to caseload data and help residents isolate themselves more quickly.
Right now, however, there is a considerable lag time. In some cases, a patient with a confirmed case of COVID-19 has recovered by the time their positive result is tallied. "The cases that we reported over the last three days are cases that had onset a week or up to 10 days ago," Dr. Escott said.
As a result, any cases related to the recent protests against police brutality likely won't emerge until later this week or next.
Dr. Escott applauded protestors for exercising their First Amendment rights to protest but added that person-to-person interactions are the primary way COVID-19 spreads. He urged residents to be proactive about getting tested and notifying their contacts if they receive a positive result.
To this end, APH recently "lowered the bar" to allow asymptomatic residents to access free testing. The department is also expanding its team of contact tracers, according to Chief Epidemiologist Janet Pichette.
Currently, the team of 38 is growing by 10 new staffers each week to allow for in-person training without putting onboarders at excess risk. "We have a pretty full house," Pichette said.
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Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
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(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
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