austonia newsletter
Most viewed
After a few weeks of steady decline, the number of new coronavirus cases in Travis County is hitting a troublesome plateau, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said Tuesday.
"This makes us concerned that we are no longer headed in a good direction, that we are flattening out" rather than improving, Escott told the Travis County Commissioners Court. "Particularly because we are about 30 days from the start of in-person schooling, we have to do better."
Nevertheless, Escott said, the various statistics Austin Public Health uses to track the spread of coronavirus in the region show that Travis County has entered Stage 3 territory, potentially giving way to less stringent public-health restrictions in the coming weeks.
But Escott said he is not ready to make that call, which would expand the number and type of businesses considered safe to be open.
For officials to be comfortable downgrading the county to Stage 3 restrictions, Escott said they would need two weeks' worth of numbers supporting that level.
"We've seen over and over again, across the country and across the globe, that when communities relax too soon, it results in a bounce of cases and a repeat surge," Escott said.
Better news, he said, is that ICU and hospital-bed usage in Austin are still down, and the city has more than enough ventilators to handle a large surge in cases.
- Two-thirds of Austin COVID-19 deaths are people over 70 - austonia ›
- With rising hospitalizations, Austin officials warn of surge - austonia ›
- Austin's COVID hospitalizations appear to be plateauing - austonia ›
- Mass events in Austin likely canceled through December, Escott says ›
- Austin sees surge in coronavirus cases after reopening - austonia ›
- Fabric face coverings will be 'longstanding requirement' in Austin ... ›
- Austin sees COVID plateau, more cases among children - austonia ›
Popular
Nancy Flores, Austin Vida editor and publisher, is bringing back the Latino media organization to Austin.
Growing up along the South Texas border, Nancy Flores, the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, made it her mission to uplift the voices of Latinos "a long time ago."
The Texas Department of State Health Services will allocate 333,650 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 260 providers this week, with the bulk assigned to hub providers that are focused on widespread community distribution events. Eight of those providers are in Travis County.
- UT professor played role in Pfizer and Moderna's COVID vaccines ... ›
- Austin Public Health prepares for COVID vaccine distribution ... ›
- Austin area businesses required to reduce capacity to 50% - austonia ›
- Austin Public Health to receive 12,000 doses of COVID vaccine ... ›
- Texas changes vaccine rollout strategy as Austin providers run out ... ›
- Austin Public Health debuts COVID vaccine sign-up list - austonia ›
- Everything we know about Austin's COVID vaccine rollout - austonia ›
Due to shipping delays, allocations of the Pfizer vaccine scheduled to be distributed in Texas on Monday will now arrive on Tuesday.
- A 'handful' of ineligible people got the COVID vaccine in Austin ... ›
- Austin healthcare offering COVID-19 vaccine waitlists - austonia ›
- Everything we know about Austin's COVID vaccine rollout - austonia ›
- Texas widens COVID vaccine access, but Austin doses are limited ... ›