Emma Freer
Emma Freer is a general assignment reporter for Austonia, where she covers culture, housing, healthcare and more. She previously worked for Community Impact Newspaper. A native Clevelander, she graduated from Columbia Journalism School in 2017 and the University of St. Andrews in 2016. Twitter: @freer_emma
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Select city services—including some pools, libraries and the Austin Animal Shelter—will reopen starting Monday.
<p><span></span>Directors of the Austin Public Library as well as heads of the parks and recreation, animal services and code departments discussed the phased approach during a virtual press conference earlier today. Plans will be assessed every 28 days and may be subject to change, depending on the course of the pandemic.</p><p>Starting Monday, the parks department will reopen certain facilities that have been closed since the start of the pandemic. Three pools will reopen Monday, with six more to follow, but there is not yet a date to reopen Barton Springs or Deep Eddy. Splash pads will also remain closed. </p><p>Austin Public Library will also reopen its book drops. Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours, Director Roosevelt Weeks said. On June 15, APL will begin offering curbside service—where residents can pick up books and other items—at select locations, including the Central Library downtown. </p><p>The Austin Animal Center will resume in-person adoptions, within certain guidelines, on Monday. Interested residents will be required to schedule appointments in advance, have their temperature checked upon arrival and wear masks. Two appointments will be allowed per hour. </p><p>The code department is reopening its cashiers office. Two weeks later, its licensing and registration office will follow suit. Interim Assistant Director Daniel Word encouraged residents to continue using the electronic options available on the city's website. </p><p>As the reopening process continues, city officials asked residents to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing while returning to these venues in an effort to keep city employees and other essential workers safe. "The safety of our employees and the community that we serve are always on our mind," Deputy City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said.</p>
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(Charlie L. Harper III)
At least two protests are planned in Austin this weekend over the recent killings of black men by police: Mike Ramos, who was fatally shot by an Austin Police Department officer on April 24 in Southeast Austin, and George Floyd, who died in police custody on Monday after a Minneapolis Police Department officer knelt on his neck. Both events were filmed.
<p>Floyd's death—along with those of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT in Kentucky who was killed by police in March, and Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old who was pursued and shot by two white men while jogging in <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/hearing-rally-planned-hours-apart-ahmaud-arbery-case/d2FWWT5cQsEWBIcXzGguDL/" target="_blank"><u>his Georgia neighborhood</u></a> in February—has prompted protests <a href="http://live.startribune.com/Event/Aftermath_of_George_Floyds_death_in_Minneapolis" target="_blank"><u>in Minneapolis</u></a> and other cities around the country. Seven people were shot during protests in Louisville <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/05/28/breonna-taylor-shooting-protesters-rally-downtown-louisville/5280279002/" target="_blank"><u>last night</u></a>. </p>
<p>The Mike Ramos Brigade <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/s/from-austin-to-minneapolis-jus/383012155988660/" target="_blank">has planned a protest for Saturday afternoon</a> at the APD headquarters downtown. Nearly 2,000 people have expressed interest on the event's Facebook page. The group's members have not identified themselves, but in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-ramos-brigade/mike-ramos-brigades-call-to-action/116850346685290/" target="_blank"><u>a call to action</u></a> posted on social media they listed their demands, including the firing of Chief Brian Manley and the officers who killed Ramos.</p>
<p>"We don't want lip service from politicians who pretend to fight for the interests of black people and give more funding to cops in the same breath," the group wrote in a recent Instagram post. "We want killer cops to be run out, locked up, incapable of ever harming us again."</p><div id="ec337" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="551275447283358c566a574e4b935940"><blockquote class="instagram-media"
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<p>In <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xdkwB9phum6B7chpOCWKAOWesUURMmna/view" target="_blank"><u>a custodial death report</u></a> filed with Attorney General Ken Paxton's office—as required by state law—APD said the officers involved in Ramos' death were responding to a narcotics call, during which Ramos "became non-compliant and verbally confrontational." One officer, "fearing the male subject intended to use [his car] as a deadly weapon," then shot Ramos with his patrol rifle.</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/250734436184449/?active_tab=about" target="_blank"><u>A second protest</u></a>, organized in collaboration with the Austin Justice Coalition and other community groups, is planned for Sunday at the Capitol. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/s/march-against-police-brutality/250734436184449/" target="_blank">Nearly 500 people have indicated they will attend</a>, with another 1,700 interested. "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE wear your masks if you have them to ensure everyone's safety," AJC Executive Director Chas Moore wrote in a post on the event's Facebook page.</p>
<p>Chris Harris, director of criminal justice programs at Texas Appleseed and a member of the city's public safety commission, called for a reduction in police budgets and authority in a tweet yesterday. "Police & prisons won't stop Amy Coopers or police killings & aren't the answer," he wrote, referring to the white woman who called police on a black man who asked her to leash her dog in a New York City park <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/nyregion/amy-cooper-christian-central-park-video.html?smid=tw-share" target="_blank"><u>earlier this week</u></a>.</p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1266062909521747972" id="twitter-embed-1266062909521747972" lazy-loadable="true" src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1266062909521747972&created_ts=1590687894.0&screen_name=chrisharris101&text=Apparently+I+need+to+spell+this+out.+%0A%0AWe+shouldn%27t+use+the+very+tools+that+consistently+hurt+people+unjustly+to+tr%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F3FivPF0zRR&id=1266062909521747972&name=Chris+Harris" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="c1d1fa7dc2434b8cb5523e3b7e0388ef"></iframe>
<p>Manley called Floyd's death "heart wrenching" and "senseless" in a tweet on Wednesday. "As law enforcement professionals, we must do better in service to our communities!"</p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1265663945538445312" id="twitter-embed-1265663945538445312" lazy-loadable="true" src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1265663945538445312&created_ts=1590592774.0&screen_name=Chief_Manley&text=This+is+heart+wrenching+and+we+must+be+better+than+this+or+these+senseless+deaths+will+continue+to+occur.%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F5CrFUu6V02&id=1265663945538445312&name=Chief+Brian+Manley" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="51bcf0122eb6815e7ba9abaeb2da55b5"></iframe>
<p><br>In November, Austin City Council ordered two investigations into APD after an anonymous complaint alleged racism, sexism and homophobia among the top ranks. The initial investigation, the findings of which <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-investigation" target="_self"><u>were released last month</u></a>, did not confirm any specific allegations. But Lisa Tatum, the San Antonio lawyer tasked with the job, wrote in her report that "issues of race lie just below the surface."<br></p>
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Austin and Travis County officials announced today that if daily new hospital admissions for COVID-19 exceed 20, on average, they would move to reinstate some pandemic restrictions.
<p>"If we get to 20, then we're on a path to overwhelm our hospitals, and we're going to have to pull back, and no one wants to pull back," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said a virtual press conference earlier today. </p><p>Hospital admissions have oscillated between around eight to 10 per day, on average, since early March, when the first Austin cases were confirmed, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said at the same event.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyODgzNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NDQ0ODA0M30.vtQDOSK-GcYb6obg9S0UdeLuxCGHLXxZhEIwwmsQQKc/img.png?width=980" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyODgzNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NDQ0ODA0M30.vtQDOSK-GcYb6obg9S0UdeLuxCGHLXxZhEIwwmsQQKc/img.png?width=980" id="788e4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6191ad65565c511d962c4201c16a8025" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="hospitalizations covid coronavirus" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Hospitalizations will determine local response to COVID-19, officials say</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
(Austin Public Health)
</small>
</p><p><br/></p><p>Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott allowed businesses to start reopening May 1, local officials have expressed concern about the potential for an accompanying surge in cases.</p><p>If hospitalizations drop to five admissions or fewer on average, those officials said they will ease up on certain recommendations, such as limiting gathering sizes, per the risk-based guidelines issued by Austin Public Health <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-color-coded-risk-chart" target="_self"><u>earlier this month</u></a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyODg0NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTgyMzQ5MX0.eh3m9z2mE3g7K62NgvFg6GB5T0Fw0tZfiRWJbimmVZE/img.png?width=980" id="9c519" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7d51d3313722d93522cf07acec318ea2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Austin Public Health)</small></p><p><span></span>It remains to be seen, however, whether they will be able to intervene to prevent such an outcome. Abbott "has stripped away" their enforcement mechanisms, Sarah Eckhardt, special assistant to Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, said at the press conference.</p><p>While Adler and Dr. Escott said they believe the state will allow intervention should a surge occur, the state has recently used its authority to trump local control efforts, such as those concerning <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-stay-at-home" target="_self"><u>masking mandates</u></a>, <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-insists-construction-worker-safety" target="_self"><u>construction bans</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-mail-in-voting" target="_self"><u>mail-in voting</u></a>. </p><p>Without authority to enforce restrictions, Adler hopes Austin residents will observe recommendations voluntarily. "It's got to be something that we do to protect one another," he said.</p>
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(Central Texas Food Bank)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Austin, the Central Texas Food Bank has seen a tenfold increase in food costs.
<p>The local nonprofit used to spend about $20,000 a week on food. But most of its inventory came from donations and food recovery partnerships with grocery stores, wholesalers and local farmers. Now it's spending $200,000 a week because of increased need from the public and fewer recovery opportunities, as places like HEB and Sam's Club try to keep their own shelves stocked. </p><p>The food bank serves 21 counties and distributed 52 million pounds of food in 2019. It has responded to natural disasters and fed government employees during previous shutdowns. "This has dwarfed anything else we've seen," Chief Development Officer Mark Jackson said.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyODYxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTc3ODAyNX0.XGfJ9eSDDae8MhsArnqmfSKbjGDEa0yXaFU2tJDHjwU/img.jpg?width=980" id="33793" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a21cb08d96202b16199f22d0d80f8e61" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Central Texas Food Bank)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>In addition to increased demand for services driving up operating costs, many local nonprofits are also facing disrupted supply chains, volunteer hiatuses and financial uncertainty. Their most acute need is emergency funding, according to <a href="https://missioncapital.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-4-8-CTX-COVID19-Pulse-Survey.pdf" target="_blank"><u>a recent survey</u></a> conducted by Mission Capital. Nearly half of the 458 responding organizations reported increased demand for their services. At the same time, 80% are struggling to reach their clients because of pandemic-related challenges; nearly half have instituted hiring freezes, furloughs or layoffs; and 65% said they have canceled fundraising events. </p><p>Austin Pets Alive is facing this perfect storm of challenges. Since the pandemic began, thousands of residents have <a href="https://austonia.com/austinites-seek-quarantine-companions-as-animal-shelters-work-to-adjust" target="_self"><u>fostered or adopted pets</u></a>, which has been a huge relief, Public Relations and Events Manager Katera Berent said. But the organization has also taken in more animals, as rescues and shelters in rural areas have shut down in response to the pandemic. "That has been a very big change for us," she added.</p><p>Meanwhile, APA's normally robust volunteer force—around 2,000 people strong—is largely out of commission with the shelter closed to the public and social distancing recommendations still in effect. Fundraising is also down, which Berent attributes in part to rising unemployment. Its other revenue streams—a couple of thrift stores, which remain closed, and in-person events—have also dried up. "We're a bit nervous," she said. </p><p>Foundation Communities, an affordable housing developer, is in the same boat. The nonprofit has suspended its in-person volunteer programs, which provide tenants with services such as tutoring and tax preparation assistance. "We're challenged because most of our work is shoulder-to-shoulder," Executive Director Walter Moreau said. </p><p>The organization's annual fundraiser is scheduled for October, which is a concern, as is the economic slump that has accompanied the pandemic. "We've seen some foundations kind of pull back on giving because of uncertainty," he said. "Their endowments may have declined in the market, so they don't have as much money to give." </p><p>In response, nonprofits have been forced to adapt. Megan Ambrose—the vice president of marketing and events for Notley Ventures, an Austin-based venture capital fund that invests in nonprofits and social enterprises—<a href="https://www.wearenotley.com/edu-blog/nonprofit-pivot-feature-code2college" target="_blank"><u>pointed to Code2College</u></a> as an example. The local organization works to support minority and low-income high school students in STEM fields and has received funding from Notley. In response to the pandemic, its staff has created an online curriculum and is working to develop a virtual alternative for summer internships. </p><p>"That's sort of the most inspiring part of the pandemic—is how well the nonprofits and social impact community are adapting and innovating," Ambrose said, while adding that these organizations still need support to survive. "It's a really tough time." </p><p>Courtney Manuel is the executive director of I Live Here I Give Here, which works to encourage philanthropy through events such as Amplify Austin. She worries that the worst may still be ahead for nonprofits, as loans such as the Paycheck Protection Program run out and the full economic fall-out of this pandemic becomes clear.</p><p>"The community turns to the nonprofit community to support them when times are really dire," she said. "So if we're not supporting our nonprofits right now so that they exist when we're on the other side of this thing, we're not going to have the infrastructure that we need to respond as things continue to unfold."</p>
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Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest nonprofit hospital system in Texas, announced today it will lay off roughly 1,200 employees—or about 3% of its workforce—as a result of the pandemic.
<p>"We worked to reassure and safeguard our people through the uncertainty as we prepared for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients, yet experienced a drastic drop in visits, largely due to the suspension of non-urgent surgeries and procedures," the company said in an emailed statement. </p><p>Patient volume is recovering—in-person and telemedicine clinic visits are at roughly 95% of pre-COVID levels, hospital admissions are at roughly 92% and operating room cases are around 97%—but it is not enough to offset <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/private-practice-hospitals-cut-staff" target="_self"><u>the financial losses</u></a>. </p><p>"While patient volumes are steadily increasing, we remain in a financial recovery period during which we must plan for continued unpredictability," per the statement. </p><p>The layoffs accompany other changes, including temporary pay cuts for senior executives and physicians and staff furloughs. </p><p>Pre-pandemic, BSW Health committed to raising the hourly rate for 12,000 nurses and staff, which it will honor beginning next month. </p><p>Baylor Scott & White has several clinics in the Austin area, including a downtown location on Cesar Chavez Street, and medical centers in Southwest Austin, Pflugerville and Lakeway. </p>
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A rising number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and an increasing positivity rate at city-run drive-thru testing sites are evidence that a surge is looming, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott told Travis County commissioners this morning.
<p>"Certainly <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/data-june-spike-travis-county" target="_self"><u>based on our modeling</u></a>, as well as some of the other dynamics that we're seeing in the community, including<a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-rushes-back-out" target="_blank"> increasing risk-taking behaviors</a>, decreasing use of masks and social distancing, anecdotally, we certainly expect to see a surge begin to happen," Dr. Escott said.</p><p>Yesterday, Austin Public Health recorded a new record for the number of new confirmed cases: 86.</p><p>"This is about two to three weeks after the reopening of the state, and this is about the time we'd expect to see an increase in cases as a result of that change in policy," Dr. Escott said.</p>
<p>Another piece of evidence suggestive of a surge is an increasing rate of positive COVID-19 test results.</p><p>Since Austin Public Health in mid-April <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/officials-will-debut-new-covid-19-testing-enrollment-system-to-expand-access-tracking" data-linked-post="2645744786" target="_blank">debuted a public enrollment system</a>, which allows residents to sign up for free testing at drive-thru sites, the testing capacity has increased—although resources are still limited. Up until mid-May, the positive rate was hovering around 3% to 4%, but last week it was 8.5%.</p><p>"Again, this indicates to us that we are starting to see the beginnings of a surge," Dr. Escott said.</p>
<p>County commissioners spoke about news coverage showing hoards of revelers congregating at Lake Travis and bars on Rainey and <a href="https://austin.eater.com/2020/5/26/21270357/austin-bar-bufords-beer-garden-social-distancing-coronavirus-instagram" target="_blank">Sixth streets</a>; the mayor has, on social media, asked people<a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-rushes-back-out" target="_blank"> to be more cautious</a>.</p><p>"The public is hearing mixed messages," Dr. Escott said, with one side pushing for economic recovery and the other urging confinement. "We've got to be in the middle somewhere."<br></p><p>A sharp increase in cases could overwhelm the local healthcare system and force a second economic shutdown. To avoid this outcome, Dr. Escott stressed the need for continued caution and urged residents to wear masks while in public, and to practice social distancing. </p><p>"We're seeing what happens when we're successful at prevention because it's not real yet to the community. They don't know people by name who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 or died," he said. "I know all the names."</p>
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Three weeks into Texas' reopening—and after warnings from local elected officials and health experts—updated modeling forecasts a local spike in COVID-19 cases in June.
<p>The data, <a href="https://policylab.chop.edu/covid-lab-mapping-covid-19-your-community" target="_blank"><u>compiled by the PolicyLab</u></a> at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, suggests Travis County will start to see an uptick in new COVID-19 infections and approach the previous record—125 new cases recorded April 3—by mid-June.</p><p>"I know people are suspicious of models because they're forecasts," PolicyLab Director Dr. David Rubin said. "But what I would say is where you see consistent signals, you need to take them seriously."<br/></p><p>While there have been <a data-linked-post="2645999147" href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-color-coded-risk-chart" target="_blank">positive developments</a> in the local COVID-19 caseload—including what Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott recently called an "effectively plateaued" curve—there is evidence those signals may get louder. </p><p>The data analytics firm Unacast, which uses cell phone tracking data to assess social distancing, now rates Travis County <a href="https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard?view=county&fips=48453" target="_blank"><u>as failing</u></a>, a four-letter grade drop since early April. Residents have reduced their daily mobility 25% to 40%—a D grade—and their nonessential visits by less than 55%—an F. Texas is doing <a href="https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard?view=state&fips=48" target="_blank"><u>even worse</u></a>, with a less than 25% reduction in average mobility statewide. </p><p>"[T]he picture our models are painting for Texas and Florida provide ample evidence to others who would choose to move too quickly," Dr. Rubin and his colleagues wrote in <a href="https://policylab.chop.edu/blog/counties-are-relaxing-social-distancing-what-could-mean-short-term" target="_blank"><u>a blog post published Wednesday</u></a>. "We see these concerns even as we adjust for additional testing capacity that might have inflated our forecast." </p><p>But reopening can be done safely, so long as residents accept "inconveniences," such as <a href="https://austonia.com/relaxing-the-boundaries-to-let-the-world-back-in-just-a-little" target="_self"><u>wearing masks in public</u></a> and adapting to new restaurant protocols, Dr. Rubin said. "Our message is not one of, 'Don't reopen,'" he added, pointing to states such as Colorado that have reopened cautiously—and are less at risk of a surge in the future. </p><p>Dr. Rubin hopes this updated report serves as a kind of "dimmer switch," spurring residents to change their behavior before they are forced to, such as by a second shutdown. "It's like a hurricane," he said. "What do you do? You board up your windows. You get ready. Maybe you get lucky, and it moves 50 miles to the west, and you don't see the impact. But you're still happy that you prepared."</p>
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(MangoNic/Shutterstock)
Beansprout Pediatrics was prepared for the pandemic. Its team—five pediatricians, four pediatric nurse practitioners and 25 ancillary staff—was following the coronavirus news out of China and had stocked up on personal protective equipment.
<p>"An interesting thing happened," co-owner and partner Dr. Brian Temple said. "No one got sick. Everyone stayed home."</p><p>Patient visits dropped 50% to 60%. Dr. Temple and his co-owner—who have locations in Bee Cave, Dripping Springs and Spicewood—aimed to avoid furloughs and layoffs but had to cut salaries by 30% and reduce hourly employees' shifts. "As it is, pediatrics runs on a very thin margin every month," he said. </p><p>Compared to some other practices, however, Beansprout has been spared the worst.</p><p>Three in four Travis County physicians—a full 75%—have taken a pay cut, according to a survey by the Texas Medical Association <a href="https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=53634" target="_blank"><u>published yesterday</u></a>. Doctor and dentist offices are responsible for the third most jobless claims in the area, after restaurants and hotels, according to <a href="https://texas2036.shinyapps.io/covid_tracker/" target="_blank"><u>Texas Workforce Commission data</u></a>. And by the end of next month, web-based mapping tool HealthLandscape—a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians—predicts Travis County will have <a href="https://healthlandscape.org/covid19/" target="_blank"><u>a shortage of family doctors</u></a>.</p><p>These are the results of the state's shutdown, which led to <a href="https://austonia.com/offices-are-closing-everywhere-as-austins-private-practices-face-revenue-loss-due-to-pandemic" target="_self"><u>sharp declines in patient visits</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/health-care/private-doctors" target="_self"><u>emergency room admissions</u></a> and, for a time, banned elective procedures, threatening cash flow. In addition to lost revenue, health care providers are facing increased costs, such as for specialty medical equipment, protective gear and hazard pay for frontline workers.</p><p>Hospital systems—<a href="https://www.austinchamber.com/economic-development/austin-profile/major-employers" target="_blank"><u>some of Austin's largest employers</u></a>—are also feeling the pinch. </p><p>Baylor Scott & White committed to protecting the pay of all staff through the end of this month but, in an emailed statement, declined to say what lies ahead. "As has been widely reported, COVID-19 has had significant impacts on the operations of healthcare systems across the nation, including Baylor Scott & White," it read. </p><p>Austin Regional Clinic cut physician pay, and some staff members have accepted voluntary furloughs, <a href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/austin-regional-clinic-physicians-management-taking-a-reduction-in-compensation/" target="_blank"><u>according to KXAN</u></a>. </p><p>St. David's HealthCare is providing 70% base pay for employees whose hours have been cut through its pandemic pay continuation program. More than 6,0000 employees across the company have received pandemic pay since March 29, which CEO David Huffstutler said has enabled the company to avoid layoffs and furloughs in an emailed statement. </p><p>Dr. Joseph Valenti, an OB-Gyn in Denton and a board member of the Physicians Foundation, said the pandemic has exacerbated existing problems—such as overhead costs increasing at a much faster rate than reimbursement from insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. "Physician practices had been underwater for a huge amount of time," he said.</p><p>The pandemic may drive physicians out of private practice and into retirement or jobs at hospitals, large medical practices or venture capital-owned firms, which cost patients more. Dr. Valenti's business, however, is bouncing back. After a "horrible" April when patient volume was down 90%, the practice is now at about 70% capacity, which he attributes in part to the field of obstetrics. "Babies never stop being born," he said. "Pandemic or not." </p><p>Dr. Temple is seeing a similar shift, but he worries that a second surge of cases this fall or winter could lead to a more complete shutdown. He and his fellow pediatricians could find new jobs at hospitals or large medical groups, he said, even if they would rather stay in private practice. But he worries about their hourly staff. "We're dedicated to trying to keep them," he said.</p><p><em>This story has been updated to include a statement from St. David's HealthCare. </em><br/></p>
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