AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Local health officials have moved back to Stage 3 in Austin Public Health's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, as four cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Travis County.
Local leaders, including Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Austin Mayor Steve Adler, addressed the cases in a press conference Thursday morning, that also included Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes and Austin Public Health interim director Adrienne Sturrup.
"Disturbingly, we are now experiencing a rise in COVID hospitalizations that could overwhelm our city’s ICUs," said Adler. "Almost all of these hospitalizations involve those who have not been vaccinated. This is a plea for people to become vaccinated, so we do not put our ICU capacity at risk. It is critically important that we do everything we can do to lower the infection level in our community, especially with school starting in 30 days."
Under the Stage 3 guidelines, those who are at high risk and who are unvaccinated are urged to avoid non-essential private gatherings, dining, shopping, and travel, both indoors and outdoors.
"While the Delta variant has likely been circulating in our area for a while, we now have confirmation through sequencing that it is here,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “We know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and continues to be effective against the virus and its variants. It is now more important than ever to get vaccinated – do not gamble your health and that of your family and your community.”
Last month, Williamson County officials confirmed three cases of the Delta variant. As of July 13, the Texas Department of State Health Services was reporting a total of 402 cases statewide.
As of Wednesday evening, Austin Public Health was reporting a total of 707 active COVID-19 cases in Travis County, with 137 patients hospitalized. The number of active cases has been on a steady rise since the last week of June, when the count fell below 250.
Health leaders continue to emphasize COVID-19 vaccinations as the best way to help reach herd immunity and fight new variants of the virus. COVID-19 vaccinations are free and require neither identification nor insurance. You can locate nearby providers online at Vaccines.gov, or by texting your zip code to 438829 to find a nearby clinic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Delta variant was first identified in India in December 2020, and first detected in the United States in March. Roughly 58% of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide from June 20 through July 3 are the Delta variant, according to CDC data.