AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Masks will no longer be required under the City of Austin's Health Authority Rules, in order to comply with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order prohibiting local governments from enforcing mask mandates.
A statement released Friday morning by Austin Public Health says the latest rules, which were just updated on May 18, will now be updated to serve as recommendations rather than enforceable rules.
“We choose to focus our energy on fighting COVID in our community. We choose to focus on the health and safety of all of you, our residents,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “There is now more urgency to be vaccinated as protection measures will not be required.”
For those who are fully vaccinated, Austin Public Health recommends the following:
*Resume normal activities without wearing a mask, except when required by a business
*Resume domestic travel without testing and quarantine before or after travel
*Resume international travel without testing, unless required by the destination, and refrain from quarantine after arriving back in the United States
*Refrain from testing and quarantine following a known exposure, unless you develop symptoms
Those who are partially or unvaccinated are recommended to continue masking in most situations. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing the full course of their COVID-19 vaccination regimen; Pfizer and Moderna require two doses and Johnson & Johnson requires one dose.
“I am confident that the guidelines provided regarding the ongoing wearing of masks, particularly for unvaccinated individuals and partially vaccinated individuals, is based upon the current science and consistent with CDC guidance,” Escott said. “Masks still play an important role in further reducing the spread of COVID-19 and will remain a recommended practice for those who are not fully vaccinated, at least until we reach herd immunity.”
To reach herd immunity, Austin Public Health is aiming for 70% of the population to be fully vaccinated. Based on state data, Travis County is currently at 62.14% of those 12+ partially vaccinated and 49.42% fully vaccinated.