AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- New data from a recent University of Texas report on the COVID-19 omicron variant is prompting Austin Public Health officials to adjust their risk-based guidelines.
The new adjustments, announced Monday, shift the threshold between Stage 3 and Stage 4 based on the seven-day moving average of new hospitalizations. Previously, Stage 4 could be triggered if the average reached 30; under the new adjustment, that threshold has been lowered to 25.
As of Tuesday, the average was at 15.4 - the fourth straight day of slight declines from a peak of 17.9 last week.
Based on the data released last week by the UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium, one scenario shows hospitals could face record numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths - surpassing all previous peaks - if substantive behavioral changes aren’t made to reduce the spread of the virus.
Health officials are concerned over signs that the omicron variant is highly transmissible, with federal officials announcing Monday that 73% of all COVID-19 infections last week were traced to the variant. What isn't clear yet, experts say, is whether the omicron variant causes more or less severe illness.
Williamson County officials reported their first confirmed case of the omicron variant Monday; last week, three cases were identified in the University of Texas community as possibly being the first in Travis County.
Under stage 3 guidelines, Austin Public Health offers the following recommendations:
Fully vaccinated low-risk individuals should wear masks indoors in gatherings with people outside your household and while traveling.
Fully vaccinated high-risk individuals should wear masks indoors in gatherings with people outside your household, while traveling, while dining, and while shopping.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated low-risk individuals should wear masks in all situations and get fully vaccinated.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated high-risk individuals should avoid activities unless essential and get fully vaccinated
APH officials will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning to discuss the changes to the guidelines.