AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin and Travis County health officials say they're looking at "new guidance that will be released in the coming days," as the area continues to see a rise in new COVID-19 cases alongside the Delta variant.
Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes gave an update to a joint session of the Travis County Commissioners Court and the Austin City Council on Tuesday morning.
Travis County reached the threshold for Stage 5 under Austin Public Health's existing risk-based guidelines on Friday, and hospitalizations have continued to increase since then. As of Monday night, the 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions was up to 61.
"The science has changed," said Walkes. "We have a new variant, the delta variant, and it’s impacted our hospital systems and medical systems because it spreads much more rapidly. It’s 100-times the viral load that we’re seeing in patients that have this. We’re seeing it in both unvaccinated and vaccinated people at this level."
The new guidance, Walkes said, will likely include that those who are vaccinated, but in high-risk groups, should avoid large gatherings where masks aren't required. Health officials say they'll also urge those who are vaccinated to encourage their loved ones who aren't vaccinated to get the vaccine.
Walkes said officials have confirmed 29 cases of the Delta variant in Travis County so far, but the true number is likely much higher - because not every COVID-19 test is checked to see what variant it contains.