AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Local health officials have moved the Austin and Travis County area back to Stage 4 in Austin Public Health's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, as new cases and hospitalizations continue to mount - especially among the unvaccinated in the community.
Officials say the number of confirmed cases have risen dramatically over the past two weeks, with the 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions crossing the threshold of 30 admissions per day, the trigger for Stage 4.
"Each of us has a personal choice to make – will we do our part to stop disease transmission by getting vaccinated and taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others, or will we be part of its continued spread?" said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. "COVID-19 is still present and continues to burden our healthcare community and we need to end the cycle of transmission."
Since July 4, the 7-day moving average for hospitalizations has increased more than 200%, jumping from 63 to 202 hospitalizations on July 22. The positivity rate in Travis County has tripled, moving from 3.2% to 9.6%, and the number of coronavirus patients in local intensive care units has jumped nearly 242%, from 24 people to 82 people as of July 22.
Under Stage 4 recommendations, fully vaccinated individuals should wear a mask when participating in indoor private gatherings, traveling, and dining or shopping, and should wear a mask for outdoor gatherings, if they are unable to socially distance.
Those who are partially vaccinated or completely unvaccinated should avoid private gatherings, travel, dining and shopping unless essential, and wear a mask when conducting essential activities.
"We ask people to be aware of their surroundings and potential risks when determining the best course of action to keep themselves and others safe," Interim APH Director Adrienne Sturrup said. "Vaccinations are the best tool we have in fighting COVID-19, but in public, we don't know who is vaccinated and who is not, so it is best to mask and, when possible, maintain social distance."
"I hate that once again we find our hospitals filling up. We wanted so much for this to be over. But once again we must dig deep to protect our ICUs and our exhausted doctors and nurses and stop this delta variant. Please take the shot. After you are vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors is the least intrusive and most effective thing we can and must do to prevent further spread," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said. "If I could order all children and teachers to mask without ending up in court, I would do it in a heartbeat. It's up to each person and each business now to decide how badly we want to avoid a return to Stage Four, where unvaccinated people face further limits in activities like eating out and shopping. Let's wear masks indoors and avoid going there."
