AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin health officials have lowered the area into Stage 2 of Austin Public Health's COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines, as well as renewing the area's Health Authority Rules through June 15.
The updated Health Authority Rules are aligned with last week's CDC guidance allowing for those who are fully vaccinated to no longer wear a mask in most settings. Ultimately, businesses have the choice whether to require customers who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask or not.
"We did not get to this stage by luck. Throughout this pandemic, our community took the necessary protection measures to reduce spread and get vaccinated which helped us achieve a lower risk level and therefore relaxed rules," Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said in a statement. "Those who have been fully vaccinated can resume many activities without the need to wear a mask, and those who are unvaccinated have plenty of opportunities available to get vaccinated and help us get closer to herd immunity."
Masking remains required in hospitals, health care facilities, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings. Under the new rules, masking also remains required for those who are fully vaccinated in indoor settings of 500 or more people, or outdoor settings with 2,500 or more people. Outdoor sites can be exempted from the masking requirement on a case-by-case basis if the Health Authority approves the site's COVID-19 precautions.
"As we start to progress toward the final stages of the pandemic, we are breaking down our Metropolitan Statistical Area hospital data which shows an increasing percentage of admissions from outside this area and that our local admissions are even lower than we thought," Escott said. "Austin-Travis County residents have made great strides in getting vaccinated and taking precautionary measures to reduce spread, and the data reflects that. I want to thank our residents for their efforts – they are paying off."
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals can participate in indoor and outdoor private gatherings and dine and shop with precautions. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, can travel with precautions.
