AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Public Health officials have moved Austin and Travis County into Stage 5 of their risk-based guidelines for COVID-19, based on the continued spread of the virus ahead of the Christmas holiday.
APH officials, including Travis County interim health authority Dr. Mark Escott, along with Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown, made the announcement Wednesday morning.
"This is a critical moment for the community," Escott said. "We must decrease the spread of the virus in the community now. We cannot allow another increase in cases and hospitalizations following the upcoming holidays. Our hospitals will become overwhelmed and people will needlessly die."
Tuesday night, officials reported 4,602 active cases of COVID-19 across Travis County, the highest number of active cases since the beginning of the pandemic. 672 new cases were reported, bringing the area's total number of cases to 46,701 with 525 deaths. The 7-day moving average of new hospitalizations, a key indicator officials use for determining which stage the area is in, rose to 54 Tuesday, with 70 new patients admitted into area hospitals on Tuesday alone.
For now, the move to Stage 5 does not include any changes to local orders, rules, or regulations. However, officials warn, changes to orders or additional restrictions may be necessary in the coming days in order to prevent area hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
Local leaders' ability to override orders from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is somewhat limited, and Abbott has made it clear he does not plan on any further "shutdowns" across the state.
Stage 5 is the highest level in APH's guidelines. In addition to the recommendations from Stage 4 and below, the new stage urges individuals to avoid all social gatherings outside of their household, avoid dining and shopping except as essential, and use takeout, curbside and delivery services wherever possible.
Escott said other recommendations include schools canceling all extra-curricular activities, and that restaurants (including bars operating as restaurants) close dining rooms, either completely or at least by 10:30 p.m. each night. If conditions don't improve, those recommendations could become the focus of actual restrictions, or a potential curfew.
