AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Health officials are stepping up efforts to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Austin area, urging event organizers to cancel or postpone events of more than 250 people and issuing new rules for restaurants and food establishments.
Austin Public Health officials say the requests to event organizers are still voluntary at this time, but stronger recommendations are under consideration. Throughout the day on Friday, officials confirmed three presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the Travis County area.
The following guidelines are strongly recommended for events:
- Increase the frequency of sanitizing frequently touched surfaces.
- Encourage attendees to stay at least six feet away from each other to reduce risk.
- Keep an adequate supply of hand soap, disinfectants, tissues, and paper towels.
- Encourage attendees to follow increased hygiene, such as:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with other people.
When considering attending an event people should consider the following guidelines:
- Anyone who is sick should not attend.
- Anyone who has a member of their household that is sick should not attend.
- Those who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, including individuals over 65 or with underlying conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, should not attend.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue - if available - or into your elbow.
- Those feeling unwell should not use public transportation.
The updated recommendations for events are consistent with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"The health and safety of Austin-Travis County residents and visitors is our highest priority and today we’re adopting a regional strategy to help minimize the spread of this disease," said Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for Austin-Travis County. "We are looking for opportunities to mitigate risk while keeping businesses operating. If we can find the right balance we can better sustain our community."
Separately, new emergency rules have been put into effect mandating restaurants and other food establishments take a range of actions to reduce the possibility of exposure to COVID-19:
- Display “Help Prevent Disease” signs provided by Austin Public Health in a prominent public location clearly visible to the general public and patrons.
- Make hand sanitizer available to the general public and to patrons.
- Disinfect and sanitize commonly touched surfaces and nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment of the establishment at least once every hour.
- Adopt and implement a policy that provides for the immediate exclusion of food handlers from duties if they develop a fever greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees during their shift.
Failure to comply with these emergency rules, which officials say will expire on July 12, constitutes a public health hazard and violations may result in the immediate suspension of food establishment permits.
More information is available on the city's website at www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
