AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Public Health says Travis County is moving back to Stage 3 of its risk-based COVID-19 guidelines - but officials still urge the community to continue to practice Stage 4 precautions to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
"We are moving to Stage 3 because our key indicators are trending in the right direction," Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said. "As much as possible, though, we would like individuals to continue to act as if we are still in Stage 4 so that we can be in a better place as school starts."
In Stage 3, higher-risk individuals (those over the age of 65 and those who have chronic medical conditions) should avoid non-essential travel, dining and shopping. Everyone, regardless of risk, should avoid social gatherings and any gatherings greater than 10 people.
Officials also urge the community to continue to be vigilant and practice good hygiene, social distancing, and wearing face coverings to prevent the disease from spreading and help keep each other safe.
"Our key indicators are all showing that we as a community are reducing our COVID-19 numbers," Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said, "but we need to remain focused on improving the health outcomes for communities of color, who continue to be disproportionately impacted by the virus."
Officials are looking at not only the 7-day average of new hospitalizations, but also the positivity rate - the number of positive cases divided by the number of tests being performed - which is at 7.6 percent for the most recent data available (the week ending August 8).
"Our goal is to have a positivity rate below five percent by September 8, when most Austin-Travis County students start their school year," Escott said. "In addition to an overall positivity rate below five percent, every individual race and ethnic group in Austin should have a positivity rate below five percent."
