AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Local government and business leaders are setting up a task force aimed at safely opening up local businesses in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, and Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Laura Huffman announced the task force Thursday morning.
The aim of the task force is to "honor public health priorities and focus on how to thoughtfully and safely re-open the regional economy." Key activities for the task force will include:
- Evaluating and accounting for specific needs by industry sector
- Evaluating the preparedness level of businesses to safeguard public health
- Educating the business community on public health requirements and best practices
- Monitoring public health outcomes to determine whether adjustments are needed
- Providing feedback to policymakers
Members of the task force include local businesses like Kerbey Lane Cafe and P. Terry's, regional government and business representatives, as well as larger corporations like Dell and Samsung. The task force will meet for the first time on Friday via videoconference.
Austin and Travis County remain under a "stay home, work safe" order until May 8, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has indicated he will issue new orders as early as next Monday that may override local orders in some fashion. Abbott also previously announced that non-essential retail stores can begin operating in a "to-go" fashion beginning Friday, where customers can order online or by phone, and have orders shipped to them or brought to their vehicles.
Both Adler and Eckhardt said testing capacity and keeping hospitalizations low are going to be two key components of any plan."We know we have reduced our infection rate by 90%," Eckhardt said. "If we were to fall to below an 80% reduction rate, it would begin to overwhelm the hospital system."
"I don't want people to hear this conversation and getting confused that the threat of the virus is over," Adler said. "We're going to be dealing with this for an extended period of time, but we also realize we have to move forward. We have to find the place that protects public health and safety, yet at the same time adapt and move forward."
