UPDATE: Late Tuesday, Dr. Mark Escott issued orders blocking schools in Travis County from holding in-person classes through at least September 7. Read more here.
Original story below:
AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said Tuesday that he doesn't think it's safe for schools to open until at least early September.
Escott gave an update Tuesday morning to the Travis County Commissioner's Court on the latest on the coronavirus response.
According to Escott, there are more than 192,000 school-age children in Travis County.
Based on the raw numbers, Escott said 70% of students could be infected. In the 10-19 age group, which Escott said data shows a death rate of .03% to 1.02%, "for Travis County, that would equate to between 40 and 1,370 deaths in that age group."
Based on his conversations with area superintendents and other school officials, Escott said he's recommending that schools stick to online-only learning through at least September 8, and consider looking at operating online by default for the entire duration of the fall semester.
"The schools need time," Escott said. "They need time to plan, they need time to orient their faculty and staff to the new realities."
Escott also touched on hospital capacity, particularly in the intensive care units. Escott said the area's three hospital groups - Ascension Seton, St. David's, and Baylor Scott & White - have said they can stretch ICU capacity up to 331 beds. Escott emphasized the issue is finding qualified staff. "You need three things - space, stuff, and staff," Escott said. "We have two of the three."
Escott said the hospitals plan to pull staff that don't regularly work in intensive care to fill the gap. These would be staff members that have critical care training; for example, they may work in the emergency room. The shortage, Escott said, would be critical care nurses and respiratory technicians.