AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Aiming to get events to re-open safely, the City of Austin is launching a plan to bring events back safely as COVID-19 conditions continue to improve and vaccinations continue.
Friday morning, the Austin Center for Events unveiled a safety guide for venues and special events for managing COVID-19 safely - what the city calls a "starting point" for events to begin to happen again.
"Austin Public Health reviewed key indicators which have been moving in the right direction," said Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority. "We actually have a glimpse of normalcy as a reward of the hard work our community has done to protect each other with masking and hygiene practices but to make this a reality, we have to stay vigilant in the protection of ourselves and our community. If we see a surge in cases and hospitalizations, we have the flexibility to reconsider the scale of the event, modify the mitigation strategies, or cancel if needed."
The guidelines can be found online at the city's website, along with frequently asked questions - as well as registering for virtual office hours to get questions answered. A list of health and safety recommendations for indoor venues, as well as permit requirements for outdoor special events are included.
"We understand the pandemic has caused incredible economic impacts on venues and special events and affected consumer confidence," said City Manager Spencer Cronk. "Releasing these guidelines now indicates cautious optimism for events based on the current COVID-19 health conditions."
In line with the guidelines, the Austin Central Library will begin hosting private events and facility rentals beginning April 1 on a limited basis and at a reduced capacity.
The Austin Convention Center Department will also begin to operate at 25 percent capacity, with events beginning in April at the Palmer Events Center and in May for the Austin Convention Center.