AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The Austin City Council voted Tuesday to extend an ordinance that creates an enforcement mechanism for COVID-19 rules set forth by the local health authority.
The existing ordinance, which was first enacted in July 2020, was set to expire on December 31.
Council members adopted the new ordinance, with only one vote against - District 6 council member Mackenzie Kelly.
"This is an extension of an ordinance that we passed last year that gave the rules of our health authority the weight and enforceability of ordinances that we would otherwise pass," said Austin Mayor Steve Adler.
The adopted ordinance will now expire on December 31, 2022. The current health authority rules, which were updated on Friday, will remain in effect until at least June 10, 2022, unless terminated earlier.
Under the rules, individuals are "expected" to continue to wear face coverings, keep at least three feet of physical distance, and "avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces." Those who are fully vaccinated are "expected" to do the same when the "risk of transmission to those who are not fully vaccinated is significant."
The rules also say face coverings are required for students, staff, and visitors over the age of two while on school property or on school buses, as long as the area remains in Stage 3 or higher in Austin Public Health's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. Principals or other administrators can determine when it is "not appropriate" to require face coverings. The rules, as written, apply to all public schools, including charter schools and colleges, in the city of Austin.
Violations of the rules are punishable by a fine up to $2,000. Each day constitutes a separate violation.
In opposing the ordinance extension, Kelly cited the data shown on the city's COVID-19 Key Indicators Dashboard, along with concerns over the timing of the discussion and vote on the ordinance - in a specially-called meeting.
As of Tuesday, the seven-day moving average of new hospitalizations sits at 17.4. While the average is below numbers seen in October and earlier, the average has been trending upward slightly over the last week. The Community Transmission Rate sits at 82.3, which is considered "substantial" according to CDC guidelines.
