AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The final patients being treated for COVID-19 at the Austin Convention Center were discharged Saturday, with the closing of the Alternate Care Site.
The ACS was originally established last summer, but sat idle until January 12 of this year, opening to take its first patients during the winter surge.
“The Alternate Care Site was a critical asset to help our healthcare system remain stable,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “We are thankful to the state and all the contracted staff that worked at the facility to care for residents from across Central Texas.”
The ACS stopped receiving new patients on March 8, as hospitalizations across the area continued to decline.
According to Austin Public Health, the ACS served a total of 215 patients during its operation, with an average length of stay approximately 12 days. The majority of the patients came from Travis County, but the ACS served patients from a total of 11 different counties.
“We are happy to see the facility is no longer needed. The power to never need a COVID-19 Alternate Care Site again is in the community’s hands,” said Dr. Jason Pickett, Austin-Travis County Alternate Health Authority. “It is more important than ever to get the vaccine when you are eligible. As a community we must continue to wear a mask, wash our hands frequently, and watch our distance. Doing this will keep us out of another surge in cases.”
The supplies and materials used for operations at the ACS will be dismantled and stored at a different location and will be able to be utilized again should cases increase - a process that officials say would take about a week, if needed.
