The demand for monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid-19 is “far outstripping supply,” officials said at a news conference Wednesday. “We are working hard to expand the capabilities at the infusion site to performing 75 infusions a day,” Dr. Jason Pickett, the EMS System deputy medical director for the city of Austin and Travis County, said, […]
Ashley Lopez, KUT
Posted inPublic Health
‘Stay home and don’t travel,’ public health officials advise Austinites
Lee esta historia en español. People should take the rising number of Covid-19 cases into consideration as they weigh their holiday plans this week, the interim health authority for Austin-Travis County said. “Our best advice is stay home and don’t travel,” Dr. Mark Escott told reporters during a news conference Monday. Escott said the city […]
Posted inElections
Early voting has begun in Texas. Here’s when and how your vote will be counted.
First things first: Most votes don’t get counted until Election Day. To be even more clear, those votes aren’t counted until the polls close that evening. That includes all types of ballots cast during the election – mail-in ballots, in-person early voting ballots and Election Day ballots. Early Voting Ballot Boards If you’re wondering who […]
Posted inElections
Travis County officials plan to fight governor’s order limiting drop-off sites for mail-in ballots
Travis County officials say they plan to fight Gov. Greg Abbott’s order limiting the number of locations where voters may hand-deliver their mail-in ballots. Abbott announced the order Thursday, the same day local election officials opened the four drop-off sites. “Under this proclamation, beginning on October 2, 2020, mail ballots that are delivered in person […]
Posted inAustin
Census changes could take political power, funding from Texas Latinos already hit hard by Covid-19
Texas’ growing Latino population is poised to be significantly undercounted in this year’s census, following a slew of recent Trump administration moves. Advocates say that means Latinos could face a decade of diminished political power and underfunding for essential government services as they try to recover from a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting them. The […]
Posted inElections
Texans head to the polls amid spike in Covid-19 cases
Lee esta historia en español. Early voting for Texas’ primary runoff began Monday ahead of the July 14 election. Local officials are urging voters to take extra precautions during in-person voting as Covid-19 cases have been rising in the state. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said her office has set up 20 early voting locations […]
Posted inPublic Health
Gov. Abbott says Texas has enough hospital beds to handle increase in Covid-19 cases
There’s no reason to panic over a recent uptick in hospitalizations due to Covid-19, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday. Although Texas has had a record number of people being hospitalized for Covid-19 in the past several days, Abbott said during a news conference that the state still has “thousands” of hospital beds available. “The increased […]
Posted inAustin
The pandemic is making it harder for college students in Austin to get counted in the 2020 census
College students in Austin are at risk of being severely undercounted in the 2020 U.S. Census, which could put federal funding and political power for young people at risk for the next decade. The census – a national headcount that happens every 10 years – started back in March. That was also the middle of […]
Posted inElections
Federal appeals court temporarily halts expansion of mail-in voting in Texas
An expansion of Texas’ vote-by-mail program during the pandemic is on hold, again. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling from a day earlier that opened up mail-in voting to people under 65. Texas has one of the strictest vote-by-mail programs in the country. It’s open only […]
Posted inElections
Court order that opens up mail-in voting in Texas stays in effect for now, appeals court rules
Voters who don’t want to risk exposure to the coronavirus may use mail-in ballots during upcoming elections as a legal battle moves through the courts, a Texas appeals court ruled Thursday. The 14th Court of Appeals ruled a trial court order from April will stay in place until the appeal has concluded, Beth Stevens, voting […]
Posted inElections
Travis County judge says he will open up mail-in voting during Covid-19 pandemic
A Travis County district court judge said Wednesday he will clarify that voters fearful of contracting Covid-19 will be allowed to use mail-in ballots during elections in July and November. The Texas Democratic Party sued state and local election officials last month in an effort to get a district court to clarify state law. Texas […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin officials plan for backup facilities if hospitals become overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases
City officials are preparing to increase the number of hospital beds in the area in case there is a surge of Covid-19 patients overwhelming existing hospitals. Dr. Mark Escott, Austin’s interim medical director and health authority, said the city has created a “surge plan” that would include creating additional facilities to treat patients. Everyone who […]