Now’s the time to get proper glasses to view the annular eclipse Saturday and be prepared for the big one next spring. This time around, the sun will be about 89 percent obscured from our view in Austin, so long as the weather works out. So far, forecasts are looking good. But even if the […]
Jerry Quijano, KUT
Posted inPublic Health
Austin drops down to Stage 3 Covid risk guidance
Austin-Travis County has moved to Stage 3, the middle level, of Austin Public Health’s Covid-19 risk-based guidelines. The numbers of new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations continue to fall as the worst of the omicron surge subsides in the area. The move follows revised masking guidance issued Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The area […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin moves down to Stage 3 of Covid-19 guidelines as local hospital admissions and cases slow
Lee esta historia en español. Austin Public Health is moving down to Stage 3 of its Covid-19 guidance, as cases and hospitalizations continue to decline. “We’ve had a decline in the number of cases, and we are seeing a gradual reduction in the numbers of people in hospital, in ICU and with ventilator use,” Austin-Travis […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin health officials say boosting Central Texas vaccine rates will ease the stress on local hospitals
The rolling average for new daily Covid-19-related hospital admissions has been on the decline for more than three weeks. Still, with an average of 57 admissions as of Tuesday, Austin-Travis County remains at the highest level of Austin Public Health’s community risk guidelines. Resources for the area’s hospital system also remain strained. More than 200 […]
Posted inCourts
Save Austin Now sues city, saying it isn’t fully enforcing ban on camping in public
The political action committee Save Austin Now and four business owners have filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin alleging it hasn’t been fully enforcing the ban on camping in public. Voters passed Proposition B in May. The petition-led initiative, organized by Save Austin Now, reinstated old rules surrounding homelessness, including a ban on camping in […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin area sees jump in Covid cases as students return to classrooms
Lea esta nota en español New coronavirus cases in the Austin area have increased this week as students, teachers and staff head back to in-person classes. The city’s medical director, Dr. Desmar Walkes, told a joint meeting of Travis County commissioners and Austin City Council members that the surge was expected given the varying mask […]
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Austin health officials recommend masking up indoors as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations spike
Austin Public Health is recommending everyone – including those who are vaccinated – wear a face covering indoors as Covid-19 cases continue rising in Austin and Travis County. Local Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes told a joint session of Travis County commissioners and Austin City Council members on Tuesday that hospitalizations are up among all […]
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Austin-Travis County health officials say Covid vaccine data shows there’s still work to be done
More than three quarters of people age 65 and older in Austin-Travis County are fully vaccinated, public health officials said Tuesday. For the entire eligible population – that’s people 12 years and older – the number is more than 54 percent. The area remains in stage 2 of Austin Public Health’s risk-based guidelines, and the […]
Posted inPublic Health
Covid-19 rates in Austin fall below 5% across all races for the first time, health officials say
The Covid-19 positivity rate in Austin and Travis County continues to fall as more people in the area are inoculated against the virus. Dr. Jason Pickett, deputy medical director for the city, said positivity rates for people of all races in the area are down below 5 percent for the first time in the pandemic, […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin, Travis County move down to stage 2 risk level of coronavirus restrictions
Lea esta nota en español The chief medical director for the city of Austin said Tuesday the area is now at stage 2 of Austin Public Health’s risk-based guidelines. The change is effective immediately. Dr. Mark Escott said the decision was made based on the “significant decreases in cases that we’re seeing.” “We feel confident […]
Posted inPublic Health
Removing barriers to vaccine a top priority as supply exceeds demand through Austin Public Health
Austin Public Health is hosting a walk-up Covid-19 vaccine clinic at the Delco Activity Center this Thursday and Friday from noon-7:30 p.m. or until all its vaccines are administered. Vaccines will be available to all residents age 18 and older. No appointment is needed. If supplies run out, staffers will help schedule appointments for those […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin’s top doctor says possible Covid surge unlikely to overload area hospitals
New Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the area are declining, but they are still well within the threshold to keep Austin and Travis County at stage 3 of Austin Public Health’s risk-based guidelines. The city’s interim medical director previously had said numbers might drop low enough to move down to stage 2 by mid-April. That […]