The University of Texas’ Austin Technology Incubator is leading a new consortium of more than 50 health care organizations from around the state working to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and prepare for future widespread disease outbreaks. The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) has started connecting medical school, community health care agencies and health […]
Public Health
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Travis County expands public health orders to unincorporated areas, fines up to $500
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved an order Tuesday making Austin Public Health’s Health Authority Rules enforceable in unincorporated areas of Travis County. Individuals who do not abide by the local health authority’s pandemic mitigation plan may face fines of up to $500 or be subject to a civil lawsuit. Austin Public Health outlined rules earlier […]
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Commissioners Court considers allocating relief dollars to Baylor Scott & White
Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit hospital system in the state of Texas, and like many other businesses, it has been footing the bill for unanticipated Covid-19 related expenses since March. Jay Fox, the president of Baylor Scott & White Health of the Austin/Round Rock region, estimates that by December the regional […]
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Austin Public Health could push for more restrictions as Covid-19 hospitalizations surge
Austin surpassed a crucial threshold for Covid-19 hospitalizations Tuesday, which could signal possible restrictions on businesses and nonessential travel. The seven-day average of new Covid-19 hospital admissions hit an all-time high of nearly 75, according to numbers out Tuesday evening. Health officials have said any average above 70 would push the area into the highest […]
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Gov. Abbott issues order requiring Texans to wear face coverings in public
People in Texas counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases will be required to wear face coverings when in public starting Friday — and those who don’t could be fined. Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order Thursday mandating people wear face coverings over the nose and mouth when inside businesses or other spaces open […]
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Austin Public Health addresses testing equity with walk-up friendly mobile testing sites
Around 11,000 Covid-19 tests were conducted by Austin Public Health, Austin Regional Clinic and CommUnityCare last week, but demand is rising fast and drive-thru testing sites are being overwhelmed. To manage the situation, Austin Public Health is now directing testing resources toward communities that need them most and asking individuals with access to medical care […]
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Without rapid behavior change, city heads for stage 5 shutdown
After a record number of Covid-19 cases reported over the weekend, the city is urging residents to comply with requirements for social distancing, personal hygiene and wearing masks over the July 4 weekend in an effort to avoid pushing the region into stage 5 (red) of virus spread and requiring a prolonged citywide shutdown. “The […]
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Area hospitals could reach capacity in mere weeks because of Covid-19, Austin officials warn
Austin-area medical professionals and health authorities warned that local hospitals could be overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients in the next several weeks as the number of cases in Central Texas has surged. “If we do not make significant change right now then we are going to be in a situation within the next week to two […]
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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 […]
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As Covid-19 cases spike, local officials stress caution and personal choice in slowing its spread
Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Public Health Interim Medical Director Dr. Mark Escott and Assistant to the Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt extended stay-at-home orders Monday in response to a surge in Covid-19 cases, and asked residents to reinvest in precautions to help slow the virus’ continued rise. “This community gets to make this choice,” Adler said. […]
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Austin-area Covid-19 hospitalizations hit one-day record, seven-day average now tops 20
A record of 30 new Covid-19 hospital admissions was reported in the Austin area Sunday evening. The seven-day moving average of new admissions increased to 20.6. Austin Public Health has been warning that the average – which has been rising since June 9 – needs to remain below 20. Otherwise the area will move into […]
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Austin Public Health to address health inequity in response to Covid-19
Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden told City Council Tuesday that the city needs to address the vast inequities and social determinants of health – things like jobs, housing and health services – that have concentrated Covid-19’s impact upon poor communities of color. “Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate in terms of who it infects; it’s going to […]