Tag Archives: COVID-19
County extends small cities relief deadline
Millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds may shortly be returned to the U.S. Treasury Department due to the failure of small cities in Travis County to provide documentation for the county’s $7.3 million small cities relief program. The Commissioners…
Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 28, 2020
Austin's top doctor warns November Covid surge could be worse and last longer than the first
There is a 100 percent probability that the coronavirus epidemic is growing in the Austin metro area, according to modeling from the University of Texas Modeling Consortium. As other areas across Texas – most notably El Paso – experience new…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Oct 28, 2020
Neighborhoods free to reimagine Halloween as APH lays out recommendations
Austin neighborhoods are working to reimagine Halloween, with families and households strategizing how to balance safety and fun in an effort to preserve the spooky holiday amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Austin Public Health issued a statement Oct. 9 regarding recommendations for…
Austin • By Jasmine Lopez • Oct 27, 2020
Austin Public Health launches coalition to prepare for future Covid-19 vaccine distribution
Austin Public Health is gearing up for when a Covid-19 vaccine becomes available. The health authority announced Friday the launch of the Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution Coalition, a group of health care and community partners that will help APH develop strategies…
Public Health • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Oct 26, 2020
Austin's got millions to help with rent, but giving it away is harder than expected
The city of Austin says fewer people have applied for rental assistance than expected. It’s given out just $1.3 million so far of roughly $13 million available for tenants hit financially by the Covid-19 pandemic. “The need that was anticipated…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 23, 2020
Austin Public Health official says there's a 96% chance the Covid-19 epidemic is growing in the area
Austin’s top doctor said Wednesday there’s a 96 percent chance the Covid-19 epidemic is growing in the area, up from about 90 percent the day before. “This is not an Election Day gimmick. This is real,” Dr. Mark Escott, interim…
Public Health • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Oct 22, 2020
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Austin libraries receive funding to help low-income students
With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing a dramatic rise in the number of online classes and amount of schoolwork, some students in low-income households, who may not have access to the internet or own a personal computer, are being left behind.…
Austin • By Miriam E Jewell • Oct 22, 2020
Council requests emergency economic development corporation
As part of the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors program, City Council is seeking to expedite formation of the Austin Economic Development Corporation, an entity that may be able to help refine and administer the long-term sustainability component of SAVES.…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 21, 2020
Some air pollutants increased in Austin during the pandemic. The big question is why?
As Covid-19 spread across the globe in the spring, people noticed a strange side effect of the pandemic: The air was getting cleaner. Stay-at-home orders, along with the economic crash caused by the outbreak, meant less industrial and transportation-related pollution.…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Oct 20, 2020
Council approves partial start for SAVES
After directing the city to create the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES) fund last month, City Council approved initial program guidelines Thursday that will provide some immediate financial relief for local music venues, restaurants, bars and child care centers.…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 16, 2020
Travis County reallocates CARES Act housing assistance funding to meet deadlines, talks Covid-19 plasma funding effort
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to reallocate Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in order to spend all of its funding before the Dec. 30 deadline. Travis County received $61,147,507.20 from the federal CARES Act.…
Travis County • By Savana Dunning • Oct 16, 2020
Travis County judge won't let bars reopen at 50 percent capacity
Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe said he’s not going to allow bars to reopen at 50 percent capacity Wednesday, citing a memo from the county’s top doctor saying Covid-19 “continues to be a threat.” “In the past ten days, Travis…
