Snowstorms across the state are expected to affect Texas’ effort to vaccinate people this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has put vaccine shipments on hold” due to dangerous conditions created by the storm, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. “We are not expecting deliveries to occur until at least Wednesday […]
COVID-19
Posted inAustin
City opens up grants to help legacy businesses hit hard by Covid-19
A new city program set to go live next week will give long-running hospitality businesses throughout the city another possible source of Covid-19 relief. The first round of the Legacy Business Relief Grant, which was designed to help restaurants, bars, and arts and music venues that have been open for 20 years, will offer up […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin Public Health begins setting up appointments for people to get second dose of Covid-19 vaccine
Austin Public Health received its first shipment of second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday and is now reaching out to schedule appointments with people who are due for their next shot. APH began receiving 12,000 doses a week to distribute to the public starting Jan. 11. Many people who got their first doses […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin Public Health’s vaccine data shows more effort is needed to reach Black and Hispanic residents
Austin Public Health is now publishing demographic data on its Covid-19 vaccine distributions. The data is available in an online dashboard that will be updated weekly. The dashboard shows that as of Jan. 29, APH had distributed 31,251 doses. About 70 percent of the vaccines have gone to people 60 and older. People 65 and older are […]
Posted inPublic Health
Waiting for a vaccine appointment from Austin Public Health? Here’s what we know so far.
Austin Public Health’s vaccine registration process has caused a bit of confusion. People have told KUT they’re experiencing technical difficulties with the signup portal or they’re frustrated because they’ve signed up but haven’t been able to snag an appointment yet. APH officials provided some insight into how this process is working during a briefing with Austin […]
Posted inPublic Health
City, county partner up to launch Covid vaccine call center
Travis County is teaming up with the city of Austin to support a bilingual Covid-19 call center aimed at helping registered residents make appointments to get vaccinated. Stephanie Hayden-Howard, the director of Austin Public Health, told Tuesday’s special joint session of the Commissioners Court and City Council that the phone bank is expected to begin […]
Posted inHousing
Austin and Travis County extend eviction bans (again), say more rent help is coming
Citing a continuing public health crisis that could only worsen if people have to leave their homes, Austin-area officials have extended protections against most evictions through April 1. “Keeping people inside and housed curbs the spread of the virus,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said via a virtual press conference Thursday. “Ensuring housing stability contributes […]
Posted inCity Hall
EDC creators explain priorities for creative space, affordable housing
Some of the main architects of the city’s fledgling Economic Development Corporation assured members of the local real estate and development community Wednesday that the entity was not created to interfere with or compete for private sector business deals. That was one of the messages at the monthly virtual breakfast meeting organized by the Urban […]
Posted inPublic Health
Top doc Escott defends decision to vaccinate state legislators
Interim Austin-Travis Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott doubled down yesterday on his conviction that state legislators should receive priority vaccinations, even if it means young and healthy lawmakers receive the vaccine ahead of more at-risk people. Citing both the in-person legislative session and the risk of a superspreader event potentially impeding the lawmaking process, Escott […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City distributes $1.34M in venue assistance, with more funding on the way
The city has awarded $1.34 million in assistance to live music venues that have been mostly or entirely closed since March, with another round of city funds available and billions in federal assistance on the way soon. As of this week, the first round of $20,000 grants from the Music Venue Preservation Fund has been […]
Posted inPublic Health
Hundreds line up for Covid vaccines from Austin Public Health. But the wait was ‘worth it.’
Frank Kucharski and his wife, Jill Jones, were near the back of the line that wove around an Austin Public Health vaccination center at least twice in Northeast Austin on Thursday. They estimated they had a three-hour wait ahead of them – but at least the weather was nice. “I’m glad it’s a sunny day, […]
Posted inPublic Health
Travis County officials say infusion center for Covid-19 antibodies is struggling to keep up with demand
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, […]