APH looks back on a year of Covid
Monday, February 8, 2021 by Tai Moses
Feb. 5 marked one year since Austin Public Health started monitoring returning travelers “for a mysterious respiratory illness, now known as Covid-19.” Today the city health department has expanded from monitoring Covid in the community to a program of “robust case investigation, testing, vaccination, and social services operations,” according to a news release. APH Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard said, “Our staff has been incredible in responding to Covid-19 over the past year and our work is not done. While vaccine has started flowing into the community, we cannot let up our guard just yet. We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we need to get out of the surge we continue to face.” APH has compiled the following statistics that tell the tale of the department’s battle to contain the pandemic in Austin and Travis County:
- 412,470 APH staff hours spent on Covid-19
- 39,650 people vaccinated by APH
- 153,571 tests administered by APH
- 422 written warnings issued to restaurants/bars by APH Environmental Health Officers
- 240 child care providers given health and safety supplies
- 45 press conferences and media availabilities held
- 1,038,302 emails sent through community distribution lists
- 1,910 translated documents and graphics
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