On August 25th, the City of Austin and Travis County announced that the area has been moved down from Stage 4 to Stage 3 of the Austin Public Health (APH) COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines.
APH published this color-coded chart to help residents of Austin-Travis County understand the stages of risk and provide recommendations on what people should do to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. City health officials explained that while the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 new hospital admissions serves as the primary key indicator for the Risk-Based Guidelines, additional key indicators, including the doubling time of new cases and current ICU and ventilator patients, are also monitored to determine the current staging. The Risk-Based Guidelines set out five distinct stages of risk, from the lowest threat, Stage 1, through the most serious, Stage 5, along with recommended behaviors for each stage.
Austin-Travis County had previously entered Stage 4 in June, as the seven-day average for hospitalizations in Austin climbed to just over 20 per day. Now in Stage 3, city health officials say that higher-risk individuals (those over the age of 65 and those who have chronic medical conditions) should avoid nonessential travel, dining, and shopping. Everyone, regardless of risk, is encouraged to continue to avoid social gatherings and any gathering greater than 10 people. Residents are also strongly encouraged to continue practicing good hygiene, social distancing, and wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Risk-Based Guidelines have no effect on local public health ordinances. Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority, has adopted Health Authority Emergency Rules, which expire on November 12, 2020. These emergency rules govern individuals and sites within the City of Austin and impose requirements to protect public health, including providing guidance for reopening schools and for childcare providers. Additionally, the City of Austin and Travis County have both extended their “Stay Home, Mask, and Otherwise Be Safe” Orders through December 15, 2020. These orders direct Austin-Travis County residents to continue to practice social distancing, hygiene, and face-covering behaviors. The orders also state that social gatherings up to 10 people should be avoided or minimized, and socializing in groups of 10+ individuals outside of the same household are prohibited in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
