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Austin, Texas – Today, December 23, for the time since the start of the pandemic, Austin Public Health (APH) officially increased the community risk level of COVID-19 to stage 5, the highest level.
This change was made today due to a rapid increase in hospital admissions, cases and test positivity rates in the community. Other key indicators of stage changes, including the number of patients in the intensive care unit, ventilator use and the 7-day moving average of cases, are all trending upward.
“This is a critical time for the community,” said Dr. Mark Escott, of the Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority. “We need to reduce the spread of the virus in the community now. We cannot allow a further increase in cases and hospitalizations after the upcoming holidays. Our hospitals will be overwhelmed and people will die needlessly. ”
The recommendations for the fifth step include:
- No gathering with anyone outside your home
- Meals and shopping should be limited to essential travel
- Avoid non-essential travel
- Businesses are recommended to operate with contactless options (i.e. curbside, delivery)
Risk-based guidelines are not changes to local orders, rules or regulations for businesses; they are guidelines for individual actions and behaviors. However, ordering changes or additional restrictions may be needed in the coming days to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
“The public should do all they can to reduce contact with people outside of their homes,” said APH Director Stephanie Hayden. “We have done an amazing job of keeping this virus under control in our community and we need everyone to step in and start over.”
Director Hayden added, “We’ve already flattened the curve. The difference now is that we are seeing a preview of the finish line with a vaccine in the community. Any serious illness or death from that point on would be a tragedy.
Austin-Travis County leaders are reminding the public to continue to be vigilant and practice good hygiene, keep physical and social distances, and wear masks to prevent the disease from spreading and to protect each other. Avoiding gatherings outside your home is especially important this holiday season. Safety recommendations for COVID-19 vacations are available at AustinTexas.gov/HolidaySafety.
City closures
Depending on the elevation in step 5, some city services will change.
Austin Resource Recovery’s regular curbside services will not change However, the recycling and reuse drop-off center will be closed to the public as of December 24. Residents can request a contactless home pickup of household hazardous waste at austintexas.gov/dropoff. Items intended for reuse or recycling cannot be picked up at this time.
Additionally, the Austin Animal Center will close to the public starting December 24. After December 25, adoptions will be done virtually and will favor, adopters and rescues. The property will not accept any non-urgent transfer of ownership, and stray animal seekers will need to apply for admission by calling Austin 311.
Changes to services and facility openings for Austin Parks and Recreation will be posted on their website at austintexas.gov/parkclosures.
Information on City of Austin vacation closings can be found here.
For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
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