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Austin, Texas – The risk level of contracting COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County continues to rise, especially among unvaccinated people, as confirmed cases have increased dramatically in the past two weeks. The 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions has crossed the threshold of more than 30 admissions per day, marking progress to stage 4 this week.
The additional hospitalizations may impact healthcare workers, which have been reduced from levels seen earlier in the year at the height of the pandemic. Local hospital systems are simultaneously seeing an increase in hospitalizations due to other illnesses unrelated to COVID, as more people go about their daily pre-pandemic occupations.
“Each of us has a personal choice to make: will we do our part to stop the transmission of the disease by getting vaccinated and taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others, or will we be part of its continued spread? ? said Dr Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “COVID-19 is still present and continues to weigh on our healthcare community and we must end the cycle of transmission. ”
In making the decision to move to step 4 of the risk-based guidelines, Austin Public Health, Travis County, and local hospital partners are monitoring several key metrics, including the 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions. , positivity rate, time to doubling of new cases, and current ICU and ventilator patients. Over the past three weeks, these indicators have increased:
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The 7-day moving average for hospitalizations since July 4 has increased by more than 203%, from 63 to 202 hospitalizations on July 22.
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The positivity rate, the number of people who tested positive out of the total number of people tested in a given week, tripled from 3.2% to 9.6%.
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COVID patients in local intensive care units increased by nearly 242%, from 24 people on July 4 to 82 people on July 22.
The recommendations for step 4 are as follows:
- Fully vaccinated people should wear a mask when participating in private indoor gatherings, travel, dining, or shopping, and should wear a mask for outdoor gatherings, if they cannot socially distance themselves.
- Partially or not vaccinated peopleshould avoid private gatherings, travel, dining and shopping unless essential. Wear a mask when performing essential activities.
The concern is the new variant that is spreading from the vaccinated to the unvaccinated, especially children unable to get vaccinated. The risk-based guidelines correlate with five distinct stages of risk for Austin-Travis County and are not changes to local rules or regulations for businesses; they are guidelines and recommendations for individual actions and behaviors based on the risk levels of exposure in the community. It is important to note that everyone should continue to follow any additional requirements from local businesses, sites and schools, regardless of vaccination status or stage.
“We ask people to be aware of their surroundings and the potential risks when determining the best course of action to keep themselves and others safe,” said Adrienne Sturrup, Interim Director of APH. “Vaccinations are the best tool we have to fight COVID-19, but in public we don’t know who is vaccinated and who is not, so it is best to mask and, if possible, maintain social distance. ”
COVID-19 vaccinations continue to prove extremely effective in protecting those who have completed the required round of vaccines for Moderna and Pfizer, or the single dose of Johnson and Johnson. However, with only 62.41% of residents fully vaccinated, our community continues to be vulnerable to new variants of the disease, particularly the highly transmissible Delta variant.
“I know this transition to Stage 4 can be difficult, but we need to follow the recommendations of our local health authority to flatten the curve again and ensure we continue to protect ourselves and our most vulnerable,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. “Getting the vaccine is by far the most effective way to prevent serious illness and death after exposure to the virus, and wearing a mask helps reduce the spread of disease to those who are unable, or not yet eligible, to receive the vaccine. ”
The rapid spread of the Delta variant is a cause for concern among public health experts, especially as children and teens prepare to return to classes in person. It is important for parents to immunize their children 12 years of age and older. The APH further recommends that people under 12 wear a mask at the start of the school year until a vaccine for their age group is approved.
“I hate that once again our hospitals are filling up. We wanted it so badly to end. But again, we need to dig deep to protect our intensive care units and our exhausted doctors and nurses and stop this delta variant. Please take the shot. After being vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors is the least intrusive and effective thing we can and must do to prevent further spread, ”said City of Austin Steve Adler. “If I could order all children and teachers to disguise themselves without going to court, I would do so without hesitation. It is now up to each person and business to decide how much we want to avoid a return to the fourth stage, where unvaccinated people face additional limitations in activities such as dining out and shopping. Let’s wear masks inside and avoid going there.
COVID-19 vaccinations are free and do not require identification or insurance. Residents can locate providers in their area using Vaccines.gov or they can text their zip code to 438829 (822862 in Spanish) to find a clinic nearby.
For additional business advice, visit www.ATXrecovers.com for recommendations for prioritizing employee and customer well-being.
For information and updates on COVID-19, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19
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