Austin Public Health urges people who gathered for Thanksgiving to get tested and stay home

Austin public health officials are asking people who have traveled for vacation or celebrated Thanksgiving indoors with people outside their household to stay home for a week and get tested for COVID- 19 in the next few days.

“It is extremely important that everyone do their part to fight COVID-19 by avoiding gatherings and travel during the holiday season,” said Stephanie Hayden, Austin’s director of public health, in a statement sent by email. “Those who have gathered or have traveled before should make sure they take the necessary precautions to stay safe.”

As of Wednesday, there were 2,559 active COVID-19 cases in Travis County and 48 people with the virus were on ventilators in area hospitals.

Public health officials are asking people to wait at least three to five days to get tested because the virus can take several days to infect someone. The health authority says it has a large capacity for those looking for free COVID-19 tests, including walk-in tests. Due to the holidays, however, the only public trial site open on Friday is at the Ana Lark Center at 1400 Tillery St., which is open until 2 p.m.

If you don’t get tested, the health authority asks you to stay home for two weeks.

The city of Austin moved to Stage 4 of its coronavirus risk guidelines last week after an increase in hospitalizations and positive cases. While the guidelines are only recommendations, the Austin-Travis County Health Authority asks people to avoid meeting in groups of more than 10 people and that companies cut capacity to 50% or less. .

A few weeks before the December holidays, public health officials ask residents to be particularly vigilant.

“If people are still planning to travel despite guidelines on public health risks, they should consider the 3 ‘Cs; wear a full face cover, avoid crowds and reduce your time in confined areas, ”said Janet Pichette, Austin-Travis County chief epidemiologist, in an emailed statement. “We need to do our part in the community to keep our families and others safe.”

Do you have any advice? Email Audrey McGlinchy at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @AKMcGlinchy.

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