| Austin American statesman
Coronavirus viruses in Austin and Travis County could be eased over the weekend as the number of hospitalized patients with the virus continues to decline, according to the area’s top health official.
Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority in Austin-Travis County, said in his weekly public information session on the pandemic Friday that the share of coronavirus hospitalizations for the seventh day Saturday could remain at 15% or less.
This means that businesses no longer have to work with a capacity of 50% and that, according to state legislation, it can expand to 75%. Doctors’ offices could also go back to offering choice methods, he said.
Government Greg Abbott said in an executive order last year that if seven consecutive days more than 15% of the total hospitalization is in a specific area consists of coronavirus patients, the state would require businesses to reduce the capacity of customers and doctors’ offices to limit some procedures.
At the end of December, Austin and Travis County had an increase in coronavirus cases, which led the state to impose the restrictions just after the New Year holidays. The orders end if the area remains at 15% or less for another seven days, the orders read.
Health leaders have tried to prevent the boom by recommending Austin Public Health’s stage 5 coronavirus restrictions, in which businesses are asked to work only at 25%. However, state legislation has prevented local officials from requiring businesses to do so.
“This is great for our community,” Escott said of the possible changes coming Saturday. “But we still need the vigilance to protect ourselves and do the masking and distancing.”
As the boom in Travis County declines, Escott said his focus will remain on vaccinating residents while the state continues to allocate doses for the area.
Escott said it would likely take months before anyone currently eligible for a vaccination in Austin and Travis County would get one, especially if the state continues with its plan to get essential workers vaccinated.
Austin Public Health officials said if essential workers were allowed to be vaccinated with those over 65, they would likely put essential workers over 65 at the forefront.
Escott said he is hopeful that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which according to health officials can be stored more easily and requires only one dose to be fully vaccinated, will soon receive emergency clearance and help speed up the vaccination process.
Austin public health officials said Friday they plan to open a third vaccination site in northern Travis County to make the vaccine more accessible throughout the Austin area. Stephanie Hayden-Howard, director of public health in Austin, said the site could not accept access.
Residents can go to the Austin Public Health pre-registration website to sign up for a vaccination. Health officials will then call those who qualify or schedule an appointment as soon as the vaccine is available.
Austin Public Health officials on Friday asked residents to regularly stop by the site for appointments and say someone would contact them to plan one.
Heath officials will work Saturday to administer the last of the 12,000 doses Austin Public Health received from the state. In addition to the first doses he received, Austin Public Health also administered some second doses of the vaccine to health care workers, staff and nursing homes and residents.
Austin Public Health must receive another 12,000 doses of the vaccine next week before the state begins sending larger second-dose deliveries to some of the city’s 28,717 residents who have already been vaccinated, according to Escott.
Three to five days before they are needed for a second dose, emails, text messages or phone calls will be contacted with them, Hayden-Howard said Friday.