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In phase 5, officials ask everyone to take additional measures to contain the virus, such as: Those who are not vaccinated are asked to avoid all gatherings and stay home.
The news comes that hospitals and intensive care units are filling at an unprecedented rate, likely due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
According to Desmar Walkes, the APH’s interim health authority, the current surge is “by far the fastest and most aggressive we’ve seen” as hospital admissions – almost all of which are due to the disease of unvaccinated patients – continue to rise.
Unlike previous increases, Walkes said, intensive care units have seen a worrying trend – young people are admitted at much higher rates.
“The intensive care staff in our hospitals sees a younger population,” said Walkes. “Intensive care patients are sicker and stay in the hospital longer than a week before the search, which puts a greater strain on hospital resources. ECMO devices, which are life support devices often used as a last resort, are now being used with young people than 19 years old. “
The number of childhood illnesses has also risen in the city. Children under the age of 12 cannot be vaccinated and are therefore more susceptible to contracting the disease, which officials have determined can be passed on to vaccinated adults.
With officials asking residents to wear a mask and unvaccinated people to avoid unnecessary travel, residents can still make their own decisions as Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order prevents local mandates from being granted. And while some companies like Waterloo Records and BookPeople are again following the guidelines by asking for masks again, the majority of Austin companies are not.
Walkes pleaded with companies to go back to sticking to masking and social distancing guidelines as they have in the past.
“Our businesses are at the core of the success we’ve seen in our past booms,” said Walkes. “We also need your help. When I’ve spoken to business leaders over the past few days, they are ready for the challenge. We know that many companies have had problems and we know that many of these companies are just coming back. We want our business world to remain open and successful. “
(Austin Public Health)
To reach Level 5, hospital admissions had to exceed a seven-day average of 50 hospital admissions, which was exceeded last Friday; it now averages 67. The last time level 5 was reached was in December.
The more contagious Delta variant, along with the unchecked spread of the virus in unvaccinated people, has been attributed to the recent surge.
Health leaders have renewed their focus on the reach of vaccines due to the rise in cases. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the Delta variant was as contagious as chickenpox – which requires 90% to be vaccinated against herd immunity – APH changed its herd immunity threshold from 70% to at least 80%.
“Vaccination is the best possible defense against illness, hospitalization or death,” said Walkes.
According to APH, those who are not vaccinated made up about 80% of those hospitalized with COVID complications in the past two weeks.
The three local hospital systems are overwhelmed with COVID patients, it said in a recent statement, as the Delta variant spreads and a shortage of nursing staff persists. According to APH last week, the intensive care units in the trauma service region with 2.3 million people in 11 districts have been at a critical level for days and fluctuate with 16 occupied beds.
Hospitals have a “transition plan” in case beds run out, including recruiting additional staff and arranging for the return of alternative care. APH is monitoring the situation and has not yet developed a plan by Thursday.
This story was updated at 12:20 p.m. to include new information released by health officials at the press conference.
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