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Austin-Travis County has descended to its level 3 coronavirus risk-based guidelines. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
The City of Austin and Travis County transitioned to Level 3 Pandemic Risk-Based Guidelines on October 12.
The shift follows a decline in coronavirus-related hospital admissions, which fell from a moving average of 27.6 on October 4 to 19.4 on October 11. In addition, the number of available ICU beds has improved across the Trauma Service Region O of Texas, which includes Travis County, with 54 available beds, from zero at the height of the Delta variant surge in central Texas. On October 11, there were 90 coronavirus patients in the Austin area intensive care units, 62% fewer than 237 on August 22.
Dr. However, Austin-Travis County’s health department Desmar Walkes urged community members to remain vigilant about the spread of COVID-19, especially in the middle of the flu season.
“Now is not the time to let our vigilance down. While our numbers are dramatically better than at the height of that spike, we need to stick with the widespread, highly transferable Delta variant, ”Walkes said in a press release. “The flu season is just getting started and it won’t take much to trigger another surge in cases and overwhelm our hospital systems again. Get vaccinated, get tested and stay home when you are sick. “
Walkes said the Delta variant, now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States and Travis County, remains highly transmissible and requires vigilance in protective behavior. However, she said the Austin community made it to the other side of the summer’s Delta Variation surge. The community entered phase 5 of the guidelines during the surge in early August before declining to phase 4 on September 28th.
Under level 3 guidance, unvaccinated individuals are now being asked to hide both indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible. Fully vaccinated individuals are asked to continue masking when traveling.
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