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As the percentage of central Texas hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients has fallen below an important threshold, businesses in the area can once again welcome more customers, state officials said Saturday.
For the seventh straight day, state health officials reported Saturday that hospital admissions related to COVID-19 accounted for less than 15% of total hospital occupancy in the region, which includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop counties, as well as seven other counties.
That meant business occupancy limits in the region could be relaxed from 50% to 75%, in line with an October order from Governor Greg Abbott.
For much of January, companies were forced to reduce capacity to 50% as the number of hospitalizations related to COVID-19 increased.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown, a Democrat, warned Saturday that easing occupancy restrictions “does not mean this deadly virus is no longer a threat.”
“I continue to encourage everyone in Travis County to take additional steps to contain the further spread of COVID-19. As vaccine supplies remain very limited, we must continue to stay at home as much as possible and only have to travel outside of our home for essential needs, always wearing a mask and staying physically aloof. By everyone doing their part, we can keep our community healthy and safe, “Brown said in a written statement.
What impact the higher occupancy rates could have on businesses in the region is an open question as January is traditionally a slow time for retailers.
However, restaurateur Shawn Cirkiel – who runs Austin’s Parkside, Backspace and Olive & June restaurants – said the news of capacity easing could encourage audiences to patronize restaurants in the area.
“Opening up the occupancy encourages people to feel better, which increases business,” Cirkiel told the American-Statesman. “For most of the restaurants I know, it’s more about the emotional impact that drives the guests than the actual seating or occupancy.”
Cirkiel said his operations will continue to follow safety protocols and he hopes the hospital admissions numbers point to a brighter future.
“I’m grateful that masks and vaccines are starting together to get hospital stays under control so we can look forward to some level of normalcy in the future,” said Cirkiel.
Under Abbott’s order linking business capacity to hospital capacity, Texas Health Department Commissioner John Hellerstedt wrote in a letter to district judges and mayors in the eleven counties on Saturday that their region “no longer meets the definition of a high hospital area “. and can thus open up again to the higher permissible levels. “
The letter said hospitals in the region can also resume elective surgery.
On Friday, according to the state, COVID-19 hospital admissions were 12.05% on Saturday in Texas Trauma Service O, the name for the region that includes Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. Other counties in Trauma Service O are Lee, Blanco, Llano, Burnet, San Saba, Caldwell, and Fayette.
The withdrawal of the occupancy limits did not apply to church services; Local governments; Childcare; Youth camp; Recreational sports programs for adolescents and adults; public or private schools; and drive-in concerts, films, or similar events listed as unrestricted by order of the governor.
Personal care and beauty services could continue with at least 6 feet of social distance between workplaces.
Officials in Travis County had urged local businesses to voluntarily only use curb or delivery services if they are considered a non-essential service. Basic services were asked to only operate at 25 to 50% utilization before the 50% limit was triggered by state law.
However, local executives could not legally require companies to downsize unless the hospital admissions met Abbott’s criteria to do so.
State officials reported 14,969 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday – up from 27,000 new cases on December 29 – as well as 332 other deaths. In total, the state has registered more than 2 million COVID-19 cases, including more than 68,000 in Travis County.
Austin Public Health leaders said 544 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday. That number of daily cases in the Austin area is less than three weeks after the all-time high of 1,461 reported cases.
With the decline in COVID-19 cases in Travis County, Dr. Austin-Travis County’s Provisional Health Authority Mark Escott said Friday that he would continue to focus on vaccinating residents as the state continues to allocate vaccine doses for the area.
Escott said it would likely be months before anyone who currently qualifies for vaccination in Austin and Travis Counties can get a vaccination, especially as the state moves forward with its plan to allow key workers to be vaccinated.
Matthew Odam, an American citizen author, contributed to this report.
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