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The next two weeks will determine whether Austinites will have gathered safely enough during Thanksgiving to avoid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
Janet Pichette, chief epidemiologist at Austin Public Health who analyzed coronavirus data before Thanksgiving, warned Tuesday that Travis County had seen a 33% increase in positive coronavirus cases compared to the previous week.
More:Why isn’t Austin in Stage 2 of the COVID guidelines yet? Travis County’s chief health officer explains why
Concerned about the spike and what it might mean for the Christmas season, Austin Public Health leaders asked residents to gather outdoors during Thanksgiving if possible.
For those forced indoors due to weather conditions, Pichette said an alternative is opening windows and wearing masks.
“Since we also go into Christmas season in December, we have to do all the things we’ve been saying for two years,” Pichette said, alluding to wearing masks, social distancing, hand washing and staying home when sick.
More:Texans Hospitalized Due to COVID at 2,692; Austin area remains in phase 3
Austin Public Health made some changes to its risk-based guidelines on Tuesday, recommending anyone who is at high risk of developing serious illnesses regardless of vaccination status to wear masks again while dining, meeting or shopping indoors.
From level 1 to level 4, the same recommendations apply to high-risk people: Mask yourself in public.
However, in the most severe virus threat, Level 5, those most at risk for the disease should not gather together, shop indoors, or travel unless clearly necessary.
Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings in 2020 sparked a deadly spike in COVID-19 cases, culminating in Austin in early January with more than 600 simultaneous hospitalized patients for the disease.
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As vaccinations widened in February and March, cases fell enough to ease social distancing recommendations in Austin.
Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County’s Department of Health, said health officials like her are hoping for a healthier Christmas season this year, but the continued presence of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, coupled with immunity declining after six months for those who are completely are vaccinated, endangers the community.
The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on November 19 approved Moderna and Pfizer booster vaccinations for anyone over the age of 18.
The booster, which should be taken six months after a person was last vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, is designed to restore a level of immunity that would better prevent infection.
According to health officials, boosters for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be used for six months after receiving the first dose.
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During Thanksgiving last year, Austin reported about 480 deaths from disease-related coronavirus.
With two surges behind us this year – the first spike in winter triggered by the year-end holidays and the summer spike triggered by the delta – the region had reported 1,184 deaths from the disease on Tuesday.
“That’s an additional 701 deaths in a year,” said Pichette. “We’re doing everything we can to encourage you to take responsibility and make sure you have a safe holiday season.”
On Wednesday, the death toll from the pandemic rose another to 1,185.
“We want to make sure people are vaccinated when they’re going to party,” she continued. “If not, make sure they wear their masks and protect your loved ones.”
What you should know:Every vaccinated adult can get a COVID booster vaccination
In addition to looking for symptoms of the coronavirus in the days after Thanksgiving, getting one will be more crucial for anyone ages 5 and up who have not yet received a coronavirus vaccine, Pichette said.
She said Austin Public Health will make vaccinations available for anyone who needs a booster.
“We want to get through the vacation,” said Pichette. “The best form of giving is to get your booster and get vaccinated.”
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https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/11/29/health-leaders-post-holiday-covid-case-spikes-encourage-testing-masks/8734777002/
