Photo by Roschetzky Photography
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sends a warning to Travis County of unlawful mandates that cause confusion over which orders should be followed. Spokesman Mark Rylander says Travis County would like people to believe that local orders are requirements when they’re not.
“They’ve exceeded state law to impose their own will on private citizens and businesses,” Rylander says.
Former County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and Austin Mayor Steve Adler are named in the letter. It states the city and county should revise the orders to avoid lawsuits challenging the constitutionality. Austin’s mayor is denying that local orders run counter to the governor’s orders. Mayor Steve Adler says his stay-at-home orders and mask requirements are complementary to the governor’s orders, but a recent letter from the Texas attorney general’s office says otherwise.
“The A.G. said that it was confusing, that we have said that masks are mandatory, even though we have readily admitted that the governor took away our opportunity to have either a criminal or civil penalty,” Adlers says.
He reiterates the only known masking penalty following Governor Abbott’s new orders is that people will get sick and some of those will die.
A new study from Drexel University claims the stay-at-home orders imposed by Austin in Travis County save thousands of lives. The report looks at a total of 30 major metropolitan areas and estimates 45,000 people were spared a trip to the hospital and 4,900 lives were saved in Austin. It claims the stay-at-home orders save 200,000 lives.
Since March 13 when Travis County leaders first announced local cases of coronavirus, a total of 202,235 have been confirmed. 71 people have now died, but 760 have recovered. Available hospital space still appears to be high. 87 are currently hospitalized, 22 of whom are on a ventilator.
There’s a growing belief among some in Austin that herd immunity to COVID-19 is a really good solution to getting life back to normal. County leaders soundly oppose that idea. Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott says doing that before a vaccine is available could be disastrous.
“The current estimates that we would need to obtain for herd immunity is about 70% of the population,” Escott states.
More than 900,000 people would have to get the virus, and about 20,000 could die.
Williamson County will be purchasing antibody tests for first responders. 145 Paramedics will be tested for the presence of COVID antibodies at a cost of almost $6,900. The county hopes to find out how many paramedics may have already been exposed, giving a clear picture of how far back the virus may have first appeared.
One of the drugs showing the most promise in treating COVID-19 symptoms is remdesivir. It was initially developed during Ebola testing. Dr. John Carlo with the Texas Medical Association says it was shelved after it didn’t produce the right result against Ebola, but now it’s a different story for coronavirus.
“This is certainly one of those first things that we’ve seen that looks like it’s gonna show some good work,” Carlo says.
14 Texas hospitals will get doses of the drug, which has helped curb symptoms and lessen hospital stays.
A 3rd person has died in Hays County due to complications from COVID-19. Officials say a man in his sixties passed away after a three week battle with the virus. 142 of the 214 cases there are now classified as recoveries and only three people are currently hospitalized.
As coronavirus spreads through jails and prisons, the Travis County Jail says it hasn’t had any of its inmates test positive. According to the Statesman, the jails had roughly 1,600 inmates a day since the virus was found in Central Texas. Four corrections officers have tested positive along with a civilian employee.
It’s been two months since Sarah Eckhardt announced her resignation as Travis County judge, but only now stepped down. Former County Judge Sam Biscoe has been sworn in to fill her seat in the interim. Eckhardt is running for outgoing State Senator Kirk Watson’s seat.
This news and more at News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-5-13-20
