After surpassing 30 new hospital admissions on the 7-day moving average, Austin Public Health has announced that a move into Stage 4 COVID recommendations “is now imminent for Austin-Travis County.”
“We need the community to act as if we are in Stage 4 now to help prevent the continued spread of COVID-19 variants,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “Getting the vaccine is critical to slowing the spread by not hosting new, possibly vaccine resistant, variants. Vaccinations prevent death and hospitalization, and masks help prevent the spread of disease. Adding another layer of protection is essential to protect our healthcare infrastructure.”
As of July 20, four cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in Travis County.
“We know the Delta variant is here and is running rampant in our community,” Dr. Walkes added. “It will continue to cause a surge in cases and hospitalizations if we don’t come together to stop it. Do your part – wear a mask indoors and get vaccinated if you haven’t already.”
“Education continues to remain a priority – we need students to be able to safely return to in-person classes in the fall,” said APH Interim Director Adrienne Sturrup. “To see this safe return, and not contribute to the rise of cases, it is critical to take additional protective actions now such as masking, and for parents to vaccinate their children when they are eligible.”
