COVID-19 update
Austin Public Health has been reporting a rise in active cases of COVID over the past week or so, with that number climbing up to 1,120 this morning. But as that number has gone up a bit, total covid hospitalizations have actually been working their way downward pretty consistently. That’s a sign the vaccines may be having an impact. 130 people are hospitalized this morning, 80,446 cases confirmed with 78,500 recoveries.
Expanded vaccine eligibility
Beginning today, Austin is expanding the age range for vaccine eligibility. Cassandra DeLeon with Austin Public Health says anybody age 18 or older can now sign up through the online portal, but there won’t be the priority just yet.
“Really pushing hard to make sure those that are 65 and older. But there are specific focused outreach to those populations so that we can ensure everyone across the community has those protections in place,” says DeLeon.
Austin Public Health opens up its scheduling for the week each Monday evening and this week will include first doses of the Moderna vaccine.
The Del Valle Community Coalition teamed up with Walgreens and some Austin and Travis County officials over the weekend for a vaccination clinic at Popham Elementary. 300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were administered there. And another event is planned for Saturday April 24.
Fixing low enrollment with AISD
About 200 volunteers, teachers and staff from the Austin School District fan out over the weekend trying to reconnect with the hundreds of students who haven’t enrolled this year. The goal there is reaching about 800 of those families. The pandemic is believed to be largely to blame for the 5,000 student decline seen this year.
Mask mandate in Round Rock
Masks remain one of the most polarizing issues of the pandemic. And in Round Rock, they will become optional one week from this Thursday. City leaders say they’re pretty confident in that decision. Sean Falk, who owns Star Co. Coffee in downtown Round Rock, tells FOX 7 he’ll do what he feels is best for his business.
“I’m not really concerned about what they’re doing with that. I’m just going to stick with having a mask mandate for us and my employees and the customers,” says Falk.
Mayor Craig Morgan says that’s perfectly fine by him. He says business owners will have full control over the issue when that mandate is lifted.
Williamson County is closing in on 40% for its first dose vaccines. Right now, about 39% of the people in the county, age 16 or older have gotten at least one dose and more than 22% are fully vaccinated now.
No appointment vaccination clinics
Later this week, Hays County will host the first of several vaccination clinics where no appointment will be needed. The Thursday clinic will run from 8:00 AM to 11:30 a.m. Then again from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Live Oak Health Partners on Broadway. The county will host that event again on April 19, 20 and May 3 and 4. Anybody 16 or older is eligible.
Texas education relief money
Some Texas lawmakers are looking to reallocate federal covid relief money away from education. Education Austin Union President Ken Zarifis says some state leaders are looking for ways to patch other budgets with federal dollars allocated to education.
“Other states in this country have received their relief bill dollars from, but not Texas. There seems to be something about Texas that they think that they can just take the money and oversee our schools in a way that is dangerous,” says Zarifis.
HEB’s CEO is openly calling on state leaders to send every federally designated education dollar to school districts as soon as they’re available.
Some Texas lawmakers say they’re waiting for the federal government to offer clear guidelines before deciding exactly how public schools might receive more of that pandemic relief money. Georgetown State Senator Charles Schwertner says they have to be very careful about how the dollars are used.
“You can feel pretty good about spending money, but then two years later, you got to somehow find the same amount of money to continue that program, endeavor or pay raise,” says Schwertner.
Some superintendents allege the state shorting their districts millions of dollars in that federal aid.
Major drug bust
Quite a few people from the Austin area are part of a major drug bust. The Department of Justice has indicted 35 people following the seizure of more than 90 kg of illegal drugs and dozens of guns from two different drug running organizations. 21 people of those 35 were indicted just days ago, the majority of whom are from Travis and Williamson County.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-4-12-21
