COVID-19 update
For the first time since the winter holiday spike began, there are fewer than 200 people hospitalized in Travis County for COVID-19. Right now, 180 people are hospitalized. That’s 22 less than this time Friday morning. 63 people are in the ICU. That number is also much lower than it has been recently. 1,190 cases are active out of the 77,485 confirmed and 75,516 have recovered.
So with those numbers in mind, Austin/Travis County have now dropped into stage three on the COVID risk chart. According to the local health authority, that means eased restrictions. Businesses are recommended operate between 50-75% capacity, as opposed to 25-50% under the previous stage four. Austin’s Mayor Steve Adler,says the seven day moving average of new hospitalizations is trending in the right direction.
“We need to keep pressing this down. We need to get down below 10. If we can get this number below 10, we’re down in the blue zone,” says Adler.
He continues to ask folks to keep up with masking and other mitigation efforts.
Local mask order
The City of Austin has scored a victory in the courts after a district judge has refused to grant the state of Texas an injunction over the city’s local mask order. The ruling says Austin’s order can remain in place for at least two weeks, but more arguments are expected and the judge’s ruling is not yet final and certainly could reverse course here. But for now, this means the city can enforce mask mandates through spring break
Phase 1c vaccinations
Vaccination phase 1C begins today in Texas, which means people between age 50 and 60 are now eligible. But that group likely will be waiting a while to get a vaccine in Central Texas. Travis County Judge Andy Brown says the ability is there to dose out a lot more but limited inventory is still an issue
“Still the common denominator across all of it is we’re hopeful that we get more vaccines across the board for the region,” says Brown.
Tens of thousands of people in phase 1A and 1B remain on wait lists across all counties in Central Texas, but people in 1C can now register for an appointment.
Dell Diamond vaccine site
Dell Diamond will continue to be used as a massive vaccine site in Williamson County. Over the weekend the site administered 2,000 shots every day beginning Friday, and many people who turned up say they’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“We’re going to be able to see our extended family a little more. I just can’t wait for the students we work with, all these children to have some sort of normalcy.”
Williamson County says the ballpark will be open every day from 8 am until 5 pm but appointments are required and phase 1A and 1B will be prioritized.
Rent relief program
Austin’s revamped emergency rent relief program launches today through $25 million in federal funding. The city will provide randomly selected applicants with up to 15 months of aid to offset rental costs. Previous programs have covered three or six months. The application portal will stay open through December or until funds run out
Digital SXSW
A year after it was cancelled because of COVID, SXSW kicks off this week with a heavy emphasis on digital performances. Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest tells CBS Austin he is hopeful this can build a whole new audience moving forward.
“People who could never travel to Austin, people who maybe couldn’t afford to come to Austin are now involved with the event,” says Forrest.
The 100% online event will be held beginning tomorrow through March 20th, but next year the plan is to shift back to 100% in person. The 2019 festival brought in more than $350 million in revenue.
Educators protest for funding
Texas educators and unions are rallying for a caravan around the governor’s mansion, putting pressure on the state leaders to support education and health in the ongoing legislative session. Ken Zarifis heads up the group Education Austin.
“We want to make sure that HB funding continues so that the state stays out of the federal dollars that were allotted to the independent school districts into public education,” Zarifis says.
He says Texas is getting more than $27 billion from the American rescue plan and school districts should be prioritized.
Toxic algae in Lake Travis
There are a growing number of spots in Lake Travis where it’s been deemed unsafe for your dog to swim. After a test near Hudson bend recently found the presence of toxic algae. LCRA says at least 10 sites along Lake Travis have now tested positive.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-3-15-21
