COVID-19 update
There are fewer than 1,000 active cases of COVID reported this morning in Travis County. 985 to be exact. The number of people in the hospital is now down to 149. There’s not much difference there, but it is slightly lower. 57 of those patients in the ICU. Austin Public Health says there have been 78,994 confirmed cases, resulting in 77,197 recoveries.
Vaccine passport
The idea of a vaccine passport is gaining steam across the nation. It’s something that could soon be required for basic functions like traveling or shopping. Austenite Salvador Ayala tells CBS Austin he has no plans to get a vaccine and he thinks a passport is ludicrous.
“To inhibit my daily life and the activities and the things that I want to do, there needs to be long term data on the effects these vaccines have,” says Ayala.
At this point, The Texas Department of State Health Services says it has no plan on implementing a vaccine passport.
The number of people who have gotten at least one vaccine dose continues to climb. Imelda Garcia, with the Department of State Health Services, says the numbers are really start to look promising
“We’re now at 10.6 million doses administered, 7.1 million vaccinated with at least one does and 3.75 million fully vaccinated,” says Garcia.
More than one million first doses have been shipped to Texas this week, and Garcia says when you combine that with a number of second doses also arriving, more than 1.7 million doses are being spread across Texas.
Cap Metro free rides
Capital Metro started offering rides free of charge for people going to get a vaccine. The free fares being offered on all Cap Metro services, including the on demand service called Pick Up. Riders will be asked to show proof of their scheduled appointment prior to getting on board.
Biden calls to keep mask mandates
Joe Biden has issued a call this week to all 50 state governors to keep mask mandates in place. It’s music to the ears of elected officials like Austin Mayor Steve Adler, who’s vehemently defended the mask mandate since he imposed it last year.
“The CDC director spoke of a fear of impending doom if states opened up too quickly,” says Adler.
Like Biden, they also say this is not about politics but rather public health. Less than a week ago, a court ruled the city can continue to defy the governor state order that lifted the mask requirement earlier this month statewide.
Next week, the Round Rock City Council will consider repealing its local mask mandate. Like Austin, the city has continued requiring masks. It’s not clear yet, though, which way the council may vote on that.
In person courtroom trials in Wilco
In person courtroom trials are resuming in Williamson County. Attorney Jarrod Smith tells FOX 7 it’s vitally important that jury trials are finally getting underway again.
“There’s thousands of cases that are backlogged, you know, for understandable reasons because of the pandemic. But there are thousands of people that deserve their day in court,” says Smith.
And he does expect Travis County to follow suit pretty soon. It’s been more than a full year since Williams County has held any jury trials, but they have now been two and the county says it plans to continue holding them in person.
AISD data breach
The Austin School District is looking into a data breach that was recently discovered involving a third party vendor the district says in a letter to families that there’s been no indication personal information is being used for malicious purposes. Student ID numbers and birthdates may have been exposed. AISD is offering free identity theft monitoring.
Internet access in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott’s plan for all Texans to have high speed internet access is making its way through the state capital. Abbott was in Beaumont this week pushing the issue. The governor’s Broadband Development Council has been in place for almost two years, but the push for statewide Internet access has now become a much bigger priority.
“Increasing access to broadband, we knew was important, but the pandemic turned it into something that was extremely urgent.” says Abbott.
State representative Trent Ashby’s House Bill 5 would create a state broadband office.
“We are calling upon the state to work with the experts in this arena, the stakeholders and the citizenry of Texas to come up with a plan that works for Texas,” says Ashby.
The legislation has bipartisan support at the state Capitol.
House bill 9
Nearly a year removed from the widespread social justice protests that rocked the nation, House Bill 9 has gone before a Texas House committee this week. It would impose criminal penalties for anyone who blocks a highway during a protest. Most charges would be a Class B misdemeanor, but blocking emergency vehicles or access to a hospital would be a felony.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-3-30-21
