Photo by Roschetzky Photography
A new survey finds a number of Austin businesses downtown may never rebound from the economic fallout of COVID-19. The Downtown Austin Alliance survey shows more than 2% of respondents said the corona crisis and the ensuing shutdown orders have forced them out of business.
“Although many businesses adapted differently, almost all of them experienced significant financial loss. This was most apparent for tourism and event dependent businesses such as bars, restaurants and music venues,” says DAA’s Jenell Moffet.
About 35% adapted to the shutdown, managing to keep their business alive, but a majority made significant staffing cuts.
Austin Public Health does not want to see businesses opening back up on Friday. Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott says the governor’s plan is just too hasty.
As we are advancing our initiatives to reach out to those vulnerable populations, now is not the time to flip on the light switch,” says Escott.
Governor Greg Abbott says his plan is a crafted approach based on medical advice and science. Escott says the plan is unsafe and will lead to a second wave of cases. Similar to Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Escott says he’s very bothered that the governor’s order nullifies local mandates for mask wearing.
While cities and counties continue their push back against Governor Abbott’s plan, the Governor says this is not a mandatory order. He tells KVUE that a lot of people in Austin are worried about the “what if’s” right now, but he firmly believes in personal choice.
“If you don’t want to go out, don’t go out. If you don’t want to open your business, don’t open your business. We do strongly suggest that if you do go out you wear a mask,” Abbot says.
Abbot also recommends people aged 65 and older continue to stay home due to their increased vulnerability to the virus.
No new COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Travis County. The latest figures from Austin Public Health still show 42 deaths. 1,539 cases have been found since the outbreak began, 406 of which have now recovered.
More than $93 million has been handed over to Williamson County as part of the Federal Cares Act. County Judge Bill Gravell says he initially thought that was an exorbitant amount.
“This isn’t just an opportunity to get the county reimbursed or perhaps cities reimbursed or schools at a limited level.” Gravell says, “it’s an opportunity as well to get reimbursements for the feeding of senior adults in our community.”
The money has to be used for expenses directly related to COVID-19 but no specific uses have yet been decided.
A second cluster of coronavirus has been found at a Williamson County nursing home. Earlier this month, a cluster of around 50 residents and staff members was found in a Round Rock facility. The county’s not saying where this new cluster is located, but officials say a paramedic tipped them off. Every person in the facility has since been tested.
One Austin nursing home has been hit especially hard by coronavirus. Health officials won’t say where it happened, but a dozen residents have died in that one facility from the virus. One staff member in that same facility is also among the deaths. In total, 26 of Travis County’s deaths have occurred in a nursing home or a long term care facility.
Just under 50% of Hays County’s total number of COVID-19 cases are currently active. Officials say there are 81 active cases out of a total of 160. No new deaths have been reported since April 13th when a woman from Buda became the county’s first fatality.
Downtown Austin business owners are dealing with a rash of break-ins, thefts and property damage since the city ordered them closed down weeks ago. Roppolo’s pizza owner, Marc Roppolo tells KXAN that his west campus location has been trashed.
“People get desperate. They’re going to come down and bust in windows, go inside, steal things. It could come from anywhere,” says Roppolo.
Since Travis County imposed the stay-at-home order on March 25, Austin police say there has been a significant rise in those crimes.
A ninth bus driver has been found to have coronavirus, Capital Metro says that brings the total number of cases among employees to 11. The other two cases involve administrative employees and a mechanic.
Bastrop County is reporting a handful of new recoveries from COVID-19. With 63 cases so far, 15 have now recovered. The county’s dashboard shows 40 of the cases are in the unincorporated areas. Elgin has 20 cases, Bastrop has two, and Smithville has one.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-4-29-20
