Photo by Roschetzky Photography
Austin health officials say the data they’re looking at shows more reasons to follow the mandatory mask order. Austin Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott says the more they learn about COVID-19 the more reason they have to order folks to wear masks.
“The percentage of the individuals that are asymptomatic who have the ability of spread is larger than we thought it was. We also have increasing evidence that early on in the disease, when people are asymptomatic or when they have mild symptoms, may be the time when they’re most infectious,” Escott says.
These are critical reasons why people need to take the order seriously.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler has made it clear that violating the new mandatory mask order is a misdemeanor carrying jail time and a hefty fine. He says he hopes people will follow the new decree. The mandate has been met with a good deal of pushback from critics, many of whom point out that Travis County judges recently ordered felons to be released from jails to protect them from the COVID-19 spread, while at the same time the mayor is threatening to put misdemeanor offenders back behind bars.
Wearing a mask is still not a requirement in Williamson County. It was a discussion this week, but county leaders say as of now, they’re still planning to put their faith in personal accountability. Commissioner Russ Boles says just because some feel it may be good for Austin or Travis County doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for Williamson County.
“There is just a bunch of different information out there and a lot of it isn’t not specific to Williamson County,” Boles says.
This may be one of the many areas where Travis and Williamson County differ in their responses to COVID-19. In terms of Williamson County’s stay-at-home order, it’s still set to expire in 15 days.
Austin Public Health says they’re now 900 COVID-19 cases in Travis County and 14 people have died. That’s an increase of three within the past day. Williamson County’s number of deaths is still at four while the total case count is now 124. Hays County is reporting 103 cases this morning and still one death. In Bastrop County one death and a total of 34 cases there.
The University of Texas releases updated numbers on its battle against COVID-19. 83 students are now either believed to have or have been confirmed to have the virus. Eight staff members were also infected. In the West campus neighborhood, there are 55 cases. Health officials say that is one of the bigger clusters of cases across the city.
The fate of the school year still hangs in the balance, but Governor Greg Abbott is expected to make a decision on that this week. Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria says funding can’t be allowed to dry up because no matter when kids return to class, things are gonna be different for everyone.
“Our custodians and our support staff are going to need the equipment that they need themselves to protect themselves as they continue thoroughly cleaning all of our schools,” Candelaria says.
Earlier this month, the association called on the governor to keep schools shut down for the remainder of the year.
Austin’s airport says its passenger traffic has plummeted by nearly 80% because of the coronavirus pandemic and that has led to a significant financial loss. The FAA says Austin is now one of 55 airports approved to receive some federal help. Almost $59 million is coming to Austin to help the airport maintain operations and mitigate some of those financial losses.
Grim financial predictions forced Travis County to impose a hiring freeze. Projections now show the county’s on pace to lose $32 million in revenue for the fiscal year. County Budget Director Travis Gatlin says imposing this freeze could save the county a little more than $4 million.
“This is one beginning step you work towards,” says Gatlin, “if there is that large of a deficit next year.”
The next step is deciding which positions will be exempt from that freeze and that’ll come on April 28th. Recommendations include law enforcement and attorneys.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar green lights an emergency sales tax holiday As of 12:01 am on April 25th all emergency supplies can be purchased tax free through April 27th. Qualified items include batteries, flashlights and generators. They do not include things like masks, gloves or any camping equipment.
As governments continue to keep the private sector shuddered, the Downtown Austin Alliance is trying to get a feel for how businesses are being impacted by that. Through a survey on its website the DAA is hoping to get enough data to compile a recovery strategy once the doors do begin to reopen and then also offer decision making help and advocacy efforts.
