Health & public safety NEWS BRIEFS With virus trends dropping, Austin, county lift pandemic health orders BY BEN THOMPSON
Officials taskUT with broader audit of AustinWater
SHI F T ING DOWN After 49 days at Stage 5 of COVID-19 safety guidelines, Austin Public Health moved down to Stage 2 by March 4. APH remains at stage 2 as of March 21. STAGE 5 Jan. 6- Feb. 23
to post public health signage are also no longer in effect. “Effective immediately, masking indoors, including inside city buildings, is no longer required, with only limited exceptions. Congratulations—it’s about time!” Mayor Steve Adler said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone vaccinated and boosted for helping to get us here.” In the wake of the March announcement, APH also said it will begin using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Community Levels tool for local virus trends; the CDC lists Austin-Travis County’s community spread level as “low.” According to Austin Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes, 72% of Austin-Travis County is fully vac- cinated against COVID-19 alongside “a large portion” of the population with natural immunity.
Austin and Travis County announced March 23 that all local COVID-19 orders have been lifted. In a statement, city and county officials said the public health policy update was made in response to viral infection and hospitaliza- tion statistics in the area that have declined in recent weeks. The move came one day after Travis County scrapped its own masking require- ment and several weeks after Austin Public Health announced a move into Stage 2 of local pandemic guidelines, the second-lowest level. Austin and Travis County were in Stage 5, the highest level, as recently as last month. The March update means mask- ing is no longer mandated in most government facilities—officials said masking is still encouraged indoors for those at higher risk. Orders requiring local businesses
BY BEN THOMPSON
An external audit of Austin Water called for in the wake of February’s boil-water notice is being handed off to The University of Texas. City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee voted 3-0-1 March 30 in favor of a plan to work with UT on the audit through an agreement between the city and university. The wide-ranging audit was proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter in response to the utility’s water treatment breakdown and will also dive into previous boil-water incidents as well as Austin Water policies, communication, staffing and transparency. While City Auditor Corrie Stokes said her office would typically take charge of a city utility audit, the review is being handled by a third party given staffing shortages.
Feb. 24- Feb. 28 March 1- March 3
STAGE 4
STAGE 3
STAGE 2
March 4
SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“WE HAVE NOT ELIMINATED THE VIRUS BUT ADAPTED TO IT. WE NOW HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO FIGHT COVID-19 WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO DO SO." AUSTIN HEALTH AUTHORITY DR. DESMAR WALKES
Don’t overpay on your property taxes. Let Ownwell protest your property taxes and save. Pay just 25% of final tax savings.
89% success rate $1,457 average customer saving
Pay nothing up-front Pay just 25% of final tax savings
5-star customer reviews Sign up in under 5 minutes
Scan before May 16 to get your free savings estimate. Get started today!
Sign up at ownwell.com/impact
Email us at hello@ownwell.com or call us at 512-886-2282
14
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook