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Tag Archives: COVID-19

Experience, communication help Margaret Gómez tackle difficult issues 

With more time logged in office than the other commissioners on the court, Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez is able to bring a long-term perspective to county government. Gómez took office in 1995, making her the longest-tenured commissioner…

What Austin and Travis County learned about rental assistance during the pandemic

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Austin and Travis County had no overarching infrastructure in place for distributing rental assistance or otherwise supporting low-income families at risk of eviction. Then, millions of people across industries lost their sources of…

What Austinites should know about Covid-19 during this summer’s surge

Austin Public Health officials say they realize many people are tired of talking and hearing about Covid-19. But with “remarkably contagious and infectious” omicron subvariants circulating this summer, they say now is the time to “redouble our efforts” to protect ourselves and…

Here's where to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Austin for the youngest age group eligible

The federal government this month approved Covid-19 vaccinations for the youngest recipients yet: children ages 6 months to 5 years. Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, says vaccines for this age group are safe and effective. “We also know…

Texas schools won’t lose funding for attendance drops during the pandemic

Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency announced Tuesday that public school districts may not lose funding because of low attendance rates caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In Texas, schools are funded based on the number of students enrolled…

Austin Public Health to use new Covid-19 risk charts to align with CDC

Austin Public Health is updating its Covid-19 risk guidelines to coincide with new metrics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, APH had been using a five-level scale to showcase Covid-19 risk, with Stage 5 being the highest…

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Local health officials lift Covid-19 restrictions as infections hit record low

Lee esta historia en español. Health officials in Austin and Travis County announced Wednesday that they are lifting “all Covid-19 emergency rules and orders, effective immediately.” Masking is now optional in most city facilities, except for the airport, clinical settings…

Austin moves to Stage 4 of its risk-based Covid guidelines ahead of SXSW, Austin Rodeo

Austin is no longer at its highest level of Covid risk-based guidelines. Austin Public Health announced Thursday that it’s lowering its guidance to Stage 4. That means fully vaccinated people in the five-county area should wear masks when shopping, dining…

Austin ISD adds two Fridays off this semester to provide 'stress relief' to staff amid omicron wave

Lee esta historia en español. The Austin Independent School District is adding two three-day weekends to the spring semester to give teachers a break as the omicron Covid-19 wave has stretched campuses thin. Students will now have two extra Fridays…

Council expands virtual participation in city meetings

Due to the omicron variant disrupting in-person city meetings this month, City Council will allow boards and commissions to gather mostly virtually sooner than planned.  Council is set to approve an ordinance today requiring that only one board or commission member…

Austin/Travis County require businesses to post whether they require masks, Covid-19 tests or vaccinations

Starting Monday, businesses in Travis County and the city of Austin will have to post a sign indicating whether employees and customers need to wear a mask, show a negative Covid-19 test or be vaccinated against the virus. City of…

City urges high-risk people to avoid gatherings as Austin moves to Stage 5 Covid precautions

Lee esta historia en español. Austin and Travis County are back at the highest stage of Austin Public Health’s Covid-19 community risk guidance as the omicron variant of the coronavirus has caused a surge of new infections and hospitalizations. The…

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