APH launches Covid hotline for workers
Monday, October 19, 2020 by Tai Moses
Concerned that frontline workers are not getting the support and information they need to protect themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic, Austin Public Health has launched a “high-risk worker hotline to promote the safety and well-being of the vulnerable workers in our community.” The hotline is operated by Austin Voices for Education and Youth and offers information and referral services for “legal case management, assistance applying for unemployment and one-time financial assistance.” Stephanie Hayden, director of APH, said the hotline is “an important step to assisting our vulnerable community members in a way that is helpful to them. We worked with many partners and agencies to figure out the best way to set up this service in a manner that is most useful and convenient for those who need it.” The hotline can be reached at 512-493-4288, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Workers are considered high-risk if they are one of the following:
- over 65 years of age
- live in a household with a resident over 65 years of age
- have a health condition
- unable to work from home
- have an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level
- are Black or Hispanic/Latinx, or
- have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and have not recovered or are still within the 14-day quarantine
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