The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has closed to the public until further notice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to protect the public and staff members and stem the spread of the virus, the district has implemented a number of operational changes. Staff will work from home until at least April 17, and calls will be accepted remotely on weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The district “will otherwise continue to conduct business and continue to fulfill its mission to the best of its ability during these changed operations.”

Central Health has launched a COVID-19 hotline at (512) 978-8775 for uninsured Travis County residents and CommUnityCare Texas patients experiencing coronavirus-like symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. The hotline is available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., though those hours may be expanded in the future. Medical professionals will be staffing the phones in order to triage uninsured callers in an effort to prevent them from going directly to a clinic, urgent care or the emergency department. The Health Authority recommends that those with questions about the coronavirus call the hotline established by Ascension Texas at 1-(833)-919-1680, which is available from 6 a.m.-midnight. The hotline is staffed by registered nurses who have up-to-date information to guide patients to the most appropriate and effective care options. Central Health notes that non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents will not have their path to citizenship impacted by the test, as “COVID-19-related testing, treatment or preventive care is not included in the new public charge test.”

NEW UNINSURED HOTLINE NUMBER:
People experiencing coronavirus-like symptoms who are uninsured and don’t have a doctor should call the #COVID19 Hotline at 512-978-8775 for guidance.

This # is for uninsured #TravCo residents and @CommUnityCareTX patients with #COVID19 symptoms. pic.twitter.com/zy1oYuSjWV

— Central Health (@CentralHealthTX) March 17, 2020

With all the things we have to worry about these days, here’s one less thing for us to worry about: our Wi-Fi and telephone connections. On Friday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai introduced the Keep Americans Connected Pledge in an effort to ensure that no one loses their broadband or telephone connectivity, even as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts the social fabric in so many other ways. Telecommunications companies large and small stepped up to the plate to answer Pai’s request to take the 60-day pledge, including Sprint, AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, Verizon and a host of others. In addition to pledging not to terminate service to any residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bills, the companies also pledged to waive late fees and open Wi-Fi hot spots “to any American who needs them.” Read the FCC news release about the pledge.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Texas announced Tuesday that all spring semester instruction will be moved online, starting March 30. In addition, a letter from UT President Greg Fenves asks students not to return to campus this semester “unless there is a specific need.” Fenves continues, “This decision today will create new challenges for many of our students, specifically regarding the completion of courses and credit (especially for students intending to graduate this year), housing, the retrieval of personal items from university residence halls and access to technology away from campus. Our goal is for all students to complete the courses they are registered for during the spring 2020 semester.” According to the letter, support staff working on the transition to online instruction, aiding with student housing and working in critical areas of public safety, IT support and the like will continue their work. In addition, according to the letter, “Some research – including efforts specifically related to COVID-19 – will continue, with social distancing procedures put into place in laboratories. All lab directors will make localized decisions about whether to maintain operations and are preparing shutdown procedures in case that is needed. Undergraduates will no longer participate in research in person. Graduate students may opt out of lab work at their discretion.” A decision has not yet been made concerning May commencement.

The Austin Independent School District announced Monday that schools will remain closed at least through April 3 over public health concerns about COVID-19. Superintendent Paul Cruz explained that the district will continue to provide food for families that participate in free- and reduced-price lunch programs. The programs will continue at 28 buildings across the city beginning March 23. With Monday’s announcement, AISD joins a host of school districts that have closed through the end of the month. KUT has the full list.

Local bars and restaurants have joined together in promoting an online petition drive that seeks a reprieve from the state on monthly payments of both the mixed beverage tax and sales tax receipts. The petition, which as of Monday had gathered more than 6,000 signatures, asks the state comptroller’s office to cancel or delay payments of March taxes. The rationale is that delaying the payments would provide needed cash flow for businesses that have seen their revenue drop off severely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reads, in part: “We are asking the State of Texas to cancel or delay Mixed Beverage Gross & Sales Taxes, and/or Sales tax for a period of time. Payment of these taxes will undoubtedly cause even greater financial burden on already struggling businesses that are closing or being forced to close to stop the outbreak. This delay or cancel of tax will provide financial relief immediately to businesses that will file to pay the March 20th tax due. Federal tax credits at the end of this year will not help cash flow, but cessation of beverage taxes can help NOW. The food and beverage industry in the State of Texas is world class and we need relief immediately.”

A special emergency meeting of the Music Commission was canceled Monday as part of an overall curtailing of city operations and meetings intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. The meeting, which was to have taken place in City Council chambers Monday, was scheduled in the aftermath of the cancellation of South by Southwest. Commission Chair Rick Carney had hoped the meeting would present an opportunity for the music community to discuss measures to aid local venues, artists and others impacted by the cancellation of the 10-day festival, which accounts for approximately 25 percent of annual revenue for many music-related businesses in Austin. Carney wrote in a note: “The cancellation of SXSW was just the beginning of this crisis; this pandemic is threatening all aspects of the music business and the livelihoods of everyone involved. The Music Commission is fully committed to seeking disaster relief for musicians, venues, venue staff and music businesses victimized by this disaster.”

In addition to suspending disconnects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, city utilities are reaching out to residential customers who have recently been disconnected for non-payment of their bills. According to the city, the utilities have “prioritized customers who may have had difficulty making payments at area stores due to long lines and staffing shortages” and “instituted courtesy reconnects, making payment arrangements that meet customers’ financial needs.” The goal is to “ensure customers have uninterrupted access to water, electricity and other city utilities.” Austin Energy’s Deputy General Manager Kerry Overton said the city “is committed to keeping customers safe and healthy. We are here to work with our customers and make sure everyone’s utilities are restored.” Those without service should call (512) 494-9400 for help. Find more information here.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors will hold an emergency meeting this morning at 9 a.m., streaming live at the agency’s website. Thus far, in response to COVID-19, the agency has only cut services on its dozen shuttles that service students and faculty at the University of Texas. Agency spokesperson Mariette Hummel said the team is working all day every day to be able to respond in real time and implement any schedule changes as needed. Capital Metro is asking anyone who may be sick to refrain from traveling, and to limit non-essential travel to the greatest extent possible. It remains unlikely that transit service will be halted, though temporary schedule changes may be necessary. Capital Metro is enhancing its daily cleaning operations to add a disinfectant to commonly touched surfaces like handrails, door handles and stop request buttons. As is the case across the world, system ridership is down sharply, with MetroRail trains nearly empty yesterday, but Hummel added that ridership, and the revenue it generates for the agency, is not anyone’s primary concern at this point. Still, the crisis will certainly have an effect on sales tax revenue, which constitutes the bulk of Capital Metro’s funding operations. Economists are sounding warnings of a national recession, which could have an impact on the city’s anticipated property tax revenue election to fund its historic transit investment, Project Connect.

Shiloh Newman, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3, endorsed Ann Howard last week. Howard, who won 48 percent of the vote, will face Valinda Bolton in a runoff scheduled for May 26. The other candidate in the race, Sheri Soltes, has not indicated whether she intends to endorse either candidate. The winner of the runoff will face Republican Becky Bray in November. In the Republican primary for House District 47, former Council Member Don Zimmerman has endorsed Jennifer Fleck. Zimmerman, who had a one-vote margin over Justin Berry on election night, was behind by one vote after a count of late ballots. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Rep. Vikki Goodwin in November.

The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department wants to expand and strengthen the tenant protections in its Rental Housing Development Assistance leases, used by tenants in RHDA-funded affordable housing. The department consulted with local developers and the tenant-rights organization BASTA to develop the proposed revisions, which are intended to “ensure transparency and compliance” for both tenants and property owners, says NHCD. Said James May, NHCD’s community development manager, “A lease agreement is a binding contract, with terms and conditions that can be complicated for those unfamiliar with them. Any way the city can help facilitate that understanding is a win for everyone involved.” To see the specific details on the revisions, visit RHDA Lease Addendum. Community members can give feedback during the 30-day public comment period, which ends April 13. Email comments to NHCD@austintexas.gov and include your name, address and phone number.

Safe Routes to School, an educational program from Austin Public Works, invites all seventh- and eighth-graders to enter its first annual Lights, Camera, Safety PSA Contest. To enter, students create a PSA – a public safety announcement – about being safe while walking and biking. Safe Routes to School “provides and trains crossing guards, teaches students how to walk and bicycle more safely, and partners with communities to improve students’ routes to school.” Sahiti Karempudi, who coordinates the program, says, “We want to give young filmmakers a platform to use their creativity for a good cause. We also want students to build on the lessons they learned from our program in elementary school to teach their peers about walking and biking safely.” The winning videos will be broadcast in middle schools across the city and winners will receive gift cards to Alamo Drafthouse. Submissions are open from March 10-30. Winners will be announced May 20. See contest guidelines and rules on the Lights, Camera, Safety website.