Austin area crosses Stage 2 COVID-19 threshold; Austin Public Health urges mask, vaccine vigilance

Austin American-Statesman - 10/22/2021

A key indicator that helps Austin Public Health determine COVID-19 guidelines to protect the most medically vulnerable in the community has dropped to its lowest level since early July, signaling a possible shift to a safer stage of the pandemic.

According to Travis County coronavirus data released Friday, only nine people were newly admitted to the hospital for COVID-19. That pushed the local rolling seven-day average of new daily hospital admissions for the coronavirus to 14.

Austin Public Health's guidelines, which reflect the threat posed by the virus to those at highest risk of severe symptoms or death, range from the safest Stage 1 to Stage 5, when community spread is at its worst.

The county was in Stage 5 when it saw the highest average for new daily admissions during this most recent surge in coronavirus cases: 84 on Aug. 11. The average stayed below 50 long enough last month for Austin Public Health to move the region to Stage 4 on Sept. 28. The average finally stayed below 30 for an extended period before Austin Public Health downgrading the threat level to Stage 3 on Oct. 12.

The area's return to Stage 3 guidelines allows residents to safely unmask while shopping and dining indoors. Stage 2, which would further relax safety measures, means that the moving seven-day average of new hospital admissions would need to stay below 14 for an extended period.

On Friday, the average dropped below 15 for the first time since July 8.

But Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, said a number of other factors are included in the decision to relax guidelines, including vaccination rates and hospital staff and capacity.

Austin Public Health was tracking 150 people in the hospital with COVID-19, which was only a quarter of the total when the county's pandemic record of 653 patients was set Aug. 25.

Only 68 people were in Austin-area intensive care units for COVID-19. That number hit a pandemic record of 237 on Aug. 22. The 41 patients on ventilators remained a significant improvement over the pandemic record of 174 set on Aug. 29.

While COVID-19 cases in Austin and Travis County continue to decline, Austin Public Health continues to beg residents not to become complacent and invite another surge.

Looking to the United Kingdom, where a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths has occurred because of relaxed safety measures, health officials said they are pushing residents to still practice social distancing and get vaccinated to "stay the course."

Janet Pichette, chief epidemiologist for Austin Public Health, said indicators might show a declining number in COVID-19 cases, but "we'd like to keep it that way."

"One way in doing so is making sure that we are putting into place prevention measures that we know work to fight not only COVID-19, but the flu as well," Pichette said, "and that is masking and getting vaccinated. We don't want to see what is happening in the United Kingdom have a similar pattern here and know that we could have done something to prevent it."

According to state data on Friday, about 82% of Travis County residents 12 and older have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. About 72% of county residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those younger than 12 are not yet eligible to take the vaccines.

Statewide, about 73% of Texans 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. About 63.6% of Texans 12 and older are fully vaccinated. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported:

** 4,153 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Friday.

** 219 new deaths statewide.

** 4,541 people in Texas hospitals for COVID-19, more than a thousand fewer than a week ago.

** 635 available staffed ICU beds for adult patients, up from the pandemic low of 270 six weeks ago on Sept. 9.

With Thanksgiving only a month away, Walkes encouraged residents to continue masking, social distancing as well as getting vaccinated for the flu and the COVID-19 booster.

As approval for coronavirus vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 looms on the horizon, Austin Public Health is preparing clinics and working with providers across the city to ensure efficiency in the vaccine rollout.

The same efforts are being made for COVID-19 booster shots and flu vaccines.

"It's important we stay the course," Walkes said. "We have to remain vigilant by continuing masking, hand-washing, getting tested and getting vaccinated. We ask you all to continue to do what this community does best and work together to end spread of COVID-19."