Although Austin-Travis County has been at the threshold for Stage 5 guidelines for days, APH has yet to officially announce the shift since they have been altering them.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin moved to Stage 5 of Austin Public Health's risk-based guidelines, updating its recommendations to keep the community safe against COVID-19.
Although Austin-Travis County has been at the threshold for Stage 5 guidelines for days, APH officially announced the move Thursday.
"This is our Olympic moment. We have to do this. We have to get vaccinated so our businesses can thrive and our children can go back to school safely," Dr. Desmar Walkes, the local health authority, said.
For people who are vaccinated and are high-risk, the new recommendations include wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings where masks are not required, Walkes said.
"For those that are fully vaccinated, we need you to wear a mask for others," Walkes said. "We are asking you to step up again and decrease the number of cases in our community."
Walkes is asking the vaccinated community to wear masks unless eating or drinking at a restaurant indoors or to consider curbside dining, when possible.
For people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, the recommendations include masking and making only essential trips outside of the home for dining, shopping and travel.
APH says it has surge plans prepared for alternative care sites, if necessary.
The area hit the threshold for Stage 5 on July 30 after reaching a seven-day average of 50 new hospital admissions. The average has since gone up to 67 with 91 hospitalizations reported Wednesday. The area's positivity rate is at 14.5%, data from the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 dashboard says.
Recommendations in Stage 5 for fully-vaccinated
Recommendations in Stage 5 for people partially vaccinated or unvaccinated
APH is asking business leaders to request masks for employees and customers, and offer curbside and takeaway dining.
"Businesses can make a decision to require vaccinations and we support the ones that do so," Walkes said.
APH says if a parent requests their child wear a mask at an Austin Independent School District school "that [request] will be honored, that child will wear a mask and have a great school year."
The health authority continues to recommend masks in schools. AISD announced Wednesday it will require masks to be worn on its buses this upcoming school year.
Locally, APH says kids in the 12-17 age range are "right around 50% [in] getting that first dose."
APH says unvaccinated people should avoid large events like Austin City Limits. Fully-vaccinated people should wear a mask.
"APH works closely with event organizers and the process will continue as always when it comes to issues of public health," Walkes said about October's ACL Fest.
