Coronavirus: Austin Bans Events With 250 Attendees

AUSTIN, TX — A newly enacted ban on community gatherings drawing at least 250 attendees took effect on Sunday as a measure aimed at social distancing to prevent potential spread of new coronavirus.

The prohibition was announced by city and county officials on Saturday, becoming effective at 2 a.m. on Sunday until May 1, according to a municipal advisory. Officials suggested the ban could be revoked before the set expiration date depending on the strength of the pandemic. To date, five people in Travis County have tested positive for the virus, each case rooted in travel outside the Austin area.

"The COVID-19 virus is contagious and spreads through person-to-person contact, especially in group settings, and the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a community-wide approach using 'social distancing' to reduce illness and death, while minimizing social and economic impacts," city officials explained in a prepared statement.

The order supplants an earlier prohibition of large-scale events of 2,500 or more. Despite the more stringent guidelines, the county-wide ban on smaller events of 250 attendees is still far more accommodating than revised guidelines issued on Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging cancellation of events with as few as 50 attendees.

“Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities,” the agency said in a prepared statement. Officials referenced concerts, conferences, festivals, parades, sporting events and weddings as examples of gatherings that should be postponed to avoid contagion.

Dual orders issued concurrently by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt cover a wide range of human endeavor — far beyond the realm of professionally organized gatherings — as explained in a press advisory detailing the 250-person ban.

"The orders define community gatherings as any indoor or outdoor event that is likely to bring together 250 or more people at the same time in a single room or other confined or enclosed space, such as an auditorium, theater, stadium arena or event center, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria, restaurant, nightclub/bar, or any other confined indoor or confined outdoor space," local officials wrote. "Examples of events potentially included in the ban are weddings, religious gatherings, parties, funerals, sporting events, social events, conferences, and other large gatherings of 250 or more people."

Notwithstanding the revised ban, the action does not generally include office space or residential buildings, transit including airports, bus stations or terminals, grocery stores, shopping malls, or hospitals and medical offices and facilities, city officials said: "This is because while large numbers of people may be present it is considered unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another for extended periods."

Business operators with questions about the new orders are asked to call the Austin information line 3-1-1.

Dr. Mark Escott, the interim Austin-Travis County health authority, underscored the importance of the action: “Many event organizers have already made the difficult decision to cancel events of this size, in the best interest of the community,” he said. “Now we need to make sure the City and County as a whole share the responsibility of minimizing the spread of this disease while it’s still in its relatively early stages in our area. And let me repeat: Anyone who is feeling ill should stay home.”

Health officials also have cast a wary eye on gatherings with crowds smaller than 250 as they continue to track potentially more COVID-19 patients "Alongside the new ban on gatherings the Austin-Travis County Health Authority is recommending the community cancel, postpone, or not attend events or community gatherings with more than 125 people," officials advised. "Austin Public Health (APH) epidemiologists and nurses are currently conducting contact tracing on hundreds of people believed to have come into contact with the three people tested positive in our area."

The ban is something of a revamped order from city and county officials who previously banned gatherings of 2,500 people and more, a move that forced cancellation of this year's SXSW festival. Since then, a growing list of large-scale events have been either postponed or outright canceled on a voluntary basis by organizers.

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The move also follows a request on March 13 for event organizers to strongly consider cancelling or postponing events of that size. In issuing the call for voluntary rescheduling, Austin Public Health officials on Saturday strongly requested event organizers to cancel or at least postpone events with 1/10th the previously banned gatherings while hinting stronger controls could be in the offing. In an update, health officials explained the reason for the revamped ban.

"In light of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County, Austin Public Health and Austin City and County leadership are mandating increased social distancing to prevent the further spread of COVID-19," Austin Public Health officials said in a prepared statement. These Orders is based on input from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)."

Violations of the newly enacted orders — enforced by peace officers, city inspectors and the fire marshal — are misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or 180 days in jail, officials said.

“Collectively and individually, our decisions will determine how our health infrastructure can handle this virus," the mayor said in a prepared statement. "This community must do all we can to minimize person-to-person passage. This new order and the voluntary choices being made all over our city are positioning Austin for the best possible outcome. We’re a city that sticks together and rises to the occasion and we’ll do it this time, too.”

Eckhardt echoed the sentiments: “With confirmed cases in Travis County, we must all do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge. “This new order allows us to slow the spread and protect the health and safety of our community.”

The respiratory ailment now known as COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. On March 11, the World Health Organization named the outbreak as a pandemic given its global spread.

View the Austin Mayor's order here.

In detailing the new bans, the local health authority issued a number of recommendations for those most susceptible to the ailment and other members of the community:

• Individuals who are at the highest risk from COVID-19, including elderly people or those with underlying health conditions, are told to avoid community gatherings or events that will likely have 10 or more people.
• Workplaces are urged to consider use of telecommuting options, suspend non-essential employee travel, minimize the number of employees working within arm’s length of one another, and encourage employees to stay home when they are sick.
• Anyone who is feeling ill - even if they are not aware of any contact with a COVID-19 case - should stay at home.
• While there are no imminent plans to recommend closure of schools, they are advised to explore remote teaching and online options to continue learning, reschedule or cancel medium to large events that are not essential, develop a plan for citywide school closures, equip all classrooms with hand sanitizers and tissues, and frequently re-educate students and staff regarding personal hygiene measures.
• Parents are urged to keep their children at home if they are sick, and prepare for citywide school closures.

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: Austin Public Health Requests Events Suspension
• 2 Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Austin
• Austin ISD Bans Large Gatherings Over Coronavirus Fears
• More Austin Venues Cancel, Postpone Events Amid Coronavirus
• UT Games To Be Played Without Fans Amid Coronavirus Fears
• Houston Rodeo Canceled Over Coronavirus Fears
• Grand Prix Race Postponed In Austin Amid Coronavirus Fears
• Austin Bans Events With 2,500-Plus Attendees Over Coronavirus
• U.S. Air Force Cancels Austin Events Over Coronavirus Fears
• Coronavirus Forces SXSW Cancellation: Here's Why

For the latest news and updates from Austin Public Health, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19. To stay further apprised on developments, follow on Twitter or friend on Facebook.