Coronavirus: Austin Extends 'Stay Home' Order, Mandates Masks

AUSTIN, TX — Austin and Travis County officials on Monday extended the region's “Stay Home – Work Safe” orders until May 8 with an added requirement that residents wear fabric face coverings when stepping out of their homes for essential outings to curtail coronavirus spread.

The new order took effect at midnight on Monday. To that end, everyone over the age of ten must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in a public building, using public transportation or ride shares, pumping gas and while outside when six feet of physical distancing cannot be consistently maintained. Before the foritified order, the wearing of face coverings when out on essential outings was simply a recommendation before the new mandate.

The measures were implemented in an effort to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus that causes respiratory ailment. Lacking a vaccine for the scourge, physical distancing and the face coverings are seen as the most effective tactics in curbing the spread of illness.

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There are some instances when wearing fabric masks are not required, including riding on one's personal vehicle, when alone away from others or in the presence of other members of the same household. "Additionally, a face covering is not required when wearing one poses a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk such as anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance," officials wrote in a news release.

Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott explained: “Face coverings are another key piece in flattening the curve,” he said in a prepared statement. “It is critical that the public understand that this will not only help in slowing the spread of the disease, but face coverings are also part of our foreseeable future to safely reopen our society.”

Escott is scheduled to be joined by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Eckhardt for a televised news conference at noon on Tuesday to expound on the extended order and face coverings requirement. The presentation can be watched in a number of ways:

• LiveU signal.
• Livestream feed ATXN 1: media.swagit.com/austintx/atxn1/.
• Livestream feed ATXN 2 (no graphics): media.swagit.com/austintx/atxn2/.

Officials stressed that a face covering does not substitute for the ongoing to maintain physical distancing and the Stay Home-Work Safe order. Moreover, an additional requirement is for use of fabric face coverings rather than medical-grade masks or N-95 respirators, which are in short supply and should be conserved for healthcare workers and first responders.

Instead, officials point to scarves or bandannas as accessible household items that can serve as suitable face coverings. There is an abundance of do-it-yourself plans to make face coverings online, including guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and more from Austin Public Health.

Essential businesses will be provided signage and additional support to enforce the face covering requirement over the coming days, officials said. While violation of this order is a criminal offense, enforcement is substantially reliant on self-regulation and a community commitment to public health and safety, officials added. If there is not widespread compliance with this order, officials noted, enforcement efforts will be enhanced.

The added measures come amid pervasive and growing respiratory illness for which there is no vaccine. On Monday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Travis County rose by 82 to 856 in a 24-hour period. Also on Monday, health officials said two more people died of the ailment, bringing the total number of fatalities in the county to 11.

“Our extended orders carry a very simple message, cover your nose and mouth when out in public to save lives,” Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said in a prepared statement. “Wearing a face covering in addition to the other steps the public has been taking are essential to support our community and keep everyone healthy.”

Added Mayor Steve Adler: “I continue to be impressed with the resiliency and the spirit of our Austin community. We’ve done so well, and now we have to do more. Wearing face coverings, that can be made at home from things around the house, will help protect store clerks and those around us. Let’s take care of each other.”

The orders also add direction for individuals living in a household where someone is currently being tested for or has tested positive for COVID-19 — requiring anyone living in that house to isolate until cleared by the health authority.

By virtue of the order, officials said fabric stores have been added to the list of essential businesses for the sole purpose of selling fabric and supplies necessary for the creation of fabric face coverings. Still, such stores must adhere to physical distancing requirements, and the order stipulates no more than 10 customers can be inside such retailers at one time.

In a separate announcement, Capital Metro issued mask-wearing guidance for its patrons, adding that drivers have been instructed not to leave a stop should a rider refuse to cover his or her face. According to CapMetro, the following are acceptable face covering options:

• Cloth masks
• Handkerchiefs
• Bandanas
• Scarves
• Shirts pulled up over the mouth and nose

"Customers should wear their face coverings if there are other riders waiting at the bus stop, too," CapMetro said in a prepared statement. "Our operators will remind any customer not wearing a face covering of the new requirement and have been instructed not to leave a stop if a rider refuses to cover their face."

For more information and updates on the expanded municipal order, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.