Coronavirus: Shelter-In-Place Ordered For Austin Area

AUSTIN, TX — Showing a united front, officials from Travis and Williamson counties announced dual "shelter-in-place" orders for their respective regions on Tuesday amid the growing threat of new coronavirus.

Led by Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, officials staged a livestreamed press conference at noon on Tuesday to announce the orders.

Patch on Monday was told of the plans to issue the order to flatten the curve of the rampant respiratory illness that has afflicted 98 residents in Travis County — and counting — according to Austin Public Health with another 22 cases in neighboring Williamson County. Statewide, more than 400 people have contracted the illness with nine fatalities, according to Texas Department of State Health Services figures.

Lacking a vaccine, health officials have pointed to the importance of social distancing — the tactic of keeping a buffer of at least six feet between people, avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people and staying home unless absolutely necessary — as the best defense against the illness. The moves are designed to flatten the curve of pandemic by mitigating its potential spread amid a spike in illness.

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Initially named new coronavirus, COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have sparked outbreaks in the past. Although much is still unknown about the scourge, it's believed to be transmitted by respiratory droplets transmitted by afflicted people.

“Now is the time for us really to focus on keeping each other safe. Let’s all actively decrease our physical interactions with others each day," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a prepared statement ahead of the briefing. "The best way to do that? Stay home - unless it’s essential. Today’s orders are intended to help us do this. When you go to sleep at night, count the number of people you’ve interacted with throughout the day. The next day, try to reduce that number. We can do this if everybody does their part. It's on each of us to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. This will give us more time to have more tests, more supplies, and more attention for each person who gets sick.”

Related story: Coronavirus: WilCo Illness Count Grows To 19

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt echoed the sentiments: “Our health professionals have told us we have to do more to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent a strain on our hospitals and resources,” she said. “While this order may be inconvenient, it is a necessity for the greater good. We are all in this together and we must all work together to flatten the curve of this pandemic to ensure that the spread is as manageable as possible for our healthcare system. We have seen these efforts employed to great effect in other parts of the world.”

Added Veronica Briseño, director of City of Austin Economic Development Department: "We understand the significant economic impact during this unprecedented time, both for businesses that will be closed and businesses that continue to operate in limited capacities to support critical infrastructure within our communities. We are thankful to Austinites for complying with these Orders to maintain physical distancing so that we overcome this crisis together as city. We will continue work to identify resources and services to support Austin businesses across all industries to be ready once we overcome the immediate threats of the quickly spreading COVID-19 virus."

The order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, and will last until April 13 unless modified, to further contain the spread of COVID-19 in Austin and Travis County, officials said. The order won't prohibit people from leaving their homes entirely despite its dramatic wording, but trips should be reserved for only essential errands — buying food, retrieving medicines, visiting financial institutions and the like.

View the complete City of Austin Public Health Order HERE

The shelter-in-place order is meant to buttress earlier municipal orders calling for such measures to flatten the curve of illness in mitigating its potential spread. A growing list of communities already have issued similar orders, including San Antonio, Houston, Waco and several North Texas communities.

According to a city press advisory, Mayor Steve Adler will be joined by Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt; Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott; Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan; Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell; and Williamson County Health Authority Lori Palazzo in calling for the area-wide shelter-in-place order.

Previous orders calling for social distancing applies to journalists too. In order to keep the media briefing safe for everyone involved, officials noted, the briefing will be of the "pool" variety where a single reporter is allowed in the press room at City Hall to represent local media as a whole. To that end, the briefing will be broadcast on a live video feed accessible in a number of ways:

• LiveU signal
• Livestream feed ATXN 1: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live
• Livestream feed ATXN 2 (no graphics): http://media.swagit.com/austintx/atxn2/
• Facebook Live: www.Facebook.Com/AustinTexasGov

Given the pool constraints, reporters were directed to fill out a Google document in advance with questions posed to officials during the briefing.

Ahead of the briefing, city officials provided a snapshot of measures covered by the shelter-in-place order:

Public Gatherings

All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or dwelling unit are prohibited, with exception to essential activities or essential work or members of a household or dwelling unit.

Essential Businesses and Activities

All businesses and residents must cease on-site operations and remain in place except essential businesses as defined in the Order. Essential businesses must comply with social distancing requirements.

Examples of essential businesses include:

• Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, food banks, convenience stores, carry-out or delivery restaurants
• Hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, veterinary offices and other healthcare service facilities
• Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to continue functioning
• Gas stations and auto repair facilities
• Banks and financial institutions
• Critical infrastructure including energy, water, solid waste collection and other governmental services
• Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other essential businesses
• Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning
• Businesses that provide social services and necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, and goods directly to residences or maintain essential business supply chains
• Roles required for any Essential Business to “maintain basic operations,” which include security, payroll, and similar activities

Examples of essential activities include:

• Health and safety: obtaining healthcare, emergency services, medical supplies, or medications
• Necessary supplies and services: obtaining groceries and food, pet food, and supplies necessary for staying at home
• Outdoor activity and exercise: engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running provided that individuals maintain at least six feet of social distancing
  • Austin Parks and Recreation Department has closed and prohibited the use of the City's playgrounds and exercise equipment stations. Parks and hike/bike trails will remain open.
• Essential work and services: performing work at an essential business, which includes all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of critical infrastructure to maintain the health, safety and welfare of the public
• Care for others: caring for a family member, the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons in another household

Non-essential businesses may continue operations and performing activities at their own residences (i.e., working from home).

Travel

All travel including on-foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit, with exception to purposes of essential travel, performing essential activities or going to work in an essential business, government service, or critical infrastructure is prohibited. Public transit must comply with social distancing requirements. Individuals may go on a walk, get exercise, or take a pet outside to go to the bathroom, as long as at least six feet of social distancing is maintained. City of Austin parks will continue to operate, along with CapMetro services.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

People experiencing homelessness are not subject to the shelter in place order but are encouraged to seek shelter. The City will continue to work with state and local partners, to maximize available resources for the people experiencing homelessness.

Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), are urged to avoid the risk of spread at clinics and hospitals by using telehealth virtual visits (see a list of services on city services here) or calling your health provider. Your physician will determine if there is another plausible diagnosis with similar symptoms (i.e. influenza).

Individuals without insurance or established healthcare providers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should call CommUnityCare at (512) 978-8775. CommUnityCare will diagnose by phone and provide next steps.

Austin Public Health (APH) urges people to avoid going to urgent care or emergency rooms for COVID-19 testing or non-emergency needs to avoid overwhelming the health system or the emergency response system.

“We have adequate capacity at hospitals and ICUs for the next several weeks,” Escott, the health authority, added. “With today’s order, Austin and Travis County continue to do their part to help other cities, counties and states contain the spread of the virus.”

Austin Public Health continues to stress the importance of practicing good personal hygiene and maintaining social distance during essential activities to disrupt the spread of the virus.

Proper hygiene practices include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information and updates, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.

From March 23:

AUSTIN, TX — A shelter-in-place order is scheduled to be issued for Austin on Tuesday in light of the growing new coronavirus threat, a City Hall source told Patch on Monday.

"This is not vastly different from all the other orders that have been put out," the source said. "It's just another rung on the ladder."

A growing list of cities are taking the step, including Dallas County and the City of Waco. But the source said the capital city version likely won't be identical to those shelter-in-place orders. "I can't confirm that it will mirror what other cities have done," the source told Patch.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in the Austin area. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

The term "shelter in place" may sound drastic in its wording, but it doesn't mean human activity will come to a screeching halt, the source suggested. "You'll still be able to go to the store and visit the doctor," the source said. "If you are an essential employee, you can do that. Make no mistake, things will be up and running."

Given the recent past, it's likely a countywide shelter-in-place order would be concurrently ordered along with the municipal version by Austin Mayor Steve Adler. It's unclear what time the order will be implemented, but the source told Patch is would take effect hours after its issuance — perhaps by midnight.

The latest order is designed to further ensure residents practice physical distancing to mitigate the potential spread of the new coronavirus. Now dubbed COVID-19, the respiratory illness is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have sparked outbreaks in the past.

Social distancing — maintaining a distance of six feet from one another — is a key component of the COVID-19 fight. Doing so lessens the chance of spread of the illness that is transmitted via an affected person's respiratory droplets. The more such practices are observed, the greater the likelihood of flattening the upward curve of disease.

'Shelter in place' defined

Traditionally, shelter-in-place orders are implemented during or in the immediate aftermath of an emergency such as a chemical spill, mass shooting or natural disaster. In the context of the respiratory ailment that has grown into a pandemic, the order essentially codifies actions already strongly urged — keeping a six-foot distance between people, keeping the size of gatherings to less than 10, staying at home when one feels sick.

Some shelter in place orders include provisions that allow people to leave their homes for walks and other forms of exercise — so long as they adhere to the six-foot distance between them. People will be able to go out for essential business — securing groceries, visiting the bank seeking medical care and the like — notwithstanding the innately dramatic word construction of the term.

The latest 'rung in the ladder'

Past orders over the course of March have been implemented at the city, county and state levels amid the growing threat of illness. Those orders include:

• Order of Control for Mass Gatherings and Critical Infrastructure (Austin) − March 21
• Order of Control for Mass Gatherings and Critical Infrastructure (Travis County) − March 21
• Executive Order relating to COVID-19 Preparedness and Mitigation (Texas) − March 19
• Order of Control Measures for Healthcare Facilities (Austin) − March 13
• Resolution to Ratify Declaration of Local State of Disaster (Austin) − March 12
• Order of Control Measures for nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities (Austin) − March 11
• Order of Control for Bars, Restaurants, and Gatherings (Austin) - March 20
• Order of Control for Bars, Restaurants, and Gatherings (Travis County) - March 20
• Executive Order relating to COVID-19 Preparedness and Mitigation (Texas) - March 19
• Order of Control for Mass and Community Gatherings (Austin) − March 15
• Order of Control for Mass and Community Gatherings (Travis County) − March 15