Coronavirus: Austin Public Health Urges Community Safeguards

AUSTIN, TX — The city's health authority on Friday heightened pleas for residents to take extra precautions to avoid potential exposure to new coronavirus amid growing evidence of community spread for the respiratory ailment while revealing plans for community testing sites to be as early as Saturday.

"It's important for us to understand we are now at a critical state in the pandemic in Travis County," Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said during a 2:30 p.m. press conference that was broadcast and livestreamed to ensure broad transmission. "Our success in battling and defeating this virus depends on our community."

To that end, he urged residents to leave their homes only if absolutely necessary and not do so if they have any symptoms — particularly those with cough or fever. But even those under the weather are urged to first call their physicians or avail themselves of the tele-health option to first receive medical advice before going to a hospital or clinic. The advice is meant to avoid overwhelming hospitals with an influx of potential patients.

While a state-mandated order prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people isn't being overtly enforced, Escott pleaded with the community to take heed of the directive.

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"We've asked our law enforcement partners, code enforcement and fire marshal to pay close attention to these gatherings, but ultimately we're asking the community to understand the risk," Escott said. "We have to be strong together to reach this goal of flattening the curve," he added, referencing the tactics of self-isolation in mitigating the spread of illness.

Once called 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. According to Austin Public Health, there are now 41 cases of coronavirus identified in Travis County. Statewide, 194 people have tested positive for the virus, with five fatalities. Those figures are continually being updated by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Related story: Evidence Of Austin Community Spread Prompts Alert

Previously, Austin Public Health moved to Phase 5 of its preparedness efforts — the highest level achievable — after finding evidence of possible community spread of the ailment. Escott said health officials are investigating five clusters from which community spread of COVID-19 could have originated.

"Earlier this week, when we announced moving to Phase 5, that was a warning to the community out among other people, there is a risk for spread," Escott said.

Even before officially reaching that level, local health officials urged residents to behave as if under the scenario to mitigate the potential spread of illness. "Rather than waiting on hard evidence of community spread, we decided as if that were happening," Escott said. "This will help in the weeks and months to come to flatten that curve."

Given the coronavirus-caused practice of social distancing, reporters' questions were written in advance of the briefing and delivered a single member of the press — a so-called "pool" reporter — as media representative. One question centered on any plans to issue a "shelter in place" directive like the one passed in California to further compel residents to stay indoors.

In response, Escott said the region is not at a stage that would call for such drastic action. He noted such a measure would occur if hospitals and clinics were found overly stress with a surge of patients — a scenario that has not yet developed. "Right now, were' working very closely with our medical systems looking at two things: Modeling and hospital capacity. If we see any stress emerge, then we'll look at that."

Earlier this week, Austin Public Health disclosed the receipt of 1,000 additional testing kits for new coronavirus while noting the number was not sufficient enough for widespread testing of the populace. As a result, people undertaking testing are being prioritized against a particular set of criteria, Escott said.

"We don't have the capacity to test everyone," the health official said. "We're prioritizing those who are at higher risk, are hospitalized and emergency care workers," he said.

Much about the COVID-19 is unknown, but the developing trend has illustrated elderly people are more prone to susceptibility than other groups. Still, reports of young people being struck — including an infant in Williamson County — have emerged. Escott was asked if any children have been felled by illness, but he was unable to provide specifics. He noted, however, that Austin Public Health is working to create a dashboard with specific data that would be available for public view.