Coronavirus: Austin Hospitalizations Eyed As Key Reopening Metric

AUSTIN, TX — Hospitalizations due to the coronavirus must be kept to under 20 admissions per day to ensure the full reopening of the local economy, officials said Thursday.

During a livestream presentation, Austin Mayor Steve Adler was joined by Sarah Eckhardt, special assistant to Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Dr. Mark Escott, the interim health authority and public health medical director for Austin-Travis County in analyzing current illness trends.

The recommended thresholds related to hospitalizations are informed by data focused on average hospital admissions in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area, officials explained. Understanding whether the 7-day average hospital admission number is moving up or down is critical in understanding what preventive actions to take and to avoid our hospitals from experiencing an overwhelming surge in cases, officials added.

“If our community wants to maximize the chances for successfully reopening the economy, then we each have to do our part — individuals and businesses — to keep daily hospitalizations from reaching 20 per day,” Adler said. “We do this by rigorously following six-foot social distancing, wearing face masks, and getting tested and staying at home if you’re not feeling well. How important is it to us to maintain opening up the economy? We get to decide by our actions."

Added Eckhardt: “While Governor Abbott focuses on reopening businesses, Travis County remains focused on the health and safety of our community. These risk-bases guidelines will help our whole community prepare.”

For his part, Escott lauded residents' efforts in taking precautionary measures to help blunt the spread of illness. But he said the steps need to continue in order to fully open the state economy with greater business reopening: "Austin has done a great job of flattening the curve, but we have to continue those efforts to protect ourselves, to protect Austin, and protect Texas," Escott said. "We need to protect both public health and the economy. If we go out, let's do it safely so we can keep and grow both."

Austin Public Health graphic.

In the graph-laden presentation, officials highlighted a risk stages system created by Austin Public Health that illustrates the regression and progress on several factors, including disease, healthcare, and public health. These indicators will inform recommendations on the tightening or loosening of restrictions on physical distancing, mass gatherings, business operations, and other safety measures in the months ahead, officials said.

Austin Public Health graphic.

Officials explained the color-coded guidelines:

• Stage 1 (Green): Zero (0) new COVID-19 hospital admissions in a 7-day period .
• Stage 2 (Blue): Average of less than 5 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the MSA in 7-day period.
• Stage 3 (Yellow): Average of 5-19 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the MSA in a 7-day period.
• Stage 4 (Light Orange): Average of 20-70 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the MSA in a 7-day period.
• Stage 5 (Dark Orange): Average of 70 or more new COVID-19 hospital admissions in the MSA in a 7-day period.

Austin-Travis County is currently in Level 3, the yellow risk category. At this level, Austin Public Health recommends individuals at high risk for serious illness shelter in place and telecommute or be reassigned to non-public facing roles. Individuals at lower risk for serious infections should minimize their interactions with individuals outside their household, officials added.

At all levels, Austin Public Health continues to urge the community to:

• Practice social distancing;
• wear fabric face coverings in public;
• cover coughs and sneezes;
• wash hands often;
• avoid touching your face;
• clean commonly touched surfaces.

As Gov. Greg Abbott continues to reopen the state economy in phases, officials noted, local risk level stages will be reassessed as data from these policy decisions are received over the coming weeks. The risk-based guidelines system is coupled with other guidance that will be taken to help avoid a secondary quarantine period, officials added.

In adopting a stage level approach, normalizing activity — or imposing restrictions as necessary — will be reintroduced in the event of a new outbreak of COVID-19 cases.

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

From earlier:

AUSTIN, TX — City and health officials have scheduled a presentation on Thursday addressing indicators to be used in assessing the continued threat of the coronavirus.

During the presentation scheduled at 1 p.m., officials will stress the importance of "risk-based guidelines," along with detailing which indicators will be utilized to determine the current stage of risk, according to an advisory. The measures follow the creation of a color-coded chart released by Austin Public Health earlier this month designed to assist residents in understanding health risk toward keeping them safe, officials described.

"The risk stages system illustrates the regression and progress on several crucial diseases, health care and public health factors," officials wrote. "These indicators will inform recommendations on the tightening or loosening of restrictions on mass gatherings, business operations and other safety measures in the months ahead."

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Among those attending Thursday's event are Austin Mayor Steve Adler; former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, who is now serving as a special assistant to Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Dr. Mark Escott, the interim Austin-Travis County health authority. Also on hand will be Dr. Guadalupe Zamora, Central Health Board of Managers, for Spanish-speaking media.

Although the event is largely meant as an opportunity for members of the media to ask questions of officials, Patch confirmed that members of the public also are invited to watch. The event is scheduled at 1 p.m., and here are ways to access the video feed:

• 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.

The briefing comes as the rate of illness continues to rise across Travis County against a backdrop of a multi-phased state economy reopening led by Gov. Greg Abbott. On Wednesday, the number of cases of the respiratory illness topped 3,000 in bringing the total count to 3,057 — an increase of 73 more patients from the previous day. In addition, three more deaths from the illness were reported in the same 24-hour span.

The number of new cases reported on Wednesday exceeded the 51-patient increase reported from the previous day, and another three new deaths were reported. The illness uptick is documented on a statistical dashboard updated daily by Austin Public Health officials.

The number of coronavirus cases to date is 413 more than one week ago, as documented on the dashboard.