Austin-Travis County COVID-19 orders extended through February 16
By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team
Published
The orders will remain in effect until Feb. 16. The Austin-Travis County Health Authority also has extended its Health Authority Rules through April 15.
The City of Austin and Travis County orders extend existing requirements for face coverings, social distancing and limiting gatherings. The orders also add quarantine requirements the city and county say are consistent with updated Austin Public Health quarantine guidelines.
APH s quarantine guidelines state that if someone in a household is COVID-19 positive or is awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, the entire household shall isolate and avoid travel outside of the city except to seek medical attention until the household is cleared by APH.
Austin-Travis County leaders this week updated and extended another 60 days local coronavirus orders requiring face masks, social distancing and a set quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Austin-Travis County residents are now required to keep wearing masks, practice social distancing and limit large gatherings until Feb. 16, according to a statement from Austin Public Health on Wednesday.
While not much changed under the extended orders, local leaders did add some new adjustments to quarantine guidelines and social distancing practices at Austin area restaurants.
Under the new orders, a person exposed to COVID-19 is required to quarantine for at least 14 days if they were not wearing a mask at the time of exposure or work in a high-risk setting.
A medical professional walks outside Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin.
Roughly nine months into the pandemic, Austin is seeing its highest number of active COVID-19 infections ahead of the holidays, and health officials are begging residents to limit contact to battle back the virus spread.
Austin Public Health attributes the rise in cases largely to gatherings over Thanksgiving. Forecasts suggest that if left unchecked, the spread could lead to a real disaster that could cripple Austin s hospital capacity. Right now we are at a place where we have more active infections in our community than at any other point in time in this pandemic, Austin Public Health s interim Medical Director Dr. Mark Escott said Wednesday.
Travis County reports another COVID-19 death, 235 new cases statesman.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from statesman.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.