Page 8 - Mark Escott News Today

European Union to open for vaccinated travelers; Texas threatens fines for mask-wearing rules: Live COVID-19 updates Elinor Aspegren and Ndea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY Retailers make way for mask-free shopping after new CDC guidance Replay Video UP NEXT The European Union on Wednesday announced plans to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated visitors, as well as to a list of countries considered safe, with the United States expected to make the cut.  All visitors from a list of...

Start Journey to Bring Events Back to Normal in Austin and Travis County This week Austin Center for Events (ACE) will begin revising the Bringing Events Back: Event Reopening Guide and the COVID-19 Health and Safety Form currently required for Special Events Applications.   Revisions to the guide and application process will take effect next week. Applicants can anticipate changes to the social distancing requirements and masking requirements to incorporate the latest Rules. Providing proof o...

Austin Public Health, Travis County administer 400,000 COVID vaccines By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team Published  AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Public Health (APH) and Travis County have reached a substantial milestone as they have now administered 400,000 COVID-19 vaccines. "This is a big milestone for our community. Im grateful for everyone who helped us get here, including the doctors, nurses, firefighters, first responders, school districts, and community members across our region that volunteered to...

With Gov. Greg Abbotts order banning local governments from imposing mask mandates on businesses taking effect Friday, Austin and Travis County health officials on Wednesday said they were conferring with lawyers about whether even loosened local mask rules can remain. Dr. Mark Escott, whose tenure as Austin-Travis County health authority ends on Memorial Day, relaxed mask rules Tuesday to give business owners the option to let fully vaccinated people unmask indoors if fewer than 500 cus...

KUTX In this file photo, hundreds of people gather near a stage during the Austin City Limits music festival. The City of Austin announced Wednesday it is loosening the COVID-19 rules for event organizers applying for permits. Austins ailing live music and arts scenes have been hurting in the pandemic. But as more and more Central Texans get vaccinated and COVID-related hospitalizations wane, the city known for live music is priming itself for a return to relative normalcy. As part of that ...

Rules for special events relaxed in response to new COVID guidelines By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team Published  AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Center for Events (ACE) says its revising the Bringing Events Back: Event Reopening Guide and the COVID-19 Health and Safety Form currently required for special events applications. Revisions to the guide and application process will take effect next week. Officials say applicants can anticipate changes to the social distancing requirements and masking require...

Austin drops to Stage 2 of COVID-19 risk guidelines for the first time Austin drops to Stage 2 of COVID-19 risk guidelines for the first time Though the Austin area has dropped to the Stage 2 risk level, authorities urge caution.  Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images For the very first time during the coronavirus pandemic, Austin and Travis County have moved into Stage 2 of the local COVID-19 risk-based guidelines.   The City of Austin announced Tuesday, May 18 that the city and county have dr...

The new changes can be implemented to either Escotts health authority rules, which require businesses, by law, to ensure customers and employees cover their faces while inside, or Austin Public Healths risk-based guidelines, which are not legal requirements but some aspects are enforced as part of the county’s health codes. "Masks are still required in the city and in the county in public places," Escott clarified Friday, saying that, while he was surprised by the CDCs announcement Thur...

Vax Here, Vax There: The drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Circuit of the Americas has moved to the Travis County Expo Center (7

Providers gear up to vaccinate kids 12 and up against COVID-19 Providers gear up to vaccinate kids 12 and up against COVID-19 Many providers are already gearing up to administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to those 12 years old and older who are now eligible to receive it. AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Public Health is urging parents to get their kids 12 and older vaccinated after seeing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in kids and teens.  "This is a warning for parents. Even though the overa...