KUT
People who lost water this week were invited to fill up containers at the Brewtorium on Friday.
The entire city of Austin either had low water pressure or no running water at all as of Friday, a map released by Austin Water showed.
Austin and Travis County set up 10 water distribution sites on Sunday. They open at 11 a.m. Find them here.
Shelters used to house people during freezing temperatures earlier this week are now passing out a couple of bottles of water per person to tide people over until larger distributions are underway. Find a list of shelter locations here. If you need more than that, consider one of the breweries or locations further down this list.
Elective surgeries may also now resume, according to Gov. Greg Abbott s order. Author: KVUE staff Updated: 9:19 AM CST February 1, 2021
AUSTIN, Texas COVID-19 patients have made up less than 15% of total hospital capacity in the Austin area (Trauma Service Area O) for seven consecutive days now, meaning restaurants and other businesses can return to operating at 75% capacity and elective surgeries may resume, according to Gov. Greg Abbott s executive order.
Should Austin-area COVID-19 hospitalizations again rise above 15% of capacity for seven consecutive days, businesses will have to operate at 50% capacity, while elective surgeries would be put on hold.
Austin, however, remains under Stage 5 of the City s risk-based guidelines, meaning it is recommended all residents avoid gatherings with anyone outside their own household, avoid non-essential travel and only use contactless options for businesses such as curbside pickup and delivery.
/
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday that he has sued the City of Austin and Travis County, a declaration that came a day after local leaders declared new restrictions for when restaurants and bars can serve customers during New Year s weekend.
Paxton filed a petition for temporary injunction and a temporary restraining order in Travis County District Court targeting orders made by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Citing an increase in COVID-19 cases, they announced that dine-in food and beverage service must be restricted indoors and outdoors from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Thursday and ending at 6 a.m. Sunday. The measure did allow drive-thru, curbside pick-up, take out, or delivery services.
ICU doctor explains what working in Austin hospitals is like during pandemic
Dr. Hayden explained the toll caring for Austin s sickest patients is taking on hospital staff.
AUSTIN, Texas - As COVID-19 cases climb in the Austin area and across Texas, an ICU doctor is begging people to take precautions.
Dell Medical School Dr. Shailaja Hayden said she worries the level of care for patients could suffer if the Austin community doesn t take guidelines seriously.
The conversation was held during a Facebook live broadcast with Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Hayden, a pulmonary and critical care consultant, was speaking from the room of one of the patients she recently lost to COVID-19.