Masking no longer mandated but recommended in Austin-Travis County By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team Published Health officials are providing an update on the coronavirus and answering questions from the media. Health officials say partially and unvaccinated individuals still have a responsibility to continue wearing a mask. "We choose to focus our energy on fighting COVID in our community. We choose to focus on the health and safety of all of you, our residents," said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority, in a news release. "There is now more urgency to be vaccinated as protection measures will not be required."