COVID-19 STAGE 4 IN EFFECT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2021
Media Inquiries: Meredith Kuntzsch
512.267.1155 / mkuntzsch@lago-Vista.org
AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN STAGE 4
LAGO VISTA, TX (July 23, 2021). Austin-Travis County is currently in Stage 4 of the COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines at of today, July 23, 2021. This is due to the Delta Variant increase in the younger population in hospitals compared to the prior surges. Hospitalization over the last two weeks has increased dramatically, especially among unvaccinated individuals according to the Austin-Travis County Health Authorities.
The Risk-Based Guidelines for Austin-Travis County are guidelines and recommendations for individual actions and behaviors based on levels of risk of exposure in the community. The decision to move from Stage 3 to Stage 4 of the Risk-Based Guidelines is based on local hospitals monitoring several key indicators including the 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions, positivity rate increases, the doubling time of new cases, and current ICU and ventilator patients. Over the last three weeks these indicators have surged:
• The positivity rate, the number of people who test positive out of the total number of people tested in a given week, has tripled from 3.2% to 9.6%.
• COVID patients in local ICUs have increased nearly 242% from 24 people on July 4 to 82 people on July 22.
Stage 4 recommendations include the following:
Fully vaccinated individuals should wear a mask when participating in indoor private gatherings, traveling, and dining or shopping, and should wear a mask for outdoor gatherings, if they are unable to socially distance.
Partially or unvaccinated individuals should avoid private gatherings, travel, dining and shopping unless essential. Wear a mask when conducting essential activities.
COVID-19 vaccinations are free and require neither identification nor insurance. Residents can locate providers in their area using Vaccines.gov or they can text their zip code to 438829 (822862 in Spanish) to find a nearby clinic.
For additional business guidance, visit http://www.ATXrecovers.com for recommendations to help prioritize the well-being of employees and customers.
For COVID-19 information and updates, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19
COVID-19 RISK BASED CHART – VACCINE EDITION