A press release from the City of Austin (and Travis County) yesterday announced the move to Stage 3 risk restrictions for our area. It goes with out saying that residents and business owners but continue to be vigilant and practice good hygiene, social distancing, wearing face coverings and adhering to occupancy requirements to ensure we continue to reduce the COVID-19 positivity rate. The authorities request that individuals “continue to act as if we are still in Stage 4 as mu
ch as possible so that we can be in a better place as school starts.”
As noted in the provided Risk Based Guidance Chart, Stage 4 called for expanded essential businesses only to open. In contrast Stage 3, calls for essential and reopened businesses to return to operations. Everyone, regardless of risk, should avoid social gatherings and any gatherings greater than 10 people. Occupancy guidelines by business type can be found here.
The release from the city notes that “one of the goals we are trying to reach is to have a positivity rate (defined as the number of positive cases divided by the number of overall tests being performed) below five percent by September 8, when most Austin-Travis County students start their school year. In addition to an overall positivity rate below five percent, every individual race and ethnic group in Austin should have a positivity rate below five percent.”
For the latest information and updates, visit AustinTexas.gov/COVID19