Photo by Roschetzky Photography
Another big jump in confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Austin and Travis County. Austin Public Health reporting 137 as of this morning, and the trend of younger adults contracting it more frequently is continuing. 75 cases are between the ages of 20 and 39 compared to only 19 who are above the age 60. No deaths have been reported in the Austin area so far.
The Austin City Council is trying to beat back the economic fallout of COVID-19. The city leaders agreed to give staffers more power to create programs that would assist businesses hurt by SXSW cancellation and are calling for utility bill relief for Austinites working from home. They also approved an anti-eviction ordinance by councilman Greg Casar.
“What we want to make sure is that nobody in the city loses their home because they have lost income. That’s what this is trying to cover.”
But some Austinites still want more than a 60 day reprieve from eviction notices, demanding a freeze on rent and utilities.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler says the worst of the local COVID-19 crisis has yet to come, issuing a dire warning while speaking with CBS Austin,
“If we don’t do better than what we’ve been doing in the past, and we’re gonna have 5,000-6,000 people in our community that die.”
However, there have been no deaths at this point. Fewer than 1/2 dozen hospitalized, Adler says people still aren’t doing enough to distance themselves from one another. And he says that could mean that the shelter order that he imposed could last far longer than expected.
On a similar note, the University of Texas is out with a fairly grim prediction for local hospitals. UT epidemiologist Lauren Ancel Meyers says even at present levels, hospitals could be swamped by the summer.
“The only line that actually reduces the projected hospitalizations below our estimated capacity is if we have a reduction of 90% non-household contacts.”
The study says anything less than 90% contact won’t be enough. She says the number of cases in the area doubles roughly every four days, and that the average infected person passes on the virus to two other people. Governor Greg Abbott orders a mandatory 14 day quarantine for anyone arriving by plane from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or New Orleans. Abbott says DPS troopers will be keeping very close tabs on all arrivals from those cities.
“Troopers will conduct visits to those designated quarantine locations to verify compliance with this executive order. Failure to comply with his order is considered to be a criminal offence.”
Abbott says there have now been 18 deaths from COVID-19 in Texas, with nearly 1,400 cases. Williamson County now has a total of 27 cases, up five from yesterday, with the majority of infections impacting people between age 18 and 65. People are hospitalized but no deaths reported there, officials say four of the patients who had previously tested positive have now made recoveries.
Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler says neither the stay at home order nor the mandatory curfew will be used as grounds to make traffic stops. Cutler says deputies still need suspicion of probable cause.
“When sheriff’s office deputies see a vehicle on the roads of Hays County, they will assume it is because someone is going to work at an essential business or doing something else permitted by the judge’s order.”
The curfew will remain in effect for the next two weeks from 11 p.m. To 4 a.m. Hays County now has 13 cases. One of its original cases, a man from Kyle, is now reportedly made a full recovery and has left quarantine.
Hutto Mayor Doug Gaull speaks out following the release of 48 city employees this week. He says the city shortcomings have become apparent because of the financial crisis caused by COVID-19.
“As your mayor, I take full responsibility for that decision. With closer oversight, we could have lessened the severity of our own economic situation. These decisions were made on my watch, and I am generally sorry for the impact that they have had on these individuals, their families, and our communities,” he says he’ll no longer collect his monthly stipend, and he’s asking the city council to do the same.
Charging 180 bucks for 16 respirator masks, lands a Houston auction house in the crosshairs of the attorney general. According to the Attorney General’s Office, on Tuesday, after warnings from both the A.G. and local police, Auctions Unlimited went ahead with the bidding on the N95 respirator mask.
“The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act expressly prohibits people from selling necessary items at an excessive price when a disaster is declared,” debating topped off 180 bucks per package of 16.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spokesman Mark Rylander says they filed a lawsuit to stop Auctions Unlimited, “our office will not tolerate anyone profiting from this health crisis.”
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-3-27-20
