City leaders foresee incoming shutdown
The Austin City Council and Mayor Steve Adler say another complete shutdown is possible if we can’t control the rapid spread of coronavirus. Adler says we know that a shutdown will do that.
“We learned a lesson in March and April, and what we learned was that we have the ability to shut down the virus. We know we proved that could work,” says Adler.
What’s being considered is a 35-day closing. If that works and we do a better job of cutting the spread once it’s lifted, then the economy could reopen again and kids might be able to go back to school in the fall.
In an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, the city is closing two non-chlorinated pools. The Austin City Council voted Monday to close both Barton Springs and Deep Eddy pools, effective today. The closure is until further notice.
While Williamson County doesn’t have a countywide mask wearing order, most of the cities in that county now do. Taylor, Leander, Round Rock, Hutto, Georgetown and Cedar Park; all put those orders in place on Monday in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Round Rock order goes a bit further than some of the others mandating masks not only inside businesses but outside as well.
APD pins blame of COVID spike on protests
Austin Police Association President Ken Cassady says a recent spike in positive COVID-19 tests among APD officers can be blamed on protests earlier this month.
“Could these people have gotten it somewhere else? Yes, but is it likely the people spitting on you and yelling directly in your face from a foot to two feet away?
That’s highly likely that that’s where they got it,” says Casaday.
He is calling on the city to provide better quality masks for officers. He says current ones don’t provide enough protection.
Austin hospitals need recovered COVID-19 blood donors
Austin Area hospitals are calling on recovered COVID-19 patients to donate Blood. Dell Medical School’s Dr. Kristin Mondy says the use of convalescent plasma has been received very well by patients, but supplies are running low.
“In the past, we really liked to offer it to any hospitalized patient on oxygen and we would usually give them a generous amount; two units,” Mondy says.
Right now, they’re only using it on patients who are in worse condition and giving them only one unit of plasma.
COVID crisis shelters are now full
The city of Austin’s four motels that turned into homeless COVID crisis shelters are now full. The city’s Adrienne Sturrup says, all four are at capacity with 270 people inside. Nonprofits are working on getting everyone on them permanently housed while they are there.
“We’re really trying to make sure that when anyone has exited from these facilities, that they have a plan in place,” Sturrup says.
For unsheltered homeless, they’re providing mobile showers, sinks and toilets as well as masks and food.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-6-30-20
