COVID-19 update
There’s been no movement in either direction over the past day for Travis County’s coronavirus hospitalizations. That number still stands at 446. However, the number of active cases has come down by another 215 to a total of 4,077 this morning. 67,513 people have recovered out of the overall 72,279 cases confirmed since last year.
Williamson County is seeing continued progress with its COVID metrics. The number of active cases has now fallen below 1,000 for the first time in weeks, now down to 928. Total hospital hospital capacity has grown to 21%. That equates to 841 beds that are open and available. Since March of last year, 33,673 cases have been found resulting in 32,394 recoveries.
Vaccine waitlist
Williamson County has taken the reins of the COVID-19 wait list, which until this week had been overseen by Family Hospital Systems, which is the state hub up there in Williamson County. Judge Bill Gravell says the county is now maintaining that database through its website, regardless of which provider you may ultimately use.
“And you’ll be able to check your status, not necessarily your place in line, but you’ll be able to check your information to make sure that it’s correct,” Gravell says.
All information of those who have already registered will be imported into the new county database. Gravell says more than 100,000 people are currently on the waitlist.
There have been some reports of people feeling a few side effects from the COVID vaccine. Dr Brian Metzger, with St. David tells KVUE some people might experience a slight fever or body aches, but he says that’s normal. The body is doing what it’s supposed to do by producing an immune response.
“But I want to point out that those occur in a minority of people that get the vaccine. It doesn’t happen to everyone. The most common reaction is soreness at the injection site,” Metzger says.
For those who do experience some side effects, typically they subside within a day.
Retention bonuses
Hoping to hold on to as many teachers and staff is possible, Austin Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is proposing $1,000 retention bonuses for all full time employees earning up to $150,000. Part time employees would get $500 bonuses. The AISD school board will talk about her proposal at Thursday night’s meeting.
Wilco pushes back against homeless hotel
It is possible the Williamson County Commissioners Court today could vote to hire legal representation to fight Austin’s purchase of the Candlewood Suites on Pecan Park Boulevard, which was approved by the council last week. The county will consider filing a lawsuit to prevent the city from operating or using any property in the county for the temporary or permanent housing of the homeless.
911 mental health services
Austin’s 911 system has added a fourth option for callers. Since the beginning of the month. People calling for emergency services in the Austin area have been given the options to ask for medical, police, fire and the latest edition: mental health services. APD Lieutenant Ken Murphy manages emergency communications and says it’s been a good first week.
“83 is pretty significant for the first week, so it’s been going well,” says Murphy.
Officials say, through the new option, they could divert calls away from other services and connect folks with a counselor over the phone or in person through a mobile crisis outreach team.
State budget
Debate is underway this week in the Legislature over the state budget. Comptroller Glenn Hegar is still projecting a shortfall heading into next year of just under $1 billion. But he says there are some glimmers of hope.
“We expect revenue collections to grow in the next biennium, with general revenue related tax collections increasing by $6.5 billion,” says Hegar.
And he says continued increases in vaccine distribution should help the economy get back to some pre pandemic levels toward the end of this year.
COVID restrictions in the Texas Senate are making this year’s budget debate unlike any before. The state Senate’s new COVID rules for the session do not allow Texans to testify virtually in this budget debate, but it is allowed in Senate redistricting hearings that prompted state Senator John Whitmire to call for a change.
“I think it gives us the opportunity to say how open and transparent processes are and I understand as we talked this morning, there’s no plans and financial for virtual witnesses,” says Whitmire.
Whitmire says it isn’t fair for those disabled or with pre existing health conditions who want to be heard. The rules do allow for the submission of written testimony.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-2-9-21
