Austin’s Top News – January 6, 2021

Austin's Top News from News Radio KLBJ

Shooting in Georgetown

It has been a violent week for Central Texas. Following two officer-involved shootings to kick off the week on back to back nights in Austin, Georgetown police are now investigating a shooting that left multiple people injured. Georgetown PD says three people were shot last night in a parking lot on the 1400 block of I-35 right near an Olive Garden. Two men and one woman were taken to the hospital for treatment. 

Protest of officer-involved shooting

Austin activists rally in protest in the wake of yesterday’s deadly officer-involved shooting. About two dozen people, marching and chanting, venting displeasure with police following the death of Alexander Gonzalez. Austin police chief Brian Manley says Gonzales cut off an off duty cop, then pointed a gun at him and was later shot at, and then officers arrived on duty came on scene demanding Gonzalez step away from the car. Gonzales reportedly refused and opened the back door and reached inside, at which time he was shot. 

COVID-19 update

22 more patients have been added to Travis County’s COVID hospitalization total over the past day, bringing that number up to 574. 161 of those patients are in the ICU and 99 are in need of a ventilator. The county is also reporting just under 5,000 active cases. Overall, 53,272 cases confirmed and 47,762 recoveries.

Officials say the local pandemic is breaking growth records. Austin Travis County Health Authority doctor Mark Escott tells local leaders the latest 70 day average of new COVID hospital admissions is at an all time high of 77. 

“That 77 was a new record for our pandemic in Austin. That represents a 140% increase in new admissions to the hospital, as compared to December the fourth,” says Escott. 

By the numbers, he expects Travis County to continue breaking similar records in the near future and that the area will run out of hospital space by the end of next week. 

Vaccines have not been rolling out smoothly in the Austin area. Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea pens most of the blame on Governor Greg Abbott.

“And now it seems to me like there’s even more chaos in the process of even knowing where vaccines are available and how many are available and how the public can access them,” Shea says.

Austin Public Health is also pointing the finger at the state, saying it’s not their fault that vaccines have not been administered efficiently. Officials are working on a new website that will let the public track where vaccines have been shipped and how many are available. 

Today, Austin is getting a new mobile antibody infusion center in Southeast Austin that will be used to treat people with COVID-19. Travis County Judge Andy Brown says the hope is the new center will take some of the strain off of hospitals.

“When people in the high risk category test positive for COVID, they can get an infusion, which in many people will reduce the severity of their symptoms,” Brown says.

Patients will have to meet certain criteria and have a referral from a physician. Governor Abbott calls antibody therapy a crucial component in the response to COVID-19.

New school recommendations

New recommendations are being made for local schools as many campuses are opening back up this week. Austin Mayor Steve Adler says the use of busses or carpooling should be avoided and schools should not let kids congregating cafeteria, 

“Strongly recommending that parents transition their children to virtual education for at least two weeks as we now get to this higher place of infectivity,” says Adler.

The recommendation also includes canceling most, if not all, extracurricular activities. If that’s not possible significantly modifying those events, including things like proactive testing.

Texas State COVID test requirement

Texas State University has made it a requirement that all students and staff that return to campus be tested for COVID beforehand. In-person classes resume at the university January 19. Officials say everyone should plan to get tested within one week prior to their return. 

State legislature 

The impact of COVID-19 is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming state legislature. State Senator John Whitmire is heading into his 24th state legislature. He says, although new COVID restrictions have not been finalized, they have been discussed. 

“We can’t use all the committee rooms because of social distancing. That’s gonna limit the work and the lieutenant governor is gonna limit the number of bills that he sends committees,” Whitmire says.

Rice University political scientist Mark Jones says a limited session won’t leave much time for any controversial partisan bills- the budget, some basic high priority reform items and something related to the George Floyd act. 

This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:

https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-1-6-21


 

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