Photo by Roschetzky Photography
As optimism grows over a slow return to normalcy, Austin Mayor Steve Adler warns about the possible health impact that opening businesses could have. Adler says things have begun to trend in the positive direction because Austin social distancing rules have led to a 94% drop in physical interaction.
“That’s why it feels like this virus is not something that everybody’s catching. That’s why it feels like we would never have a surge.”
Adler says the governor should have waited to let businesses open until more testing and contact tracing is available.
Coronavirus cases in Austin and Travis County have risen to 1,756 cases reported. As of this morning, 52 people have died and 84 are in the hospital. 516 people have recovered from their illness.
Austin businesses are reopening for the first time since the city shut down shops. Several businesses fear that consumers will not return in enough numbers and their operations will further starve. The Downtown Austin Alliance’s Dewitt Peart says they will try to fix that.
“Consumers have to feel comfortable and safe and willing to come back to the urban core and to support those businesses,” Peart says.
The D.A.A. is also working up a new survey for area property owners to see how they were affected during the COVID-19 shutdown and how the alliance can help.
Right now, stores are opening at 25% capacity. Kendall Chapman with United Apparel Liquidators tells CBS Austin it has definitely been an adjustment.
“I never expected to come to work at a retail store wearing gloves and a mask and trying to sell and communicate with customers. But we gotta do it!”
Customer capacity will increase to 50% on May 18 if the first phase of reopening goes well.
67 coronavirus cases remain active in Hays County which has a confirmed total of 168 cases since the outbreak began. 1,667 tests have come back negative and 100 people have made recoveries. Hays County’s only coronavirus related death happened back on April 13th when a Buda woman in her eighties passed away.
Williamson County has ramped up its testing in recent weeks. 10 new cases of coronavirus have been found. The total now stands at 323. 10 have died, 12 are hospitalized and 186 have recovered. Round Rock still makes up the largest majority of cases in the county.
150 people were randomly tested for COVID-19 last week in Bastrop County. All 150 came back negative for the virus. The Bastrop County Health Authority conducted that testing on a volunteer basis in hopes of getting a better idea about the spread. Officials say the negative tests are a good sign that people are doing a good job at staying home.
Sales tax collections are reflecting the devastating effects of coronavirus. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hager says sales tax revenue is down 9.3% for March. He’s expected to give us even more bad news by mid-week when the rest of that March report will be released. That should also reflect a revenue lost here in Austin from the cancellation of SXSW.
In-person classes will resume at Texas State University on July 6th. University President Denise Trauth says multiple work groups have been formed to help students and staff adjust to all the changes.
The U.S. Department of Education is curious about the University of Texas System’s relationship with a lab in Wuhan, China as it could be ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic. UT has been given 30 days to produce documents to the feds. The inquiry involves the Galveston National Laboratory and its work with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Ridesharing service Uber has implemented a mandatory facemask requirement for all drivers and passengers. The company is working on new technology to ensure everyone’s adhering to the rules. People will have a grace period to get adjusted, but in a few weeks they will begin strictly enforcing these mask wearing requirements.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-5-4-20
