Easing COVID restrictions
Concern and worry. That’s how Austin Mayor Steve Adler describes his feelings following Governor Abbott’s easing of some COVID-19 restrictions. The governor is allowing several businesses to reopen as early as Monday, if the area reaches a specific standard.
“If the COVID hospitalizations are less than 15% of all hospitalizations for seven consecutive days, then the region is safe enough to allow additional openings,” says Abbott.
Mayor Adler says the positivity rate among students is increasing and infections in susceptible populations are still far too high for him to get on board with that plan just yet.
COVID-19 update
In Travis County, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past day of five. That total is now at 79 this morning. Still a far cry, though, from the triple digit highs we had in the summer. And we’ve officially eclipsed the 27,000 mark for recoveries with the addition of 97 more of those over the past day. Since March, 27,093 people have recovered out of the 28,212 who have gotten the virus.
The active caseload in Williamson County has grown once again today. 144 cases are considered to be active. That’s an increase of nine, but as that number has jumped upward this week, hospitalizations have taken a dramatic tumble downward. Only 13 active cases involve hospitalization. 8,048 people have made recoveries out of the 8,331 total confirmed cases.
Nursing homes visitations resumed
Among the industries getting the green light to move a bit closer to some normalcy are nursing homes and long term care facilities. Governor Greg Abbott says the vast majority of deaths have been people above age 70. So even as visitations resume great caution must be taken.
“They must, however, comply with certain health protocols. And there must be no COVID outbreak in those facilities,” says Abbott.
Residents can now designate two family caregivers who will be given training on how to safely enter a facility. PPE and social distancing will be required and each patient can only have one visitor at a time.
Restaurants open, bars stay closed
The governor’s announcement of relaxing some of the COVID-19 restrictions has actually been a gut punch for bar owners. That’s because they have to stay closed, even as restaurants are increasing to 75%. Bob Woody with the Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance tells CBS Austin it’s just not right.
“Allow the bars to open and allow them to do what restaurants are doing and operate with seating and no standing, and at least they can maybe sustain and keep their doors open,” says Woody.
Bars provide significant tax revenue for the state every year, and now they’re being left behind as much of the state is rebuilding.
SAVES resolution
The Austin City Council approved the Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors or SAVES resolution that will send the city manager searching for funding options to assist the child care, restaurant, bar and music sectors. Saxon Pub owner Joe Ables says the city’s venues are dying right before our very eyes.
“On the brink of closing permanently. Musicians are struggling along with hundreds and hundreds of venues, employees whose unemployment is running out,” says Ables.
Some of that funding may come from various city fees, but Ables and many others are calling for a dedicated $10 million music preservation fund.
Out of the box polling locations
Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir is trying to think outside the box for polling locations. She tells FOX 7 that gyms, shopping centers and even a P Terry’s dining room will be transformed into a polling site to limit the number of school campuses that would normally be used.
“There are some very willing people who have helped us be creative in trying to find large enough places that allow social distancing for voters,” DeBeauvoir says.
Five mega centers will be made available for early voting. The official list of locations should be finalized next month.
New Austin convention center
Austin City Council has approved moving ahead on expansion efforts of the convention center. The city is set to pay $6.3 million in earnest money as part of the negotiations for land. Council Member Ann Kitchen says local businesses need to be kept in mind in this whole process.
“To staff that when they’re coming back to us, as they’re looking at any agreements for property acquisition or improvement that they consider opportunities to include spaces for local businesses that are affordable and accessible as part of convention center space,” Kitchen says.
She says as part of the convention center funding, the city should also look for ways to support local businesses.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-9-18-20
The Business of Business : Austin is a weekly podcast with the goal of providing practical advice for SMB owners and managers on a variety of topics including advertising and marketing, operations, tech, news and trends, management and finance. The podcast is hosted by KLBJ-AM veteran Kenny Rahmeyer and features a conversation with a subject matter expert.
