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Alternate care site at Convention Center ready for patients

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The COVID-19 alternate care site at the Austin Convention Center is ready to accept patients as of Tuesday morning, officials said.The site, which is operated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management in partnership with Travis County and the City of Austin, has a capacity of 25 beds and can expand to more if needed."This Alternate Care Site in central Texas will reduce the burden on local hospitals and help ensure that Texans diagnosed with COVID-19 receive the care they need," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a release. "I thank our partners in Travis County, the City of Austin, and the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council for working collaboratively with the State of Texas to establish this facility. We will continue to provide the resources and support that our communities need to keep Texans safe."The facility is aimed at patients who need a "lower acuity of care," freeing up hospital beds for those patients with more severe cases of COVID-19."Activating the Alternate Care Site means that we believe that it is inevitable that the healthcare system in Central Texas will exceed capacity and will soon be overwhelmed," said Dr. Jason Pickett, the alternate health authority for Austin-Travis County. "When we exceed capacity, we will do so not only for COVID patients but for all individuals needing hospital care in this community. We need this community to take substantial steps now to avoid a catastrophic surge."Once the facility accepts its first patient, doctors and other medical personnel will be on site 24 hours a day. No patients will be directly accepted at the site; only referrals from area hospitals.

January 12, 2021

AISD encourages remote learning for the rest of the week

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin ISD is encouraging students to remain in remote learning for the rest of the week, officials announced Monday night.AISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde said in a letter to parents that schools will remain open for in-person learning for families who need access to services, including special needs students. "As COVID-19 hospitalizations increase and tighter restrictions throughout the region have become necessary, Austin ISD is joining the call to action by encouraging parents to have their students participate in remote off-campus instruction for the remainder of this week," Elizalde said. "This decision was made in partnership with Austin Public Health and city and county officials to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."The district says it will offer drive-through COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, Jan. 13 and Thursday, Jan. 14 at the district's Central Office and at Northeast Early College High School. Testing is available for all staff and students that usually work or learn in-person. Registration is available on the district's website.AISD will also continue its 7-day meal distributions for children and caregivers, and deploying Wi-Fi buses across the city.

January 12, 2021

Del Valle ISD to switch to remote-only learning this week

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Del Valle ISD says it will move to 100% remote learning for the rest of the week, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.The district says it will implement 100% remote learning from Wednesday, Jan. 13 through Friday, Jan. 15. Staff will report to work on Tuesday, Jan. 12, but students who have the necessary technology for remote learning can remain at home.Monday, Jan. 18 is a district holiday."After evaluating the current impact of COVID-19 in our local community, it is clear that DVISD must take additional steps to ensure the continued health and safety of our students and staff," said the district in a release Monday night.DVISD Update: After evaluating the current impact of COVID-19 in our local community, it is clear that DVISD must take additional steps to ensure the continued health and safety of our students and staff. Read the Superintendent's message: https://t.co/uMgtl0Jaut pic.twitter.com/FjbBSbxB0F— Del Valle ISD (@DelValleISD) January 12, 2021 According to the district, it's been working with the Texas Education Agency to reallocate instructional minutes - giving the district the ability to prevent a loss of funding.The district will reevaluate and consult with Austin Public Health and the TEA on Jan. 15 to determine next week's method of instruction.

January 12, 2021

Austin area reaches rollback threshold for business capacity due to COVID-19 hospitalizations

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Some business capacity limits across the Austin area and 11 counties in Central Texas will roll back under the state's COVID-19 guidelines, after the area exceeded the trigger threshold for seven consecutive days.As of Sunday, COVID-19 patients make up 18.9 percent of total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area "O" - the eighth consecutive day above the 15 percent threshold.Under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order, if a Trauma Service Area exceeds 15 percent coronavirus hospitalizations for seven consecutive days, businesses that are allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity are required to roll back to 50 percent.In addition to Travis County, Trauma Service Area "O" includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, San Saba, and Williamson counties.In counties where bars have been allowed to re-open, those establishments must now close all indoor services. They can still offer drive-thru, pickup, and delivery options.TSA "O" first exceeded the 15 percent mark on Jan. 3, and hospitalizations have continued to increase since then.The capacity rollback does not apply to religious services, government operations, child care services, youth camps, recreation sports programs for youth or adults, public or private schools, or drive-in concerts, movies or similar events.

January 10, 2021

Work begins to activate Convention Center COVID-19 care site

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Local officials are beginning work on opening the Austin Convention Center as an Alternate Care Site for COVID-19 patients.Austin Public Health officials announced Saturday afternoon that the State of Texas had approved a request for staffing of the facility, which is aimed at specific patients who need a lower acuity of care to help relieve stress on local hospitals."Activating the Alternate Care Site means that we believe that it is inevitable that the healthcare system in Central Texas will exceed capacity and will soon be overwhelmed," said Jason Pickett, the alternate health authority for Austin & Travis County. "When we exceed capacity, we will do so not only for COVID patients, but for all individuals needing hospital care in this community. We need this community to take substantial steps now to avoid a catastrophic surge."The move comes as the area continues to see record new COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions, even exceeding the earlier surge from July.Officials say the site, which was originally established during the summer surge, will be ready to take COVID-19 patients as soon as staffing is in place.Once healthcare professionals accept the first patient at the ACS, the facility will have doctors and other medical personnel on-site 24 hours a day. Additionally, the facility has: Meals and beverages Linen and laundry services Toileting assistance Showering and/or bathing assistance Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Wi-Fi Telephone service Television Social services "We have been sounding the alarm for weeks that our situation was worsening," said Dr. Mark Escott, interm health authority for Austin-Travis County. "Our hospitals and intensive care units are filling up and deaths continue to rise throughout Central Texas. You must take simple actions today to stop this from worsening. Stay home if you can. If you must leave home, wear a mask, practice proper hand hygiene, stay six feet apart from others, and do not gather with someone you do not live with. The whole region must act now."

January 09, 2021

Increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations across Austin metro could result in business capacity rollback

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Increasing hospitalizations due to COVID-19 across Central Texas could result in capacity rollbacks for some businesses as early as next week.Under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order from October, if the number of patients who are hospitalized for COVID-19 exceeds 15% of an area's hospital capacity for seven consecutive days, businesses that are currently allowed to operate at 75% capacity have to roll back to 50%.The hospitalization rate for Trauma Serice Area "O" - which includes the Austin area - moved past that 15% mark on Sunday, and the numbers have continued to increase since then.In counties where local county judges have allowed bars to re-open, those bars would also have to close their indoor services - but can continue drive-thru, pickup, and delivery services. The rollback does not apply to businesses such as religious services, local government operations, child care services, youth camps, recreation sports programs for youth and adults, public or private schools, and drive-in concerts, movies or similar events.Once the hospitalizations have dropped back below the 15% mark for seven consecutive days, the capacity limits go back to the 75% threshold and bars can once again re-open if approved by the local county judge.The Texas Department of State Health Services divides the state up into 22 trauma service areas. TSA "O" includes Travis County as well as 10 surrounding counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, San Saba, and Williamson.

January 07, 2021

First Texas case of UK COVID-19 variant identified in Harris County

HOUSTON (Talk1370.com) -- The first known Texas case of a COVID-19 variant first seen in the United Kingdom has been identified in a Harris County resident, officials announced Thursday.The adult male resident had no history of travel, according to Harris County health officials."The fact that this person had no travel history suggests this variant is already circulating in Texas," said Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. "Genetic variations are the norm among viruses, and it’s not surprising that it arrived here given how rapidly it spreads. This should make us all redouble our commitment to the infection prevention practices that we know work: masks any time you’re around people you don’t live with, social distancing, and personal and environmental hygiene."--Today, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) confirmed the first case of the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK. This the first known case in Harris County and the State of Texas.Full release below: pic.twitter.com/Inoqu5fK5k— Harris County Public Health #SocialDistance (@hcphtx) January 7, 2021 The B.1.1.7 variant was first identified in the United Kingdom in the fall and appears to spread much more easily from person to person than most strains of the coronavirus. The current scientific evidence is that the variant does not cause more severe disease and that vaccines are expected to be effective against it. It is thought to be responsible for only a small proportion of the current COVID-19 cases in Texas and the United States.

January 07, 2021

DSHS to open COVID-19 vaccine hubs next week

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Texas will direct most of its COVID-19 vaccine supply next week to large providers and open up a number of vaccine hubs across the state, officials said Thursday.Officials with the Department of State Health Services said most of the doses will go to providers who can vaccinate a total of more than 100,000 people.According to the state, these vaccination hubs will provide people in those priority populations with identifiable sites where vaccination is occurring and a simpler way to sign-up for an appointment with each provider.Providers that receive the larger amounts of vaccine will vaccinate health care workers, people who are 65 and older, and those who have a medical condition that increases their risk of severe disease or death. The providers will also provide a registration phone number and website, and focus on areas and populations hardest hit by COVID-19 while vaccinating people from surrounding areas. DSHS says it will publish a list of the vaccine hub providers once it is finalized, later this week.Next week will also be the last week that the state is required to reserve doses for residents and staff of long-term care facilities under a federal partnership, which will free up vaccine doses for other settings.Providers should use all doses allocated to administer the first dose of vaccine to people. There is no need to reserve shots for a second dose because they will get a matching number of doses for that at the appropriate time.People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine and its availability at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.

January 07, 2021

Escott: Efforts to activate Convention Center as alternate care site could begin next week

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Efforts to activate an alternate care site for COVID-19 patients at the Austin Convention Center may get underway in the next few days, Austin Public Health officials said Wednesday.Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for Austin and Travis County, and other officials held their weekly media briefing Wednesday morning."It seems pretty clear to us that we will run out of hospital beds," Escott said. "There’s a phased-based approach to surge in our hospitals, and then out of hospitals and into alternate care sites."Despite the projections, Escott said the models are just a forecast - they're not set in stone, and the numbers can change if people continue the preventative measures that officials have been promoting since the beginning of the pandemic, including wearing a mask, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently.One thing Escott emphasized is that although vaccines are becoming available, they won't help much with the current surge the area faces. "We can’t vaccinate ourselves out of this surge," Escott said. "This is going to require all of us to change our behaviors."This is a developing story and will be updated.

January 06, 2021

AISD heads back to classes as COVID cases surge

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Despite pleas from local health leaders urging the district to use remote learning options, Austin ISD students are back on campus today.AISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde said last week that students would return to in-person learning as originally scheduled, with the option of remote learning available for families who want it."There are constraints, and those absolutely come from the Texas Education Agency," Elizalde said. "Being that school is an essential function, we know that some of our parents also have a requirement needing their sons or daughters in a classroom setting physically, not just virtual or remote."Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for Austin and Travis County, has made it clear he'd like to see the county's school districts switch to virtual learning for at least two weeks - especially at the middle school and high school level.So far, no district has taken Escott up on his recommendation.Elizalde also pointed out that "the majority of families" in AISD have chosen to continue with remote classes, according to a survey conducted by the district. If an individual campus sees a surge in COVID-19 cases, Elizalde said, the district has the option to close that school to deal with the situation without running afoul of TEA guidelines.As schools resume, so will some extracurricular activities. Originally, Elizalde said only varsity sports would be allowed to continue; since then, the district has changed course and will allow all athletics to continue, with added COVID-19 protocols in place prior to each game and practice, and limited to no spectators at games.Escott and local health leaders have been recommending that superintendents cancel all extracurricular activities.

January 06, 2021

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