AUSTIN, TRAVIS CO. “STAY HOME, WORK SAFE” ORDERS EXTENDED TO AUGUST 15TH
The City of Austin and Travis County have extended stay-at-home orders further into the summer after a sharp increase in COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
The “Stay Home, Work Safe” order that was set to expire Monday was extended to August 15th, and updated recommendations have been issued to put Travis County into Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions. The Stage 4 guidelines recommend low-risk individuals avoid gatherings of more than ten people, while those at high risk are told to avoid gatherings of more than two people.
The new guidelines also recommend limiting non-essential travel, and put limits on opening workplaces to expanded essential businesses. They also encourage local businesses to do everything they can to put social distancing measures into place and limit indoor capacity.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler was one of nine Texas mayors to request that Governor Greg Abbott allow local governments to require face coverings in public, but Abbott, while strongly encouraging the public to wear masks, has said he does not intend to make the practice mandatory.