COVID-19 spread worsens to medium level for Travis, Hays counties. Here's what that means

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·6 min read
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Richa Tiwary, Vivian Nguyen and Xin Fang walking on campus at The University of Texas at Austin in January. Rates of COVID-19 are not as high as when the omicron surge was happening in January, but they are climbing, sending Travis County into the medium level for transmission level instead of low, where we've been all spring.
Richa Tiwary, Vivian Nguyen and Xin Fang walking on campus at The University of Texas at Austin in January. Rates of COVID-19 are not as high as when the omicron surge was happening in January, but they are climbing, sending Travis County into the medium level for transmission level instead of low, where we've been all spring.

Indicating an increase in the spread of coronavirus locally, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved Travis and Hays counties to medium status from low status for COVID-19.

Counties move to medium when the transmission rate rises to more than 200. Travis County now has 202.99 new cases per 100,000 people. Hays County is at 211.1 new cases per 100,000.

Williamson, Burnet and Bastrop counties remain in the low level for COVID-19 spread. Caldwell County has already been in the medium level.

"We’re seeing steady increases in case totals and hospitalizations which is incredibly concerning,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority.

On Friday, the metropolitan area had 71 people hospitalized, with 19 new admissions, 13 people in intensive care units and two people on ventilators for COVID-19.

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What's the difference between low and medium?

For people up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines: 

Low: Taking precautions is optional when gathering, dining and shopping.

Medium: Precautions are optional when gathering, dining and shopping. But wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.

High: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.

For people who are at higher risk:  

Low: Precautions are optional when gathering, dining and shopping.

Medium: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.

High: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.

Precautions mean wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding crowded situations.

“We need everyone to do their part, especially those who are at higher risk," Walkes said. "Wear a mask inside when gathering with others. We know that this will help protect loved ones at risk for poor outcomes and our hospital system.”

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Why is the community spread changing?

More people are gathering again. Think about all the graduations and end-of-school celebrations, plus Memorial Day and other summer events beginning to happen. Fewer people are wearing masks in public spaces.

Also, each variant has been more transmissible, according to health care experts.

What does it take to get to a high level of spread?

To be a high level of spread, a county needs to:

• Be above 200 in new cases per 100,000 people.

• Have a seven-day average of new hospital admissions for COVID of more than 10 per 100,000 people. Travis County is currently at 4.

• Have 10% of staffed hospital beds occupied by people with COVID-19. We are currently at 1.5%.

Is omicron still happening?

The majority of cases in Travis County have been BA.2, which is stealth omicron. Austin Public Health has also found the new variants BA.4 and BA.5, which are the newer omicron variants that have spread throughout Europe this spring. Each omicron version is more contagious than the next, but not thought to be more serious as far as disease.

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What can we do to control the spread?

“We need everyone to get vaccinated and boosted, especially children who are now eligible for boosters," Walkes said last week. "Masks also provide an extra layer of protection for yourself and others.”

Everyone 5 and older is eligible to get vaccinated and eligible for a booster five months after the original series (two doses for mRNA vaccines for most people, three doses for immune compromised people). Adults 50 and older can get a second booster four months after their first booster.

We have to keep up with vaccination, said Dr. Donald Murphey, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, because "COVID, it's not just a single wave. There's not long-lasting immunity, and the virus is changing. It really is an especially difficult virus. There's more to come."

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Vaccinations can help prevent severe disease and death, experts say. That's really the goal of the vaccines: preventing hospitalizations and death, while keeping our hospitals available to non-COVID-19 patients.

"It happens with the flu vaccine," Murphey said. "It may not prevent you from getting the flu, but it does prevent hospitalizations and death."

It is never too late to start vaccinations or to get back on the vaccination schedule.

Most pharmacies have plenty of COVID-19 vaccine available. Austin Public Health has its walk-up site at the Old Sims Elementary Gymnasium, 1203 Springdale Road, 2-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. COVID-19 vaccinations are free.

Should I wear a mask?

The CDC guidelines suggest you to assess your own risk factors such as other health concerns you might have, who is in your life and their health concerns, and the community spread levels.

Right now in low levels, precautions such as masking are optional. If we move to medium level, then masks will be encouraged in public spaces and strongly recommended when social distancing is not possible.

“We all have mask fatigue, but wearing a mask is what’s necessary to keep COVID-19 in check,” said Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup.

You can get free N95 masks at most local pharmacies, or go to cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/free-masks.html to find out where you can get masks.

Should I test?

“Testing and getting vaccinated and boosted are also critical," Sturrup said. "Take a test and stay home even if you only feel slightly sick. Get up to date on your vaccines at your doctor's office or at one of our clinics.”

If you're not feeling well, even if you think it's allergies, go ahead and take a self test.  You can get free tests, even if you've already received a set of free ones, through the federal government. Austin Public Health also gives them out at the Metz Elementary testing site.

If you've been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you need to isolate for five days and test again to make sure you are negative on the fifth day. If you have a positive test, quarantine for five days and then wait until you test negative.

When will kids 4 and younger get their vaccine?

It's coming soon. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to meet about both the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines for younger children Tuesday and Wednesday. Then the CDC's committee will meet.

If approved by both the FDA and the CDC, those vaccines will cover everyone 6 months and older. Newborns can get some immunity from their mothers being vaccinated while pregnant.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: COVID worsens to medium for Travis, Hays counties. Here's what it means