Of the around 4,900 people that have signed up to receive a coronavirus test through the public enrollment program, which launched April 25, nearly 2,000 tests have been administered, according to area health officials. Of the 391 test results received thus far by the city, only 10 came back positive, for a rate of roughly 2.5%.
The low positivity rate comes as testing has ramped up in Austin-Travis County. The World Health Organization set a maximum positivity rate of 10% as the benchmark of a strong testing system.
However, the area still has progress to make in testing, according to Escott.
Researchers at Harvard University, on which health officials have heavily relied throughout the pandemic, have said communities need to be administering 152 tests per 100,000 residents per day. With the public enrollment program, Austin-Travis County expects to reach 2,000 tests per week. Escott said that number needs to be at 2,000 per day.
Escott said the latest numbers are evidence of policy decisions and community action taken weeks ago and that encouraging numbers does not indicate the virus is easing.
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that restaurants, malls, retail and movie theaters across the state could open their doors May 1 at limited capacity as part of a phased approach to reopen the state from a prolonged coronavirus shutdown.
Gov. Abbott also said that although Texans are recommended to wear face coverings out in public, they are not required.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said May 4 that their order mandating residents wear face coverings while performing most activities away from home is still active, despite what Abbott said.
"The real penalty for not wearing a face covering in Austin is that more people will get sick and some of them will die,” Adler said. “That should be penalty enough. Our community acts through the choices that individuals make. Together, we will decide how COVID-19 will impact us. Let’s make the right choices.”
Officials said the city and county's stay-home order, which lasts until May 8 and prohibits all nonessential activity, remains an active mandate but has been modified to allow limited activity at the businesses named in Abbott's order.
According to city communications, officials plan later this week to extend the existing order.
Escott said the city and county's ability tor reopen depends on the community's ability to remain vigilant.
“We need the community to continue to stay home, practice physical distancing and use fabric face coverings when in public,” Escott said. “While we were looking at similar reopening plans, we were anticipating a later implementation date given the needs of our community. We still need to slow the spread and flatten the curve to ensure our hospital systems continue to have the bandwidth to treat patients effectively.”
