A key metric used by health officials to determine the COVID-19 risk stage Austin and Travis County is on the verge of dipping to a lower range.
The seven-day moving average for COVID-19 hospital admissions is at 15.7 as of May 7. If it drops below 14—which Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County interim health authority, said could happen soon—health officials could transition the community from Stage 3 to Stage 2 under the guidelines.
The guidelines are only recommendations, not mandates. The drop would have the largest impact on individuals who are at high risk for COVID-19 and unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Under Stage 3 guidelines, those individuals are recommended to avoid indoor and outdoor gatherings, travel, dining and shopping unless essential. Under Stage 2 guidelines, recommendations show those individuals could partake in those activities while wearing a mask.
The community does not transition to a new stage automatically when numbers rise above or drop below a certain threshold. Health officials monitor the data and make those decisions regarding stages. Escott said if the trend continues, health officials could make the transition to Stage 2 as early as May 10.
