Austin Public Health moves to Stage 2 COVID-19 guidelines as hospitalizations decrease

Austin Public Health moved down to Stage 2 COVID-19 safety guidelines March 4.

The change in the guidelines means fully vaccinated individuals can gather with individuals outside of their household unmasked for those who are low risk and masked for those who are high risk.

Unvaccinated individuals who are high risk can dine, shop and gather with individuals outside of their household while masked. Stage 3 guidelines recommended that high-risk, unvaccinated individuals avoid those activities unless necessary.

“Let’s hope this spring marks the beginning of a brighter, healthier future,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, in a press release. “While we enjoy this moment, don’t forget about those who are still at risk. You can always wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you.”

On Feb. 24, eight days before the most recent shift, APH moved from stage 5 to Stage 4 in the first downward shift of 2022. Since then, declining hospitalizations and the end of the omicron surge have allowed the public health entity to continue moving down, according to APH.