No new COVID-19 recommendations for Lakeway, but mayor urges continued caution

Rising cases of COVID-19 across Texas led the city of Austin and Travis County on Nov. 19 to recommend further restrictions on business activity within Austin and areas of Travis County. However, the city of Lakeway will continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Businesses in Austin and areas of Travis County are being asked to limit on-site business activity to between 25%-50% capacity. State guidelines set a broader 75% operating limit while also specifying rules based on local hospital capacity and how the business operates.

While Lakeway will not be announcing new recommendations, Lakeway Mayor Sandy Cox said during her online public address Nov. 19 that she urges Lakeway residents to take extra precautions, particularly as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

“I’m not announcing any changes in Lakeway because we are going to follow the governor’s orders on this,” Cox said. “But if you have the ability, and you don’t need to go out, we are strongly discouraging you from being out in the public during this time and keeping your gathering to your household.”

Cox said prevention guidelines, such as social distancing and mask use, help limit the spread of COVID-19 and offer a transition to when preventive vaccines will be publicly available.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the U.S. government's goal is to begin vaccine distribution by the end of 2020.

Cox said decisions on how to distribute a vaccine locally are still to come, but she said distribution is likely to begin with people at high risk for contracting the virus.