Citing a need for city officials to share information and provide for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lakeway City Council has begun discussions about whether to create a local health unit.
“We’ve learned quite a bit in the last few months, and we’ve found a few gaps. Definitely Pong Fest has highlighted this,” Mayor Sandy Cox said July 6 of a recent party held June 20 in the Lake Travis area at which several attendees were later determined to be positive for COVID-19. “When you try to contact trace these pieces, the city has no plan with Austin Public Health, and APH is completely overwhelmed now with cases countywide.”
Because of that, APH has had much difficulty trying to determine the possible cases that could have emerged from that party, Cox said, reasoning the creation of a health unit in Lakeway would be another arm of information to help area officials fight and curtail the pandemic.
City documents state the health unit, similar to a local health department or public health district, may provide services such as infectious disease control and prevention services, environmental and consumer health programs, public health education and information services, laboratory services and administrative services.
