| Dear Neighbors,
My colleagues at the City of Austin and I are committed to protecting the health and safety of every member of our community. We have introduced several critical measures in the last few days – closing bars and in-house dining at restaurants, restricting group gatherings, and curtailing non-essential city business.
We are all learning to adjust to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I ask you to respond in ways that sustain and support the health and wellbeing of our community.
We must acknowledge that the limited testing means that we should act as if we are experiencing person to person spread of the virus in our community. We can see how events have unfolded in other cities and countries and resolve to do what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Our goal is to act responsibly so our health system can support those in need of help over the coming weeks. This means following proper hygiene steps (washing your hands, cleaning surfaces, sneezing and coughing into your sleeves, staying home when sick), practicing social distancing, and checking in with vulnerable neighbors. These are truly the steps that will allow our community to limit exposure between people to prevent further community spread.
At the same time that we are facing a health crisis, our city is addressing the economic consequences. We have begun to roll out some measures to support those in need and will continue to do more. In the meantime, please consider ways that you can assist our local businesses and nonprofits. I have identified a few options below. I also included many resources and links in my last newsletter, which you can read here.
I appreciate those that have written me to share their thoughts and constructive ideas. I am sharing those ideas with the appropriate decision makers and advocating for increased precautions. We are a resilient and creative city. I welcome your efforts and suggestions as we navigate the pandemic.
Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10
|
|
|
| | Table of Contents - March 17th COVID-19 Orders: Community Gatherings, Restaurants & Bars
- March 15th Modifications to City Operations
- Land Development Code Postponement
- Austin Restaurants Offering Curbside & Takeout Food
- Drive A Senior–West Austin – Help Needed
- We Are Blood – Donations Needed
- This is Democracy Podcast: Life in a Time of Coronavirus
- Resources and Information from Government Agencies
|
| | | March 17th COVID-19 Orders: Community Gatherings, Restaurants & Bars
Austin-Travis County is closing bars and suspending dine-in service at restaurants for six weeks under new Orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Under the new Orders, food establishments are ordered to close common dining areas open to the public and encouraged to provide take-away, delivery or drive-thru, to limit exposure between individuals. Meanwhile, bars are ordered to close common bar spaces open to the public and are prohibited from allowing consumption on premises.
Community gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or other confined indoor or outdoor space are prohibited, due to “the substantial risks to the public”. However, a number of “critical facilities” are exempt from the Orders. They include but are not limited to government buildings providing essential services, schools or colleges, grocery stores and pharmacies, transit and transit facilities, the airport and airport operations, and hospitals and medical facilities. In these places “social distancing” and frequent cleaning is strongly encouraged.
At the same time, parts of the community’s “critical infrastructure” are ordered to continue operating. They include Austin Bergstrom International Airport and CapMetro operations, communications, emergency services, energy, and water and wastewater systems. These services are also encouraged to implement screening precautions to protect employees.
The new Orders, which will run from 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, until May 1, 2020 unless changed, were adopted by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt as the reported number of local cases of COVID-19 rose to 10. Austin Public Health (APH) epidemiologists and nurses are currently conducting contact tracing on hundreds of people believed to have come into contact with the people tested positive in the local area. All of the cases so far are related to travel outside Austin-Travis County.
|
| | | March 15th Modifications to City Operations
The City of Austin has modified its operations and some public services are suspended until Monday, March 30, 2020. This is being done to maintain the health and safety of City employees and the community at large while providing critical City services.
There will be no changes to essential city services including public safety, trash, recycling, and compost pick up, Austin Water service, Austin Energy service, and transportation services.
Modifications include the following:
- All library branches will be closed
- All non-essential Municipal Court dockets will be rescheduled
- Austin Animal Center will be closed to the public
- All pools, golf courses, athletic programs, recreation centers, and cultural centers will be closed*
*Camps and spring break activities will happen through Wednesday, March 17th and will be suspended following the completion of activities Wednesday. Additionally meal services for kids and seniors will continue.
Though our physical libraries are temporarily closed to the public, Austin Public Library Staff is assessing how to best serve residents with our virtual resources. The following services are still available to all library card holders:
The following service extensions have been added to virtual resource: - KANOPY – play credits extended to 5 per month
- CLOUDLIBRARY – checkouts extended to 10 days
- HOOPLA – checkouts extended to 5 per month
|
| | | Land Development Code Postponement
In response to the increasing concerns and fluidity of COVID-19 situation, the City of Austin has decided to postpone meetings and action related to the Land Development Code Revision, including the meetings scheduled for:
- Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, March 28 at 9 a.m.
- Tuesday, March 31 at 9 a.m.
- Wednesday, April 1 at 9 a.m.
- Thursday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 7 (no time announced)
City staff is discussing options for how to move the Land Development Code Revision process forward. We appreciate your patience as staff works through adapting City operations.
For the most up to date information on COVID-19, please visit AustinTexas.gov/COVID19. For the latest information on the Land Development Code Revision process, please visit AustinTexas.gov/LDC.
|
| | | Austin Restaurants Offering Curbside & Takeout Food
|
| | | Drive A Senior–West Austin – Help Needed
Drive A Senior–West Austin (DASW) is making plans to ensure all home-bound, isolated seniors in their area are getting basic food and goods during this crisis. If you are interested in being involved as a delivery driver, donating food/goods/ordering take-out, or making courtesy calls, please email them directly at westaustin@driveasenior.org.
If you are unsure of how you can help but want to be on their email list during this response time, please let them know. Please do not call the office as their phones are very busy and they need to keep them as open as possible to address the needs of our seniors. |
| | | We Are Blood – Donations Needed
With school cancellations, work-from-home policies, and concerns around coronavirus keeping many Central Texans at home, We Are Blood is relying on your donations to keep hospitals supplied and patients healthy. |
| | | This is Democracy Podcast: Life in a Time of Coronavirus
We are all adapting to new routines and learning to socially distance. My husband and kids recorded a podcast yesterday called "Life in the Time of the Coronavirus" and I thought you might find it interesting.
The COVID-19 virus has disrupted lives across the globe. How do we understand the history of pandemics? What can we learn from this history that can help us today? What should we do next? This week’s episode of “This is Democracy” explores these questions. Please listen and share our podcast with others living through our current social distancing. |
| | Resources and Information from Government Agencies |
| | | | |
