Austin-Travis County is Moving to Stage 5 of the COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines

In the wake of an omicron-fueled surge of COVID-19 cases, Austin-Travis County is moving to stage 5 of their risk-based orders The guidelines allow private establishments the ability to enforce certain COVID-19 precautions, such as:

• Requiring employees and customers to wear face coverings while on the site (except while eating or drinking).
• Requiring employees and customers to show a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the site.
• Requiring employees to provide proof that the employee is vaccinated and, when appropriate, boosted.
• Requiring employees to provide proof that the employee is vaccinated and, when appropriate, boosted

Businesses enforcing any of these requirements will have the appropriate signage posted around the premises.

These orders are intended to slow the spread of COVID and protect health and economic systems in Austin.

Health care facilities and businesses are already experiencing staffing shortages, and the city hopes to mitigate these shortages.

Data show widespread and consistent masking slows the spread of COVID and helps businesses stay open.

The city of Austin plans to distribute 96,000 face masks to local businesses to help bolster personal protective equipment resources.

The Stage 5 COVID guidelines recommend that:

• Fully vaccinated and/or boosted individuals should continue to wear masks when leaving the house and choose curbside/takeout options for dining. High-risk individuals should choose curbside or outdoor options for dining and travel only when essential.
• Partially or unvaccinated individuals and those who need their booster dose are discouraged from gathering outside of the home and traveling. Wear well-fitting masks when leaving the household. Choose curbside, takeout, and outdoor options for shopping and dining. Get fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.

People can find vaccine providers using Vaccines.gov (Vacunas.gov in Spanish) or by texting their zip code to 438829 (822862 in Spanish) to find a nearby clinic. 

APH clinics offer COVID-19 vaccinations and testing without an appointment, although creating an account online in advance saves time. COVID-19 vaccinations are free and require neither identification nor insurance. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 or visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.   

To help reserve our emergency rooms for medical emergencies, people who are asymptomatic or experiencing minor symptoms may inquire about testing options by calling 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905, or by visiting 211texas.org. Please don’t call 9-1-1 for testing information.