Austin, TX|News|
Austin Public Health Redefines 'Close Contact' Amid Coronavirus
Taking a lead from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials clarify the term means to help blunt illness spread.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Texas: Finding Our Way Forward
The coronavirus shutdown brought civic life and commerce to a standstill for months. These stories of revival show how communities, businesses, schools and essential institutions in Texas are finding ways to reopen, recover and move forward.
Related:Finding Our Way Forward
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Life Sciences Industry Boosted Amid Pandemic
Momentum has grown as emerging industry players compete to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas Has The Nation's 10th Worst Unemployment Rate Recovery
WalletHub report explored the states with the best recovery so far, showing a 143.89 percent change in unemployment in Texas from last year.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Coronavirus Vs. Flu: Austin Public Health Outlines Differences
The flu season is upon us again, but this time against the backdrop of coronavirus. Health district officials outline the distinctions.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Participates In Bloomberg Philanthropies Program
The 'What Works Cities' effort aims to enhance cities’ use of data and evidence to solve big problems amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Bars Won't Reopen Amid Pandemic: Travis County Judge
Citing spikes in hospitalizations, ICU bed utilization and ventilator use, the county judge nixes governor's opt-in option to reopen bars.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Coronavirus Hotline Launched By Austin Public Health
Designed for high-risk workers, the hotline connects residents with resources to secure assistance due to COVID-19.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Round Rock, TX|News|
WilCo Bars To Reopen This Week Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
County Judge Bill Gravell submitted an opt-in filing with regulators after a gubernatorial order allowing bars to reopen by Wednesday.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Report On Texas Economy Amid Pandemic Paints Grim Picture
UT-Austin think tank IC2 found steep drops in minority-owned businesses and high public-sector job losses among the economic wreckage.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas Secures $20M For Pandemic-Related Counseling Services
The funding provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program adds to $5.8M in other funds.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Health District Issues Halloween, DÃa De los Muertos Tips
Given the ongoing reach of coronavirus, Austin Public Health issued tips outlining low-risk activities to avoid spreading the virus.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Airbnb Bans Groups, Halloween Parties In Texas Amid Coronavirus
The company shared new data on its work combating parties across Texas, noting that 500-plus reservations already have been canceled.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Doles Out 500K-Plus Meals For Homeless During Pandemic
This is in addition 10,000-plus face coverings, 7 pallets of dog food, 18K gallons of bottled water and more than 132,000 water bottles.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Cedar Park-Leander, TX|News|
WilCo Opens Coronavirus Testing Site In Georgetown
The virus detection site is open in the parking lot north of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., starting Friday.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Republic Square Spruced Up In Austin Thanks To Grant
The landmark is among 3 spaces impacted by a natural disaster to receive a $47,000 grant from the makers of Claritin, officials said.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas Health Care Workers Urged To Get Immunized Ahead Of Vaccine
Abbott urges medical providers to enroll in the Texas Department of State Health Services' Immunization Program ahead of COVID-19 shot.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Round Rock, TX|News|
WilCo Sets Aside $12M In CARES Act Funds For Schools
The federal windfall aims to reimburse schools for coronavirus-related expenses, with a deadline to apply for funds on Nov. 6.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas To Deliver 6,500 Gallons Of Hand Sanitizer To Voting Sites
The Texas Division of Emergency Management will deliver 39 pallets of hand sanitizer for distribution across polling places statewide.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Extends Anti-Eviction Moratorium Until Year's End
Reflecting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, city officials ban landlords from evicting people before Dec. 31.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Judge Blocks Texas From Banning Straight-Ticket Voting
Citing ongoing coronavirus spread, the ruling questions Republicans' reasoning; attorney general vows to appeal ahead of November election.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas Allocates $171M In CARES Act Funds To Stave Off Evictions
Coffers containing $167M in rent help, $4.2 million for free legal services comes ahead of an expected deluge of evictions amid coronavirus.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Cedar Park-Leander, TX|News|
Free Coronavirus Testing Offered In Leander
Testing will be conducted at the Leander Extended Opportunity Building, 300 South West Dr., from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Musicians Say 'Walk With Me' Amid Coronavirus Uncertainty
Noted local artists produced a powerful anthem aimed at inspiring and uniting the city during a pivotal time in history.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin New Home Sales Hit Annual Record Levels Amid Pandemic
New home sales reached annual highs in Austin and other Texas cities last month, with a surge in pending sales locally.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
New Austin Public Health Dashboard Focuses On ZIP Codes, Rates
The Testing Rates Dashboard includes the overall percent positive, accompanied by breakdowns of data highlighting ZIP codes.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Texas Ranked 20th Among States Bouncing Back From COVID-19
The number of Texans unemployed in August was about 996,264 versus 523,448 on year ago, according to an assessment by WalletHub analysts.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Mayor Balks At Abbott's Latest Coronavirus Reopening Plan
Mayor Steve Adler pointed to rising coronavirus levels among a younger set in suggesting the governor's latest expansion plan is too early.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
TXLaunches Website Showing Coronavirus Cases At Public Schools
The on-campus count of infected studens in the state’s public schools is 2,344 out of about 1.1 million students, officials said.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Round Rock, TX|News|
Williamson County To Offer Free COVID-19 Testing In Hutto
Testing will be conducted at the Hutto Fire Rescue Station, 501 Exchange Blvd., beginning at 10 a.m. starting this coming Tuesday.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
95 UT-Austin Students Test COVID-19 Positive After Football Game
Of 1,198 students who were tested before the Sept. 12 football game against UT-El Paso, nearly 100 tested positive, a spokesman said.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
UT-Austin Rolls Out Holographic Professors Amid Coronavirus
Taking the tactics of physical distancing to a whole new level, the university's business school teams with a tech startup.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin To Open Additional COVID-19 Testing Site In South Austin
Located at 1416 Montopolis Dr. in the 78741 zip code, the screening site will be located in one of the areas hardest hit by coronavirus.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
North Austin-Pflugerville, TX|News|
Pflugerville Set To Expand Openings For Parks, Recreational Sites
Park and recreational facility openings will be extended starting Friday and Sept. 25, but residents should adhere to safety guidelines.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
171 Austin Workers Laid Off In Austin Amid Coronavirus Woes
The pandemic continues to wreak havoc locally, with Live Nation Entertainment Inc., Scoobeez Inc. and Avis Budget Car Rental laying off.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Extends Coronavirus Financial Assistance To Nonprofits
The Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant will be reopened on Sept. 21 with $6.35 million to award $20,000 grants to local organizations.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Round Rock, TX|News|
Williamson County Awarded $1.3 Million In Coronavirus Aid
The federal windfall is aimed at preventing, preparing for and responding to the continual spread of COVID-19.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Community College Schedules Key Events In September
Even while campuses are stilled and in-person gatherings have given way to virtual versions, the college district has myriad events planned.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Air Travel Plunges More Than 75 Percent Amid Coronavirus
Passenger traffic in July dropped by 75.3 percent from last year's comparable period, with a mere 406,065 passengers boarding planes.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Coronavirus Relief Funds Application Now Open In Austin
Area residents experiencing hardship amid COVID-19 may apply through the randomized selection process to receive $2,000 per household.
Claudia Alvarez, Patch Staff
Austin, TX|News|
Austin Nonprofit To Dole Out 500-Plus COVID-19 Masks To Homeless
To help ease the challenge of navigating around respiratory illness, Hearing the Homeless teams up with HALO Life to secure masks.
Tony Cantu, Patch Staff
