Austin Public Health Gives Post-Thanksgiving Coronavirus Guidance

AUSTIN, TX — As cases of the coronavirus continue to rise, Austin Public Health officials on Friday published guidelines to slow the spread of respiratory illness as some residents return after spending time with others outside their immediate household.

These post-Thanksgiving guidelines are based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health officials said. “COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising locally, across Texas and the United States,” Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said in a prepared statement. “It is critically important that everyone do their part to combat COVID-19 by avoiding gatherings and travel this holiday season. Do not gather with people that you do not live with during the holiday season, avoid high risk activities and stay home as much as possible. Those who have already gathered or traveled need to make sure that they take the proper precautions to stay safe.”

Higher-risk holiday activities include attending crowded, indoor gatherings, going on crowded hayrides with non-household members, participating in traditional caroling or other door-to-door activities, and traveling outside one's community for gatherings and events.

Related story: Texas Hits Record 14,648 Coronavirus Cases On Thanksgiving Eve

Those who participated in such Thanksgiving activities, should:

• Get tested at least 3-5 days after gathering or traveling  and stay home for 7 days after gathering or traveling.

• Even those testing negative should stay home for the full seven days.
• Those testing positive should isolate  themselves to protect others from getting infected.

• Residents can sign up for a COVID-19 test through Austin Public Health at the COVID-19 Information portal at the City of Austin website.
• Those choosing not to get tested are encouraged to stay home for 14 days after gathering or traveling.

• Whether or not they get tested, residents should avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe complications or death from COVID-19 for 14 days after gathering or traveling, regardless of whether you get tested.

Austin Public Health officials noted there is more than enough capacity for free COVID-19 testing. Individuals can take an assessment online and see if they need to be tested by visiting the COVID-19 Information site and clicking "take a self-assessment."

Walk-up testing is also available; more information can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Covid-TestInfo. The Ana Lark Center test site, located at 1400 Tillery St. will be the only COVID-19 test site open on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Last week, Austin-Travis County moved to Stage 4 on the COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. Click here to view the chart. Additional protective measures are recommended for people at higher risk, namely those aged over 65 or people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, obesity, or those who are otherwise immunocompromised.

“Additional holidays are around the corner; if people still plan to travel despite public health risk guidance, they should consider the 3 'Cs: Wear a face  covering, avoid  crowds, and decrease time in  confined areas,” Janet Pichette, Chief Epidemiologist for Austin-Travis County, said in a prepared statement. “We must do our part in the community to keep our families and each other safe.”

For COVID-19 information and updates, visit the COVID-19 Information site.

The advice comes on the heels of reports of record-setting levels of the virus statewide the day before Thanksgiving. Texas reported a new record for the most cases of the coronavirus cases reported in a single day on Wednesday, with 14,648 new diagnoses emerging from the previous day. Health officials also reported 200 new deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 20,950.