AUSTIN, Texas — As the omicron variant has increased the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. – which made up 73% of new cases in late December – all three metrics local leaders use to determine COVID-19 risk-based guidelines staging have skyrocketed.
On the City's dashboard, officials track the seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions, community transmission rate and positivity rate when determining COVID-19 risk-based guidelines staging. As of Jan. 4, all three indicators are in Stage 5 territory.
Austin's community transmission rate and positivity rate were at 173.5 and 8.9%, respectively on Dec. 23 when this story was initially published. As of Jan. 4, those metrics have grown to 434.6 and 18.3%.
However, the seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions remained in Stage 3 territory at 16, as of Dec. 23. As of Jan. 4, that metric has grown to 66, which also surpasses Stage 5 territory.
The City moved from Stage 3 to Stage 4 of its COVID-19 risk-based guidelines on Dec. 29. As of Jan. 4, the City remains in Stage 4 despite all metrics lying in Stage 5 thresholds.
Here is a look at what that means for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Texans:
Health leaders urge the community to start masking in public spaces regardless of vaccination status, test for coronavirus over the holidays and during travel and get fully vaccinated, including a booster shot.
Austin Public Health gave an update on the state of the coronavirus in Austin Jan. 4:
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