Austin Public Health

For the better part of three years, the city has stumbled communicating when it would activate cold weather shelters. Nonprofits and first responders are tired of it.

The shelters are intended to serve people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat or severe cold. Extremely cold weather is on the horizon later this week.

It may be the off-season, but Austin's Public Health department is advising people to be careful of mosquitoes.

Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said the order was issued in part because of the limited amount of vaccines available.

Austin Public Health expects the extra vaccines to arrive next month. It said it will continue to prioritize people who’ve had high-risk contact with someone who has tested positive.

The city approved a contract with a California-based nonprofit that faces a handful of lawsuits back home. Service providers say the city moved too quickly.

Austin Public Health officials are reminding Central Texans that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Here are five important things they want people to know right now.

Austin Public Health officials said five more people are presumed positive based on symptoms, but they're waiting for test results.

"COVID is among the leading causes of death for children in this age group [6 months to 5 years old]," Austin-Travis County health authority's told KUT. "So it's really important that we protect our children. And now we have a way to do that."

At the medium stage, at-risk individuals are recommended to mask up when gathering, dining and shopping. Masking is optional for those up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters but still recommended when physical distancing isn’t possible.