Austin Public Health

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.

The number of reported COVID-19 cases in the area has been steadily rising again, but the new variants may not be the cause of that. The local health authority says the rise can likely be attributed, in part, to changes in behavior.

A day after his comments, the head of Austin Public Health said test numbers and wastewater monitoring show the BA.2 omicron variant is still present in the area. She urged Central Texans to take precautions when gathering.

People 50 and older — who are at least four months removed from their first booster dose — can get an additional shot.