Mark Escott

Three years after Austin's first COVID case was detected, Lauren Ancel Meyers, director of UT Austin's Center for Pandemic Decision Science, says it's a matter of when, not if, another pandemic arrives. She and her fellow researchers want to be prepared.

Two leaders who have helped lead the city through the pandemic so far — interim health authority Dr. Mark Escott and Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard — are moving into new roles within the city.

With small increases in hospitalizations and statewide restrictions ending Wednesday, Dr. Mark Escott is recommending the area not loosen guidelines to prevent the virus from spreading.

"[We’re] talking about thousands of people who are going to be in contact for six months. That represents a risk for a superspreading event," Dr. Mark Escott said.

Dr. Mark Escott said the site will host patients who are improving, opening up hospital beds for people who need more immediate and intensive care.

UT Health Austin will begin administering Pfizer's vaccine to 2,925 front-line health care workers Tuesday.

Under these guidelines, the public is urged to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and businesses are recommended to reduce capacity to 25-50%.

Health officials are pleading with Austinites to avoid gatherings and get tested for COVID-19 as cases and hospitalizations approach the same levels seen…

Lee esta historia en español. There is a 100% probability that the coronavirus epidemic is growing in the Austin metro area, modeling from the University…

Austin Public Health officials are encouraging residents to understand that if the president and first lady of the United States can contract COVID-19,…