AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-Travis County has moved into Stage 3 of the area's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, health leaders announced Tuesday morning.
The area entered Stage 3 territory for hospital admissions on Sept. 30, just days after Austin Public Health moved the area to Stage 4. On Sept. 30, the 7-day average for hospital admissions was 29.7 per day. The threshold for Stage 3 when it comes to the hospital admissions metric is a 7-day moving average of 15 to 29 admissions.
As of Monday, Oct. 11, the 7-day moving average for hospital admissions is 19, according to the Austin COVID-19 dashboard.
Hospital admissions are not the only metric health officials consider when determining what stage the area should be in. Officials monitor several key indicators, including the 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions, the positivity rate and current ICU and ventilator patients.
According to the Austin COVID-19 dashboard, as of Oct. 11, 255 people are currently hospitalized, 108 are in the ICU and 76 are on ventilators.
Under Stage 3, vaccinated people can participate in outdoor private gatherings and dine and shop without masking if allowed by a business. They can also participate in indoor private gatherings and travel with masking. Unvaccinated people are urged to wear a mask at all times.
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