'We’re nowhere near herd immunity': Some worry eased restrictions could threaten COVID-19-progress

Gov. Greg Abbott's move to end Texas' mask mandate and ease other COVID-19 restrictions came over fierce objections from public health officials, who argue the move could threaten steady but fragile progress against the virus.

Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott implored Abbott not to drop the restrictions hours before the bombshell announcement. 

“We have to stay the course,” Escott said during a joint session with the Travis County Commissioners Court and Austin City Council on Tuesday morning. “We’ve vaccinated maybe 10% of the population – we’re nowhere near herd immunity.”

Escott argued the mandate should stay in place through April to provide time to vaccinate more Texans. Relaxing the mandate, he said, would be more suitable in May or June.

“Removing that could initiate a surge at a moment when we really have the opportunity to drive the numbers in the ground,” Escott said.

Added Austin Mayor Steve Adler: “Hopefully, the governor follows the science and the data."

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Escott started Tuesday's joint session with coronavirus updates that provided a positive note, although the expected downward trend of confirmed cases and hospitalizations will only be achieved if current safety steps continue, he said.

Since Feb. 1, hospital admissions are down by 57%, intensive care unit stays are down 40% and ventilator use is down 33%, Escott told members of the Commissioners Court and City Council.

"All of these indicators are moving in a better direction, which gives us reasonable hope that these numbers will continue to decrease, if safety measures continue," he said.

The decrease in hospital admissions moves the county closer toward a less restrictive Category 3, with Escott indicating an announcement could come next week.

Data the week of the winter storm likelywere skewed, though. There were just 5,000 COVID-19 tests given, likely causing the county's positivity rate to spike the following week when residents could get to testing sites. This past week, the positivity rate dropped back down.

More Austinites receive vaccines

Escott was followed Tuesday by Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard, who provided an update on coronavirus vaccines.

During the last week of February, nearly 34,000 vaccine doses were given, with additional sites opening with extended hours. On Saturday, Austin had its first mass vaccination clinic, providing 3,000 Austinites with their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Since March 1, about 85,000 vaccinations were administered – the 60-69 age group receiving the largest number with just under 59,000 doses given.

Through a partnership with CVS and Walgreens, Howard said over 11,000 vaccines were given to the staff and residents at 107 long-term care facilities.

Howard said she and her team are working on partnering with nonprofits that will help identify senior residents or those who are immobile who can be served with the county’s mobile vaccine program.

In addition, the Department of State Health Services announced the state is set to receive 200,000 Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

County Judge Andy Brown asked how long might it take to vaccinate the area, if there aren’t more issues that put testing and vaccinations on hold.

Escott said he believes “we will have a significant portion of those who need (to be) vaccinated done” by May and June. At the same time, that is when he anticipates there being an issue in recruiting more people to come in.

“That last 10% will take us a while to get through,” Escott said. But, “our community is going to be in a different position in terms of the risk of there being an overwhelming surge for our hospital system.”

This story was amended as more information was made available. 

More:Strangers who became heroes: How Austinites helped each other weather the storm

More:Austin administered 3,000 doses Saturday during first mass vaccine clinic at COTA

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.