Travis County and the City of Austin have lifted all COVID-19 orders, Austin-based media outlets reported. According to Austin ABC affiliate KVUE, the area is experiencing the lowest infection and hospitalization levels ever during the pandemic.
Residents can choose whether to wear a mask when they visit Austin city facilities, but masks are still required at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, correctional facilities and clinical settings, KVUE reported. Masks are also no longer required on school grounds, but public health officials continue to urge high-risk individuals or those who serve as their caretakers to wear masks.
"We have not eliminated the virus but adapted to it. We now have knowledge and tools to fight COVID-19 when we are called to do so," Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said, according to KVUE. "I am confident that the community will come together if the need arises again, as they have for the past two years of this pandemic."
KVUE reported that Austin Public Health (APH) intends to adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Community Levels tracker in a few days.
The department will also sift through data for any concerning trends that may have taken place during spring break.
Data from the APH Epidemiology unit and the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium factored into Austin's and Travis County's decisions to lift all COVID-19 emergency orders, according to KVUE.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler praised citizens for helping the city reach this juncture, Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported.
"Congratulations — it’s about time!" Adler said, according to the station. “Thank you to everyone vaccinated and boosted for helping to get us here.”
KXAN reported that Travis County commissioners approved the lifting of the county's mask mandate for its buildings on Tuesday (March 22).
According to the station, the commissioners could reinstate the policy in the event COVID-19 cases increase again.
“If we got back to a higher stage then we will have to encourage people to resume taking extra precaution,” Commissioner Brigid Shea said, KXAN reported. “I think people just have to be prepared if it gets worse we’ll have to resume protective measures.”