The city of Austin, Texas, sent out an emergency alert over the weekend to warn residents about the ongoing COVID-19 surge, CBS News reports.
What did the Austin, Texas, COVID-19 alert say?
- The alert said Austin is suffering from a “severely worsening COVID-19 situation” with rising hospitalizations.
- “The Covid-19 situation in Austin is dire. Healthcare facilities are open but resources are limited due to a surge in cases,” the alert read.
How bad is the COVID-19 surge in Austin?
Per The Guardian, about 510 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized wiht the virus in Austin. About one-third of recent hospitalizations have been among people younger than 50 years old as well, according to The Guardian.
- The Texas trauma service that includes Austin has reportedly six available intensive care unit beds for severely sick patients, along with 499 hospital beds and 313 ventilators, per The Guardian.
Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said on Saturday that Austin is facing a “critical” COVID-19 surge right now.
- Walkes said in a press release that hospital bed availability is dropping.
- Critical care is ”extremely limited in our hospital systems, not just for COVID-19 patients, but for anyone who may need treatment,” he said.
- “The community has to come together again and stave off disaster.”