(Updated 8/12/2021)

On August 11, 2021, the City and County released new orders outlining masking requirements in public schools and buildings.

Under the latest orders enacted by the City of Austin and Travis County:

• Students, staff, and visitors over the age of two are REQUIRED to wear a face covering while on school property or school buses during Stages 3, 4, and 5 as set forth in Austin Public Health’s Risk-Based Chart. This includes all public schools, including public charter schools in the City of Austin.
• An individual over the age of two is REQUIRED to wear a face covering while present on or in City and County property unless expressly exempted in Section 2 or by a City or County policy applicable to the premises or facility.

Read the full orders for Austin (Schools)/Austin (Facilities) and Travis County Orders.

(Updated 8/6/2021)

On August 5, 2021, Austin-Travis County moved to Stage 5 of the Austin Public Health (APH) COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines for the first time since 2020.

Stage 5 recommendations include the following:

• Gathering is discouraged as new cases and hospitalizations continue to increase in Travis County with the Delta variant.
• High-risk vaccinated people and partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people should avoid indoor gatherings with or without masks.
• Find a vaccine: COVID-19 vaccine resources.

(Updated 5/25/21)

On May 18, 2021, Austin-Travis County moved to Stage 2 of the Austin Public Health (APH) COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stage 2 recommendations include the following:

• Fully vaccinated individuals can participate in indoor and outdoor private gatherings and dine and shop without precautions if allowed by the business.
• Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals can participate in indoor and outdoor private gatherings and dine and shop with precautions.
• Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, can travel with precautions.
  

(Updated 11/19/20)

Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and due to an increase in confirmed cases and hospitalizations, interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott announced that Austin is now under stage 4 coronavirus guidelines.

Stage 4 includes the recommendations for Stage 3 and advises individuals to avoid non-essential travel. Businesses are recommended to operate up to 25-50% capacity.

View the City's risk-based guidelines and charts. The City also offers guidance on how to have a safe holiday season.

(Updated 7/10/20)

Austin City Council approved an ordinance creating a public health nuisance if businesses do not comply with minimum public health standards. The ordinance goes into effect Friday, July 10.

The minimum standards include:

• Face coverings required
• Clean and disinfect high touch items twice per day
• Post signage at each entrance
• Limit gatherings to 10 or less
• Maintain distancing of 6 feet
• Conduct a health pre-screening of each worker
• Signage in English and Spanish in general employee area
• Keep toilets clean, sanitary, and operational
• Provide single use disposable towels and no-touch disposal
• Mandate workers wash their hands
• Follow Austin Public Health guidelines for workers who have contracted COVID-19

(Updated 6/23/20)

On Monday, June 22, Mayor Steve Adler released new orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

All individuals and business establishments are ordered to practice the social distancing, hygiene, and face covering behaviors set forth in the Mayor's Orders, unless excepted by the Governor's Executive Order.

(Updated 6/17/20)

On Wednesday, June 17, Mayor Steve Adler released a statement regarding updated orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

"The Governor has now given us a path and we will act consistent with his statement. Wearing masks is important — to our health and to opening up the economy. I have issued the attached supplemental order directing businesses to come up a simple safety plan over the next several days. Austin businesses are great and many of them, if not most, have already done this. During this time, we will transition to a more direct order on masks, working with our business community so our whole city moves forward together and so that everyone can get prepared."