Closing SXSW won’t make Austin safer yet against coronavirus, health officials say10:45 a.m. update: Austin Public Health officials on Wednesday said they currently have no evidence that closing the South by Southwest series of festivals or any major event will make the community safer.
“Today the threat of community spread remains low, but we are prepared for it to happen here,” said Dr. Mark Escott, the interim Health Authority for Austin Public Health.
Escott said SXSW organizers want more information about mitigation strategies because the risk profile can vary depending on the venue. If the population density of the venue increases, the health risk also increases, he said.
But festival organizers have been “extremely responsive to mitigation strategies,” such as promoting hygiene tips and making hand sanitizer readily available, Escott said.
“We expect in the future there may be modifications,” because the recommendation to cancel events is being re-evaluated every day, he said.
Escott said health officials have convened an advisory panel of a dozen or more physicians from around the community, including health professionals from higher education and school districts.
If Austin Public Health recommends canceling SXSW, festival officials are prepared to be compliant with that recommendation, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said.
″(SXSW) has already said that if the medical officers and experts recommend that (SXSW) be canceled, they’re going to cancel,” Adler said.
If SXSW officials decided to go against a recommendation from Austin Public Health, the mayor could declare a medical emergency and force the festival to shut down.
But Adler does not think that will have to happen.
On Tuesday, health officials said at least one person in Travis County was being tested for the new coronavirus.Test results for the person or persons are still pending, but officials expect to get results later Wednesday or Thursday.
No cases have been confirmed in Central Texas.
But the illness linked to the new coronavirus, COVID-19 is “not Ebola, it’s not SARS, it’s not MERS,” he said, referring to other deadly communicable diseases. Escott added that he cannot stress enough the importance of hygiene.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt echoed Escott and urged the public to observe healthy practices like covering their sneezes and coughs and washing their hands.
“Keep calm and carry on, y’all, and remember what your mama taught ya,” Eckhardt said.