We’ll be updating this story throughout the day Wednesday with the latest local news on the coronavirus pandemic. If you’d like to go through a roundup of COVID-19 news from Tuesday, read it here. If you have a news tip or question, email us at news@KUT.org.
Update at 9:56 a.m. — Williamson County parks close Easter weekend
Williamson County parks and trails will close Easter weekend starting at sunset on Thursday and ending at sunrise on Monday. The county says the decision was made to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The City of Taylor said it also closing its parks, trails and open spaces during the same timeframe.
Yesterday, the City of Austin said it will close all city trails, greenbelts and preserves, including the Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake. The closures start Thursday at sunset and end at sunrise on Monday.
Update at 7 a.m. — Austin ISD gives out paper packets for families without internet access
The Austin Independent School District, which started online classes and learning-at-home this week, is handing out paper packets today to families who do not have internet access.
Parents can pick up printed copies for students in Pre-K through eighth grade between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The district will distribute packets at many AISD elementary, middle school and high school campuses. Students do not have to be present during pick-up. AISD says new packets will be available every Wednesday.
If you know someone who might need the packets, AISD has a list of schools where you can pick them up at AustinISD.org.
The AISD Board of Trustees decided Monday night that students will receive pass or incompelete grades, not A-F scores, for their classes this semester. GPAs for high school students will not include the spring semester.
Catch up on what happened yesterday
Austin anticipates job losses amid the coronavirus pandemic
The City of Austin is expecting Great Depression-era job losses as the coronavirus continues to shut down the economy. Current forecasts predict a quarter of a million people in Austin could be without jobs in the next couple months, an unemployment rate of about 25%.
Jon Hockenyos, the president of the Austin economic consulting firm TXP, Inc., told city council members Tuesday that this is just the beginning – it’s likely going to take two years for the Austin economy to get back to normal.
“I’m hoping that is a slightly pessimistic scenario, but I think it is a realistic scenario,” Hockenyos said.
Job losses are expected to hit the sales, production and hospitality sectors the hardest. This includes people who work in jobs that involve close contact with others, such as restaurant employees, hotel workers and flight attendants.
More local coronavirus news from Tuesday:
- Lockhart Independent School District is purchasing seven network towers to provide wireless internet to all of its students and staff in Caldwell County.
- Texas can continue to ban abortions as COVID-19 continues to infect more people in the state, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
- All state parks and historic sites are temporarily closing as part of the state’s efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said in a statement.
- Active construction sites in Austin with more than 10 people must now display visible, on-site safety guidelines in both English and Spanish, the city’s Development Services Department said.
What’s happening statewide? Check out special coverage from KERA for North Texas, Houston Public Media, Texas Public Radio in San Antonio and Marfa Public Radio.
If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it. Your gift pays for everything you find on KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.
Credit: Source link
