Proposed Austin ordinance would extend COVID regulations to Dec. 31, 2021, impose up to $2,000 fines per violator

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square Dec 1, 2020


Virus Outbreak Texas Daily Life

(The Center Square) – The Austin City Council on Thursday plans to vote on 75 agenda items, which would authorize millions of dollars in spending of taxpayer money on contracts, construction projects, regulatory measures and other items.

Tucked in the middle of the lengthy list is item #43 for city council members to “approve an ordinance reauthorizing the health authority to adopt rules to protect individuals from COVID-19, amending the expiration date in Ordinance No. 2020709-003, and creating an offense and penalty.”

The sponsors of the three-page ordinance are Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza, Council Member Kathie Tovo, Council Member Paige Ellis, and Council Member Gregorio Casar, all Democrats.

The ordinance begins by stating the “Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person speaks, sings, coughs, or sneezes; and it also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.”-- excerpt, rest at link above --

I have a .pdf of the proposed ordinance, but I can't figure out how to post it here. If you want a copy, just email me and I'll send it to you.