Austin, Texas, activates emergency alert system in response to COVID surge

Austin, Texas, activated its emergency alert system to warn the public of a "severely worsening COVID-19 situation" as area hospitalizations continue to surge. In an alert sent via text, city authorities wrote "the Covid-19 situation in Austin is dire. Healthcare facilities are open but resources are limited due to a surge in cases."

Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said in a press release on Saturday that the situation in the Texas capital is "critical." Walkes said hospital bed availability and critical care is "extremely limited in our hospital systems, not just for COVID-19 patients, but for anyone who may need treatment."  "Our hospitals are severely stressed and there is little we can do to alleviate their burden with the surging cases," Walkes said. "The public has to act now and help our we will face a catastrophe in our community that could have been avoided."