LIVE: COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County: ‘This is not an Election Day gimmick. This is real,” top doctor warns - KXAN.com

Mark Escott explained the percentage has increased from 90% in a short amount of time — with 64 new cases of COVID-19 occurring over the past 14 days.

“Our cases are rising, the number of people admitted to the hospital are rising, our ICU numbers are rising, our ventilator use is rising” said Dr.

Austin-Travis County is moving closer to Stage 3 level of precautions, Escott says — and Stage 4 could happen in the next several weeks.

Statewide, Escott says predicts indicate a 257% increase in cases between now and Nov.

Ahead of Halloween, Escott urges residents to exercise caution if they hope to worsen the situation before other holidays.

3, Escott also commended precautions taken while voting.

In-person voting precautions Escott approves of include mask wearing, staying six feet apart from other voters — in addition to polling sites utilizing latex finger guards and touchless processing.

“We can’t change the weather,” Escott said of impatience with current conditions.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Leaders from Austin Public Health warn against going trick-or-treating or attending parties on Halloween because of rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations locally

Mark Escott, the interim health authority for Austin-Travis County, said people in central Texas need to shake their pandemic fatigue because of projections that cases will dramatically increase in the weeks ahead