
Photo Credit: Jeremy Banks
Several Austin venues have issued COVID-19 guidelines after Texas mask mandates were lifted last week.
The Red River Cultural District formed the Safe In Sound public code-of-conduct for attending its venues. Several Austin music venues, cultural institutions, performance spaces, and business leaders signed on as co-authors of the initiative. The Safe In Sound members pledge to comply with the following standards:
- Social Distancing – Six feet between individuals where possible
- Masks – Requiring both employees and customers to wear facial coverings
- Hand Washing – Hand sanitizer and other disinfectant materials are readily available for customers
- Training – Employees have received proper training on cleaning guidelines and PPE utilization
- Temperature Monitoring – Any employee or patron with a temperature above 100 is required to stay home
- Sanitation – Every venue will be sanitized daily, especially high-touch areas
Cody Cowan, the Red River Cultural District’s Executive Director, says the mask mandates in Austin, Texas are intended to protect everyone.
“This program as a whole ultimately signifies a major shift within the local music and arts community where we as local business leaders are coming together as a unified front to stand up for what we believe in,” Cowan says.
“On a more personal level, after hearing from countless workers about the new level of fear that this new mandate has instilled upon those who work and perform within the district, I refuse to stand by and not stand up for what I, and many others like me, believe to be right,” Cowan continues.
“We hope that these collective actions send a strong message to the public that although we want to reopen, we will only do so in a manner that provides a safe environment for all,” the statement finishes.
But Austin venue’s attempts to keep patrons safe with mask mandates are seeing pushback from the state.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he will sue the city of Austin and Travis County required masks. “City/county leaders must not be thinking clearly,” Paxton wrote in a tweet. “Travis County and Austin have a few hours to comply with state law or I’ll sue them.”
Austin city officials like Mayor Steve Adler said they will continue to enforce safety mandates. “We will fight Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s assault against doctors and data for as long as we possibly can,” Adler told an Austin newspaper earlier this week. Public officials there have made it clear they disagree with the Texas governor’s decision to lift the mask mandate. Austin’s restrictions will stay in place until April 15.
There have been extensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, and meta-analysis reviews of RCT studies, which all show that masks and respirators do not work to prevent respiratory influenza-like illnesses, or respiratory illnesses believed to be transmitted by droplets and aerosol particles. These have all been published in medical journals in the past 20 years, scores of them. All involve medical personnel from around the world.
And young, healthy people only have a 99.9998% of surviving covid if they get it.
You continue to post idiocy. People die from this. Safety first isn’t a bad idea.
Liberals – “Follow the science”
Normal people – “Here’s 20 years of peer reviewed science that proves masks don’t help.”
Liberals – “That’s idiocy. Do what I say to do.”
You’re an idiot no matter what name you comment under. The science actually backs what “liberals” say.
Lola, you’re a brainwashed robot.
I bet you’re a fan of Biden bombing Syria. Enjoy that $3.50 a gallon gas while it’s cheap.
The virus has never been isolated.
This means it has never been seen under a microscope. By anyone. Think about this a lot.
that’s actually untrue
BAC – thanks for trying to minimize me by calling me names. It reflects on you. Your assumptions are pointless and serve to only attempt at diminishing me. You failed.
What is up with the leadership in Texas. They screwed up the energy grid, killing people, and now lift mask mandates to kill more people. Don’t they realize that they are only depleting their own support base of idiots?