City of Austin, TX
08/10/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/10/2022 11:01
Emergency Agenda Item Added to August 11, 2022 Council Meeting
City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date: Aug. 10, 2022
Contact: Communications and Public Information Office Email
Austin City Council to Consider Resolution Ratifying Declaration of Local State of Disaster for Monkeypox
The City of Austin and Travis County declared Monkeypox a public health emergencyon Tuesday, August 9, 2022 as the number of cases in Austin-Travis County continues to rise.
Due to the seriousness and rising spread of this disease, the City of Austin is adding an emergency item to the August 11, 2022 Council meeting agenda. The Council will considera resolution ratifying a Declaration of Local State of Disaster in response to concerns related to confirmed and probable Orthopoxvirus/Monkeypox cases in Texas and in Austin-Travis County; and consenting to continuation of the disaster declaration for a period of more than seven days.
An emergency exists under Section 551.045 of the Government Code because the current outbreak of Orthopoxvirus/Monkeypox cases within Austin-Travis County represents an imminent threat to public health and safety.