COVID-19 Watch

Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Travis County issue shelter in place orders to curb COVID-19

Travis and Williamson counties have enacted a shelter in place order.

Photo courtesy of the CDC

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has signed an order mandating that residents of Travis County must now shelter in place, also called stay at home/work. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, Jr., announced he has enacted similar order, which covers parts of Austin, as well as Cedar Park and Round Rock.

Like Austin, which announced similar measures earlier Tuesday, the Travis and Williamson counties shelter in place orders go into effect at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 24. Eckhardt said the

The order mandates that all residents must stay in their residence unless it's to obtain essential services, such as getting food or medicine. Additionally, all non-essential businesses must close. The goal is to reduce person-to-person contact by 90 percent (officials believe it's currently at 50 percent under current restrictions).

During a press conference in downtown Austin, Eckhardt announced the news alongside Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, Jr., as well as Cedar Park Mayor Corbin Van Arsdal, Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan, and Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

"What we're talking about today is not a countywide approach, but a regional approach," said Gravell. Both he and Austin Public Health Medical Director Dr. Mark E. Escott called upon Governor Greg Abbott to enact a statewide shelter-in-place order.

"If we don't take action today, we’re going to run out [of medical supplies] soon," Escott warned.

Though he praised Trump for his quick approach, Escott said now was the time for bipartisan unity and to use "science and medicine to guide" future decisions.

"We have to forecast a little bit," said Escott. "[And look at] the lessons learned from China, Italy, Seattle, Washington [State], New York."

Escott also announced he was suggesting the closure of schools for the rest of the semester. In using outdoor space, including greenspaces and hike-and-bike trails, Escott cautioned to maintain the six-foot social distancing barrier.

"We've pulled together before. We did it with the bombings, we did it with water boil," said Adler. "This one is a little bit bigger, a little more sustained ... but we know how good it feels to do everything we can to help ensure that our neighbors are safe."

As of March 23, Williamson County had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19; Travis County had 86.

health

In Memoriam

Friends and classmates remember Manor student killed in stabbing

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The community held a vigil for Darrin Loving on the football field.

On Friday night, the scoreboard at Manor High School's football field was transformed into an image of Darrin Loving.

The 18-year-old was stabbed to death on campus by 18-year-old Mac Brown Mbah Mbanwei, according to investigators.

Friends, classmates, and staff formed a circle on the field and heard from school leaders and a bishop for a vigil in honor of the teenager. Manor ISD Superintendent Robert Sormani, Principal Jessica Hearne and a bishop welcomed from Houston all spoke to the crowd.

Following the speeches, the crowd lined up to drop off their candles at a small memorial for the teen just outside the stadium.

For students who called Loving their friend, they're still grappling with the loss and the reality of going back to school.

"I honestly don't even feel safe coming to school on Tuesday," said Ronzelle Woods, who said he'd known Loving since middle school. "I mean, just knowing that I have to walk with eyes behind my head, you know, anything can happen."

Woods described Loving as his last name — a loving person.

"He liked to laugh, joke and talk about his day, and all he wanted to do was walk the [graduation] stage," said Woods.

Woods added that Loving was his reason for wanting to go to school every day, ”I can’t even go about my day without talking to Darrin because he makes my day every time by just hearing his voice, talking to me, making jokes."

Others who saw Loving as a friend echoed similar sentiments.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.