Austin-Travis County's COVID-19 Community Level is currently low.

Austin Public Health (APH) has published a color-coded chart to help residents of Austin-Travis County understand the levels of risk and provide recommendations on what people should do to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Determining Your Risk Level

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an online tool to help you understand your risk. It provides guidance and extra precautions for specific groups including older adults, people who are immunocompromised, people with certain medical conditions, people with asthma and people who are pregnant. 


Community Levels

The risk-based guidelines set out three Community Levels of risk, from the lowest threat, low, through the most serious, high, along with recommended behaviors for each level.

Regardless of vaccination status or level, individuals need to continue to follow the additional requirements of local businesses, venues and schools.

Recommendations for people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines: 

  • Low: Masking optional when gathering, dining and shopping.  
  • Medium: Masking optional when gathering, dining and shopping. Mask when social distancing is not possible.  
  • High: Indoor masking regardless of vaccination/risk status when gathering, dining and shopping.  

Recommendations for people who are at risk:  

  • Get up to date with your vaccines as soon as possible.
  • Low: Masking optional when gathering, dining and shopping.  
  • Medium: Indoor masking when gathering, dining and shopping.  
  • High: Indoor masking regardless of vaccination/risk status when gathering, dining and shopping. 

At all levels wearing a well-fitting mask, and practicing social distancing are supported by APH as additional layers of protection to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Even at low levels, people can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by their level of risk. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. 


Color risk-based chart iconRisk-based Guidelines, Color Chart

View a color chart of the COVID-19 risk-based guidelines.

This is also available in the following languages: EnglishSpanish, Arabic, Burmese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Urdu, Vietnamese

color-blind friendly risk-based guidelines chart icon Risk-based Guidelines, Color-Blind Friendly Chart

View a color-blind friendly chart of the COVID-19 risk-based guidelines.

This is also available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Urdu, Vietnamese