[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
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I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I AM THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS ON ATX IN THREE TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.
STEPHANIE HAYDEN WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY DR.
MARK S. SCOTT, INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY.
THEN JANET PICHETTE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOLLOWED BY CASSANDRA DAILY ON INTERIM APH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION.
WE WILL THEN OPEN IT UP TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIUM, STEPHANIE, OVER TO YOU.
WE WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN BE SAFE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
MY HOPE IS IS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PLANNED YOUR NEW TRADITION OF HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UM, WILL SHARE OVER THE HOLIDAYS.
OUR HOPE IS, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE VACCINE HAS ARRIVED, HAS STARTED ARRIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE PATIENT.
IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO WATCH YOUR DISTANCE, WEAR YOUR MASK, WASH HER HANDS, STAY HOME.
AND PLEASE REACH OUT AND TAKE A TEST, UM, AT EITHER ONE OF THE TESTING LOCATIONS OR THROUGH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, ERRANDS THAT YOU HAVE TO RUN THAT ARE ESSENTIAL ERRANDS, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DESIGNATE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT AS YOU DESIGNATE THAT ONE PERSON.
YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER, UM, CONDITIONS AS WELL.
UM, MY HOPE IS IS THAT YOU IDENTIFY A PERSON THAT IS UNDER 65 YEARS OF ALL YEARS OF AGE, AND DOESN'T HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO FLATTEN THE CURVE AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY OUR CASES CONTINUE TO RISE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, THOSE NUMBERS ARE UP 86% SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH.
UH, IT ALSO SEEMS APPARENT THAT THIS WEEK COVID-19 WILL BECOME THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TRAVIS COUNTY FOR 2020, TODAY, OR AT 516 DEATHS, UH, WILL BE HIT FIVE 17 THAT WILL PUT US, UH, IT WILL SURPASS ACCIDENTAL DEATH AS, AS THAT THIRD LEADING CAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT AS THE VACCINE ARRIVES, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOPE IMPROVES INCREASES, UH, WITH VACCINE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE, THAT WE DID D AND THAT WE ULTIMATELY, UH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A GIFT TO OTHER PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE GIFT GIVING TIME OF YEAR, AND THE BEST GIFT THAT WE CAN GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS IS MASKING AND DISTANCING AND STAYING HOME.
IF WE CAN, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE SUFFERING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON BECAUSE OF THIS VIRUS.
AND WE ARE IN CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO, TO DECREASE THAT RISK, DECREASE THAT THREAD THROUGH SIMPLE ACTIONS, MASKING, DISTANCING, WASHING OUR HANDS, STAYING HOME WHEN WE'RE SICK.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DECREASE DISEASE HERE TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO GET THE VACCINE, UH, LATER THIS WINTER AND INTO THE SPRING.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US WORK TOGETHER TO FLATTEN THE CURVE AGAIN IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS WE CAN.
AND WHAT'S THAT I WILL PASS IT OVER TO JANET PICHET GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
UM, JUST TO KIND OF, UH, ADD ON TO WHAT BOTH DR.
S SCOTT AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN HAS SAID.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASONS, AND WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO SEE A REPEAT OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, WHERE WE HAD MASSIVE SPIKES FOLLOWING, UH, FAMILY GATHERINGS IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER, UH, PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN FAMILY GATHERINGS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AND IT, IT AFFECTED, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
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UM, GOD FORBID THAT IT WOULD AFFECT SOMEBODY WHO'S AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19.UH, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY.
UH, AGAIN, OUR PREVENTION MEASURES ARE CRITICAL.
UH, YOU NEED TO WEAR A MASK, YOU NEED TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE, AND, UM, YOU NEED TO STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, EVEN IF YOU HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS, YOU NEED TO ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE COVID-19 IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED.
UM, AND FINALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA, AGAIN, I SAID THIS BEFORE, DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO EXERCISE SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
SO LIKE DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID, IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE GROCERY STORE, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR YOU TO DESIGNATE ONE PERSON TO DO THAT SHOPPING FOR YOU, NOT TAKE IT, TAKE THE ENTIRE FAMILY OUT FOR THAT EVENT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE A CENTRAL ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO BE DONE, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, UH, WITH, BY THAT DESIGNATE A PERSON AND WE NEED TO EXERCISE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
SO IF YOU ARE PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY AT RISK NEAR YOU, UH, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SOCIALLY IN SEEING YOURSELF IN THERE.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT WEARING A MASK, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ONE ON, UH, TO PROTECT BOTH THEM AND YOURSELF.
SO AGAIN, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY AND MAKE IT A SAFE HOLIDAY AS WELL.
AND GOOD MORNING, UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE A NEW ALLOCATION OF VACCINE FOR THIS WEEK THAT IS STARTING TO ROLL OUT.
IT DOES INCREASE THAT CAPACITY THAT WE INITIALLY HAD LAST WEEK WITH THAT 13,000.
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE OF OVER 20,000 NEW VACCINE COMING INTO COMMUNITY, UM, WHICH INCLUDES THE NEW MADONNA VACCINE WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO ALLOCATE THAT VACCINE, TO THAT PHASE ONE, A GROUP, WHICH IS STILL THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, THOSE THAT ARE PROVIDING DIRECT CARE, PARTICULARLY FOR COVID PATIENTS AND THOSE THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19 SEVERE DISEASE.
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, DO THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MASKING, UM, ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT, UM, DR.
S SCOTT AND STEPHANIE AND JANET HAVE DISCUSSED, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, TAKING THIS TIME TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, UM, AND JUST BEING PATIENT ABOUT VACCINE IT'S COMING.
UM, WE ARE EXCITED THAT RIGHT NOW WE'VE SEEN ADDITIONAL, UM, PROVIDERS THAT HAVE WILLINGLY SIGNED UP, UM, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF PROVIDING VACCINE THROUGH THIS WEEK THAT JUST GIVES OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MORE CAPACITY AS MORE VACCINE COMES ONLINE.
SO RIGHT NOW THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET VACCINE, UH, WHERE YOUR, WHERE ARE THOSE ACCESS POINTS THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, STARTING TO COME ONLINE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE, CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THOSE MEASURES.
UM, SO THAT NEXT YEAR WE CAN HAVE, UM, OUR, OUR CELEBRATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR LOVED ONES AT THE TABLE.
NOW WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER, ASHLEY LOPEZ FROM KUT.
UM, SO OUR FIRST QUESTION IS OFTEN IS GETTING CLOSER TO REACHING THE ROLLING AVERAGE FOR STAGE FIVE RESTRICTIONS.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE CITY WILL MOVE INTO THOSE RESTRICTIONS AS PEOPLE PLAN TO CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY THIS WEEK? OF COURSE, STILL MONITORING THE DATA.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HIT 50 AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, OVER THE WEEKEND, THE, UH, THE ADMISSIONS NUMBERS DECREASED A LITTLE BIT, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, SEEN TYPICALLY OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, I EXPECT TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE UP AT 50 AGAIN, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, OUR POSITIVITY RATE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS 8.9% LAST WEEK.
UH, SO WHAT WE MAY SEE THIS WEEK OF, OF CHRISTMAS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW DURING THANKSGIVING.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SAY SOME FLATTENING AND MAYBE A SLIGHT DECREASE, UH, BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF IF WE'RE IN STAGE FIVE OR STAGE FOUR, THIS CHRISTMAS WEEK, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DECREASE OUR RISK, DECREASE OUR PERSONAL RISK, INCREASE THE RISK FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD AND DECREASE THE RISK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, DIALING BACK THE RISK OF THAT.
THAT MEANS STAYING HOME, IF WE CAN CERTAINLY STAYING HOME FOR SICK, UH, AND AVOIDING GATHERINGS OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
AS A, AS JANET SAID EARLIER, WE SAW CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE RELATED TO THANKSGIVING GATHERINGS IN, YOU
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KNOW, ONE INDIVIDUAL AND THE FAMILY INTRODUCING COVID-19 TO THE ENTIRE REST OF THE FAMILY.WE SIMPLY CANNOT HAVE ANOTHER EPISODE.
LIKE WE'VE DONE OVER THANKSGIVING BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY AT 50.
AND IF WE HAVE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, SUPER SPREADING EVENT, CHRISTMAS OR NEW EATERS OR BOTH, UH, YOU KNOW, IT COULD TRIGGER OFF A DEVASTATING SURGE, LIKE WAS SEEN IN EL PASO.
IT'S REALLY UP TO ALL OF US TO, TO TAKE NOTE OF THAT AND, AND REALIZE THAT IF, IF THERE ARE ACTIVITIES OR MASKING AND DISTANCING, AREN'T POSSIBLE, THOSE ARE THINGS WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KX A N UM, APPROXIMATELY HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO GETTING ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE AUSTIN AREA VACCINATED? WELL, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE YOU SEEING ALMOST 14,000 VACCINES THE FIRST WEEK, THIS WEEK, A LITTLE OVER 20,000.
UM, WE'VE GOT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 80,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, SO WE DON'T YET HAVE ENOUGH TO VACCINATE THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BE PATIENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ROLLOUT PROCESS.
UH, THERE ARE, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, BASED ON THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK AS HEALTHCARE WORKER, AS A NURSING HOME, A STAFF MEMBER, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A FIRST RESPONDER THAT HAD BEEN PRIORITIZED IN ORDER TO SECURE THAT HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE OTHER THING THAT WE KNOW FROM OUR DATA IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER ARE AT SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER RISK FOR A SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATHS, 85 OR 82% OF OUR DEATHS ARE AN INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 60 IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
94% OF INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE DIED FROM COVID-19 ARE OVER THE AGE OF 50.
SO THERE'S A CLEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE AND RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE OF DEATH.
SAME IS TRUE FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THOSE AGE GROUPS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, OUR LATIN X COMMUNITY, OUR NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AREN'T SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH THAN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME, UH, TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED, TO OFFER VACCINES TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, BUT WE WILL DO SO IN AN EVIDENCE-BASED FASHION.
NO, THE THING I'D LIKE TO ADD IS, IS THAT AS WE ARE BEING PATIENT, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE TO COVER ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO, UM, WEAR OUR MASK, WATCH OUR DISTANCE, UM, AND DEFINITELY STAY HOME IF YOU'RE ILL AND WASH YOUR HANDS, OFTEN THOSE THINGS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP AT THIS TIME.
SO EVEN WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE, EVERYONE HAS TO CONTINUE WITH THESE HEALTH PRACTICES.
THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM FOX SEVEN, WITH THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT THAT TEACHERS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE WORKERS, SUCH AS POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE NEXT IN LINE FOR THE VACCINE.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DECISION? HOW WILL WE SEE THAT PLAY OUT HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY? AGAIN, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO THINK ABOUT THE VACCINE ADMINISTRATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR THAT, THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, OUR HOSPITAL WORKERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM IN LIMITED SUPPLY AND WE NEED THEM TO, TO CARE FOR THE REST OF US.
AGAIN, IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT THE POPULATIONS, I JUST MENTIONED THOSE WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 60, THOSE WHO, UH, HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.
NOW, THOSE WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE, WHICH INCLUDES PRIORITIZATION OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UH, ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT STRATEGY.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR BEING EXPOSED TO THE DISEASE THAT WOULD INCLUDE GROUPS LIKE, UH, LIKE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE TO WORK DESPITE THESE PROTECTIONS.
I WILL SAY THAT THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT SCHOOLS, WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, OTHER JOB ACTIVITIES, WHILE EARLY ON, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF TRANSMISSION IN THOSE GROUPS AND PROTECTIONS THAT HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE, THE MASKING AND THE DISTANCING,
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THE PLEXIGLASS, UH, THAT YOU SEE IN, IN PLACES LIKE GROCERY STORES, UH, AND SERVICE COUNTERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT BALANCING THE RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE VERSUS THE RISK OF EXPOSURE AND HOW WE, WE PERFORM THE ALLOCATION FROM HERE.
AND I LIKE TO JUST ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS A PROVIDER JUST LIKE THERE ARE MANY PROVIDERS THAT WILL BE, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING VACCINE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE TEND TO SERVE THE SAFETY NET GROUPS, UH, THE UNINSURED, UH, UH, POPULATION AND HIGH-RISK POPULATION.
I WILL SAY THAT, UM, WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY PROVIDE US ON WHAT THOSE PRIORITIZATION GROUPS ARE, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, PRIOR, UH, THE PHASE ONE, A AND THINGS, ONE THE POPULATIONS.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THEIR LEAD, UH, AND FOLLOW THEIR GUIDANCE THAT THEY PROVIDE US RELATED TO VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT.
IF TRAVIS COUNTY MOVES INTO STAGE FIVE, WHAT SUGGESTIONS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS REGARDING THE RETURN TO CLASS AFTER HOLIDAY BREAK? UH, SO IF WE ARE IN STAGE FIVE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SCHOOL STARTED UP AGAIN, THAT WHAT WE'VE ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENTS TO DO, UH, FIRST OFF IS TO, UH, TO SCALE BACK OR ELIMINATE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING SPREAD IN SCHOOLS IS, IS, YOU KNOW, THE ATHLETICS PROGRAMS, THE DANCE CHEERLEADING, UH, AND OTHER, UH, UH, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT WERE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING AREN'T AREN'T POSSIBLE OR PRACTICAL.
UH, AND THE ABSENCE OF BEING ABLE TO ELIMINATE THOSE THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT A PROACTIVE, UH, TESTING PROGRAM BE IMPLEMENTED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT, THAT DIDN'T CONTINUE.
UH, IF THINGS GET WORSE, UH, IF, IF THERE'S ONGOING, UH, INCREASES IN, IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, DESPITE THE SCALING BACK OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, UH, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT, AT TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL, UH, FOR PLACES LIKE HIGH SCHOOLS FOLLOWED BY MIDDLE SCHOOLS WITH THE PREFERENCE OF, UH, PROTECTING THE IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES OF, OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AS LONG AS WE CAN.
WE KNOW THAT TRANSMISSION ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS, UH, IS, IS VERY LOW.
AND, UH, AND AGAIN, THOSE, THE SCHOOLS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT, AT DECREASING TRANSMISSION THROUGH, UH, THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED NOW.
SO OUR HOPE IS TO, TO AT ALL COSTS, KEEP OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPEN AS LONG AS WE CAN.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COOPERATING DOCS, DR.
S SCOTT STATED THAT WE FACE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF CASES AND DEATHS THROUGH JANUARY.
IF DISCIPLINE IS NOT RESTORED DURING THESE COMING HOLIDAYS WITH RESOURCE CAPACITY ALREADY SHRINKING, HOW WILL HOSPITALS DECIDE WHO WILL GET THE AVAILABLE BEDS, VENTILATORS AND CARE? WE DO HAVE A, A TASK FORCE, UH, UH, THAT'S REVEALING GUIDANCE, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE TO RATION CARE.
UH, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING SOON.
UH, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO START UP AGAIN, AS OUR CASES CONTINUE TO RISE.
UM, YOU KNOW, W W WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING WHO GETS CARE AND WHO DOESN'T.
UH, BUT THAT IS THE REALITY OF, OF AN OVERWHELMING SURGE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S UP TO US AS INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO AVOID THAT POSSIBILITY BY TAKING THE SIMPLE STEPS OF, OF WEARING A MASK AND DISTANCING AND WASHING OUR HANDS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAYING HOME WHEN WE'RE SICK AND GETTING TESTED.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KVU, WE'RE SEEING RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS OF TRAVELERS NATIONALLY, WHICH ARE TOPPING THE NUMBER OF THE FLIERS WE SAW IN NOVEMBER, PEOPLE TRAVELING THIS HOLIDAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING, WHAT ARE THE SAFE WAYS TO TRAVEL IF SOMEONE CHOOSES
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TO DO SO WELL, I'LL START, AND THE OTHERS MAY WANT TO ADD ON, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OUR BEST ADVICE IS TO STAY HOME AND DON'T TRAVEL.UH, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A REPEAT OF, OF WHAT WE SAW THANKSGIVING, NOT PARTICULARLY NOT WHEN OUR CASES ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO TRAVEL, DESPITE THAT ADVICE, UH, IT'S, IT'S BETTER TO TRAVEL BY CAR WITH PEOPLE FROM YOUR HOUSEHOLD VERSUS AIR TRAVEL.
UM, IF THEY'RE GOING TO TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE, DOUBLE MASKING, UH, IS GOING TO ADD ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF PROTECTION BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON THE AIRPLANE, UH, STRICT ATTENTION TO, TO HAND HYGIENE IS ALSO A CRITICAL FACTOR.
SO BRING YOUR HAND SANITIZE OR HAND SANITIZE OFTEN, UH, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, WIPE DOWN YOUR, YOUR, YOUR TRAY, UH, ON THE AIRPLANE AND THE SURFACES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TOUCH AS WELL.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT, THAT WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED PLACE, NOT ONLY IN TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND, YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, PROTECT FOLKS WITH 95% CERTAINTY IN PROBABLY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED PERCENT CERTAINTY FROM SEVERE DISEASE.
THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET MORE VACCINE OUT THERE TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE WE CHOOSE TO GATHER WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR HOUSEHOLD.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, IF YOU DO DECIDE TO TRAVEL, UH, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, HAVING A VIRAL TEST TAKEN ONE TO THREE DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR DEPARTURE AND UPON RETURN TO YOUR HOME, UH, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, TAKING, UH, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, RESTRICTING YOURSELF OR PLACING YOURSELF INTO SELF QUARANTINE FOR A SEVEN DAY PERIOD AND AVOID ALL NON ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES.
UH, AND THEN ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, UH, UH, VIRAL TEST FOR COVID-19.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM PATCH.COM.
WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES CHARGED FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTS AND ARE THE UNINSURED ASSESSED THESE CHARGES? SO THE TH THE TESTING, UH, IN TRAVIS COUNTY IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE OR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, FOLKS CAN ACCESS THAT IT ALSO TAKES.GOV FORWARD SLASH COVID-19.
UH, AND THEY DO A SELF-ASSESSMENT, UH, WE HAVE WITH DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING, WE HAVE AT HOME TESTING FOR FOLKS WHO, UH, WHO CAN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.
UH, THE TESTING THROUGH COMMUNITY CARE IS FREE, AND THERE ARE OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES, ENTITIES LIKE, UH, CURATIVE, UH, WHO ALSO OFFER FREE TESTING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER TESTS AVAILABLE THROUGH, UM, PRIVATE PHYSICIANS, GROUPS, OR PRIVATE TESTING CENTERS, UH, AND FOLKS NEED TO CHECK WITH THEM BEFORE THEY SCHEDULE A TEST TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UH, BUT FROM THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE, ABSOLUTELY NO FEES.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A TEST, IF YOU'RE EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS, IF YOU'VE HAD AN EXPOSURE, UM, IF YOU WERE, AS JANET WAS SAYING, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TRAVEL, UH, WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE TESTING.
WE ENCOURAGE TESTING, UM, IN ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF SCENARIOS.
UM, IF YOU WORK IN A HIGH RISK SITUATION, UM, ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD REASON TO GET TESTING.
UM, SO CONSIDER, UH, THOSE THOSE NEEDS, AND THERE IS TESTING RESOURCE AVAILABLE.
UM, IF YOU DON'T HAVE RESOURCES, UM, PLEASE LOOK AT, UM, CITY OF AUSTIN TEST SITES AS AN OPTION, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL THAT ARE FREE, UM, AND SHOULD BE, THERE SHOULD BE NO BARRIER FOR YOU TO ACCESS TESTING.
THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS, UM, FROM KUT, HOW ARE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS IDENTIFYING ESSENTIAL WORKFORCES TO VACCINATE AHEAD OF OTHERS? FOR EXAMPLE, LOCAL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE IN EARLY COVID-19 HOTSPOT, ARE WORKERS LIKE THESE GOING TO BE NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR VACCINATIONS.
AGAIN, UM, OUR, OUR FOCUS IS, IS BASED UPON THE DATA WE HAVE, AND OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR DISEASE, SEVERE DISEASE.
FIRST, UH, WE STILL HAVE TO GET THROUGH OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH OUR NURSING HOME WORKERS
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AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE, ARE FURTHER DOWN ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES.UH, BUT WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM ARE AMONGST THE, THE POPULATIONS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, EITHER BECAUSE OF AGE OR BECAUSE OF RACE OR ETHNICITY.
UH, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WERE LARGE, UH, TASK FORCE ASSOCIATED WITH VACCINE ADMINISTRATION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN APPROPRIATELY IDENTIFY FOLKS AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS AND THE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO THEY KNOW WHEN THEIR TIME HAS ARRIVED TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.
AND I LIKE TO ADD FOR THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PHASES, UM, NOTING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROVIDERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE, UM, THAT REALLY GIVES A LOT OF CHOICE FOR, UM, INDIVIDUALS FOR WORKPLACES, UM, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK, UH, TO, TO IDENTIFY WHAT PLACE FOR ACCESSING VACCINE BEST MEETS THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS.
UM, AND THIS IS THE TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AS VACCINE STARTS TO BECOME MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO PLEASE LOOK AT, WHAT'S AVAILABLE, BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT DO YOU NEED, WHERE WOULD YOU BE MOST COMFORTABLE IN ACCESSING VACCINE AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT, UM, PROVIDERS ARE, ARE OFFERING VACCINE AT THIS TIME.
AND AS, AS WE KEEP GETTING ADDITIONAL VACCINE, WHAT PROVIDERS, UM, ARE AVAILABLE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, AND THEY ARE THE LEAD, UM, TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHICH, UM, AREAS WHICH, UM, PRIORITIES WILL BE SET AS FAR AS THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE CONCERNED.
UM, WE ARE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AS THE SAFETY NET PROVIDER.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UM, HAVE OUR FOCUS OF, OF, OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, UH, LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE WILL ALSO, UM, FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT INSURED.
AND SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, UM, THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE, UM, A PROCESS WHERE ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EXERCISE MORE PATIENTS, BUT, UM, AS WE GET MORE, UM, VACCINE INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AS ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL PROVIDERS ARE STOOD UP, UM, THERE WILL BE OPTIONS OF WHERE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KX N LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAID THERE WILL BE NO MORE CLOSURE IN TEXAS AND THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON REOPENING BUSINESSES POINTING OUT THAT CALIFORNIA IS SEEING A RECORD SPIKE IN CASES DESPITE ITS TIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS APPROACH IN TEXAS AS CASES, SURGE, LET ME SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE GOVERNOR AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I APPRECIATE THE MASK MANDATE THAT HE PUT IN PLACE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS THIS SUMMER.
UH, I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I I'VE BEEN OUT, UH, WENT OUT THIS WEEKEND TO GET A TIRE FIXED AND SAW LOTS OF FOLKS NOT WEARING MASKS.
UH, LOTS OF FOLKS NOT CONVINCED THAT, UH, THAT THEY WORK.
I THINK IF, IF WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IF WE FOLLOW THE STATE LAW AND WEAR OUR MASKS AND DISTANCE, UH, THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S, IT'S NECESSARY TO CLOSE BUSINESSES AGAIN.
UH, FROM THE BEGINNING, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ARE SITTING IN OUR COUNTY HAVE FOCUSED ON FINDING THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC HEALTH.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN A SWEET SPOT FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT WE'RE OUT OF BALANCE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS SUFFERING, UH, AS THE CASES RISE AS HOSPITALIZATION BRIDES, AS DEATHS RISE.
UH, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AT A TIME LIKE THIS, WE REASSESS HOW WE CAN DIAL THINGS BACK, PUT THINGS BACK INTO BALANCE.
UH, ULTIMATELY IF, IF PEOPLE WOULD BECOME MORE VIGILANT ABOUT MASKING AND DISTANCING AND ONLY GOING OUT FOR THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO ALWAYS SENDING ONE PERSON TO THE GROCERY STORE FROM THE FAMILY, FOR INSTANCE, UH, THEN WE WON'T NEED TO, TO THINGS LIKE CLOSURES OR EVEN A CURFEW, BUT IT'S UP TO ALL OF US.
WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE AS CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO RESPOND AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST AND HELP US FLATTEN THE CURVE.
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THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN, WHEN, IF THEY ARE WELL, THE NUMBERS FROM A SURGE FROM THE HOLIDAYS BE SEEN IF AMAZING MAJOR SURGE OR SPIKE IS TO COME FROM GATHERINGS.AND PEOPLE TRAVELING IS THE COUNTY AND HOSPITALS PREPARED THE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITALS AREN'T PREPARED.
BUT AGAIN, THERE'S A FINITE NUMBER OF, OF STAFF, UH, THERE'S SPACE.
WE HAVE EQUIPMENT, UH, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE AS THE PEOPLE, UH, WE CAN'T MAKE MORE NURSES AND MORE DOCTORS AND MORE TEXTS AND MORE PARAMEDICS QUICKLY.
UH, SO THAT WILL BE WHAT LIMITS US THAT WE WERE CONCERNED, UH, PARTICULARLY BY THE FACT THAT DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, UH, ARE SURGING AND THEIR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE, ARE WELL OVER 15% NOW.
UH, SAN ANTONIO IS ALMOST AT 15% OF THEIR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE TAKEN UP BY COVID-19.
HOUSTON IS SURGING, UH, AND NOW WE'RE SURGING AS WELL.
SO AS THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS ACROSS TEXAS, ALL SURGEONS AROUND THE SAME TIME, WE CAN IMAGINE THAT RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE DEPLOYED TO DALLAS AND FORT WORTH TO SAN ANTONIO, TO HOUSTON, UH, WORKFORCE IN LINE RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS THAT THOSE RESOURCES MAY NOT BE THERE AT THE TIME THAT WE NEEDED.
UH, SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DECREASE THE RISK, UH, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THAT THAT SURGE HAPPENED? AND TO WHAT EXTENT, WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST TO SECOND WEEK OF JULY.
SO USUALLY WE SEE THE CASES RISE THE WEEK AFTER THE EVENT, AND WE'VE GOT A ONE, TWO PUNCH WITH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S COMING.
UH, SO BY THE SEVENTH OR 8TH OF JANUARY, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THE IMPACT ON, ON CASES AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE IMPACT ON, ON THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ICU'S AND THEN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, ANOTHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS ON DEATHS.
AND I'LL JUST REITERATE WHAT DR.
S SCOTT SAID, UH, FOLLOWING THE THANKSGIVING, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, WE SAW A SURGE IN CASES.
UH, I'M GOING TO SAY BETWEEN FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EVENT, BY THE TIME WE STARTED RECEIVING MORE CASES, UM, KEEP ARE PROBABLY LIKELY GOING TO EXPERIENCE ILLNESS IF THEY'RE EXPOSED IN THOSE EVENTS BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE DAYS AFTERWARDS.
UH, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL SEEING THE EFFECT OF SECONDARY, UH, SURGES RELATED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPOSED TO PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED, UH, SOMETHING.
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT A WEEK OUT IS WHEN WE SOUGHT FOR THANKSGIVING.
AND ALSO WE SAW THE SAME, UH, PHENOMENON DURING A MEMORIAL DAY AND, UM, UH, 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAYS AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE'RE PREPARING HERE WITH OUR CASE INVESTIGATION FROM THAT ASPECT AND THAT ANGLE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE WORKING OF THE HOLIDAYS TO ENTER CASES, BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF CASES ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD.
UH, AGAIN, I CAN ONLY STRESS AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS, UH, SINCE LAST MARCH, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE DOING THOSE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T HOLD SOMEBODY ELSE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT YOU KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COOPERATING WITH FACING A POTENTIAL SURGE ON A SURGE, WILL THE EARLY VACCINATIONS DO ANYTHING TO REDUCE THE EXTENT AND DURATION OF THE SPREAD AND WILL AN EXTENDED SURGE IMPACT THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PRIORITIES.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE 30,000 OR SO VACCINES THAT WE RECEIVED ARE GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE, THE SURGE ITSELF.
UH, WHAT, WHAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO IS, IS HELP US ON THE STAFFING SIDE.
SO AS WE HAVE HOSPITAL STAFF, OUR, OUR PARAMEDICS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, INCREASINGLY IMMUNIZED AGAINST COVID-19, UH, OUR HOPE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE LESS IMPACT IN TERMS OF ABSENTEEISM ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.
UH, BUT IT'S THE VACCINE THAT WE HAVE AT THIS STAGE IS NOT GOING TO BE NEARLY ENOUGH TO HAVE ANY SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON THE NUMBERS OF NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, AS WE SEE VACCINE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE TRYING TO STRATEGICALLY FOCUS AND ADHERE TO THE, UM,
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DIRECTIVES FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES ON HOW WE APPLY THAT VACCINE SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SUPPORT THOSE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES.BUT THEN ALSO WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE HIGHEST RISK POPULATIONS, THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS, SO THAT WE CAN MITIGATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE ONSET OF, UH, COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID-19 DISEASE AND DEATHS.
UM, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE TO COVER ENOUGH OF OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE ACHIEVE THAT HERD IMMUNITY.
UM, SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE PRACTICING THESE IMPORTANT INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES WHILE THAT SCENE IS ROLLING OUT WHILE WE'RE BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT IT, SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO USE ALL THESE AS TOOLS TO TRY TO PUSH THE CURVE DOWN, UM, AND PROTECT EVERYONE.
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KV.
WHAT TANGIBLE CHANGES WOULD AUSTINITES NOTICE IF THE CITY MOVES INTO STAGE FIVE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS? AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THE, OF STAGE FIVE, UH, WOULD INVOLVE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST SAY FIVE LOOKED LIKE A LOCKDOWN, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE THINK THAT STRONGER RECOMMENDATIONS TO FOLKS AGAIN, THAT RECOMMENDING THAT, THAT THEY STAY HOME IF THEY CAN, BUT IF THEY HAVE TO GO OUT, UH, ALL I'M GOING OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ESSENTIAL THINGS, UH, WORKING FROM HOME, IF THAT'S AN OPTION, UH, AND TRANSITIONING THEIR ROUTINE, UH, IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO SHOPPING OR, OR GO TO A RESTAURANT TO DO TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY ONLY, UH, IT'S AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT FOLKS CAN DO NOW.
UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WE RECOMMEND FOLKS WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OR A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER WHO'S AT HIGHER RISK FOR COVID-19 SEVERE DISEASE TO DO NOW DURING STAGE FOUR.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF, IF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, DON'T RESULT IN DECREASING ACTIVITY, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.
UH, AND, UH, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE A CURFEW, UH, TO, TO FURTHER REDUCE RISK.
AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THESE DISASTERS SURGES CAN HAPPEN.
WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN TEXAS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
UH, WE CANNOT LET IT HAPPEN HERE.
AND THAT MEANS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REDUCE RISK.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE NEED IS PEOPLE TO WEAR THEIR MASK.
WE DO NOT SAY DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THOSE PARTIES ARE MASKED AND DISTANCE, IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING, WHEREAS IT HAPPENING IT'S HAPPENING AT DINNER TABLES, IT'S HAPPENING AT, AT RESTAURANTS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SEATED, UH, WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COVID-19 AND MAY NOT KNOW IT, WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPENING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, UH, IT IS NOT HAPPENING IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE.
AND IF WE DO THAT NOW, IF WE MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO DO IT FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE WEEKS, WE CAN FLATTEN THIS CURVE CURVE DRAMATICALLY.
AND WE CAN PUT OURSELVES IN A BETTER SITUATION GOING INTO, UH, INTO THE NEW YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXPECT EXPECTATION OF INCREASING NUMBERS OF VACCINES.
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS OUR LAST QUESTION.
EVEN RECENT SPIKES IS THE SPACE AT THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
STILL SET UP AS A MAKESHIFT CLINIC.
THE CONVENTION CENTER IS STILL SET UP AS AN ALTERNATE CARE SITE.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF, UH, LOWER ACUITY PATIENTS.
SO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NEED SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN, UH, THEY MAY NEED MINOR CARE, NOT QUITE READY TO GO HOME YET.
UH, BUT AGAIN, OUR RATE LIMITING STEP RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF HOSPITALS ARE THE ICU, UH, CAPACITY NUMBERS.
UM, IT'S, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MUCH HARDER TO CREATE.
UH, AND, UH, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR CONCERN STILL IS.
UH, AGAIN, WE EXPECT THAT WE COULD HAVE 200 ICU BEDS AVAILABLE OR A SURGE, OR ABOUT HALFWAY THERE ALREADY.
AND SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF REDUNDANCY IN ICU BEDS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO WORK HARD TO DECREASE TRANSMISSION, PARTICULARLY, UH, IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE.
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ON TO OUR CLOSING REMARKS, STEPHANIE, JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, WE REALLY WANT YOU TO BE SAFE DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.OUR HOPE IS, IS THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND, UM, SOME GUIDANCE THAT OUR STAFF HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT FROM A LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH RISK.
OUR HELP IS, IS THAT YOU TAKE THE LOW RISK, UM, SUGGESTIONS AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN DO THOSE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR MASK, WATCH YOUR FACE, UM, WATCH YOUR DISTANCE AND WASH YOUR HANDS.
AND ALSO IF YOU'RE FEELING ILL, UM, OR YOU'VE HAD EXPOSURE TO, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, THAT MAY BE COVID POSITIVE, OR IF THEY'RE, UM, IF THEY'RE IN ISOLATION, PLEASE REACH OUT AND HAVE A TEST IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO THAT.
WE REALLY NEED YOU TO BE PATIENT.
DURING THIS TIME, WE, WE HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE VACCINES THAT HAVE COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE TO, UM, THAT FIRST GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CONTINUE THOSE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH MEASURES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE, ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON AND PLEASED, DESIGNATE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT CAN GO OUT AND DO YOUR SHOPPING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE SAFE HOLIDAYS.
THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, THAT WE ARE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT RISK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN AS WE THINK ABOUT GIFT GIVING FOR CHRISTMAS, THE BEST GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO OUR FAMILY, TO PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW IS THE GIFT OF LIFE, THE GIFT OF HEALTH.
AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE FOR US TO DO THAT BY WEARING A MASK BY SOCIAL DISTANCING, BY STAYING HOME, IF WE CAN, UH, THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF COVID-19, UH, IT'S REALLY UP TO ALL OF US TO, TO DO THE SIMPLE THINGS.
WE CAN'T THE SIMPLE ACTS THAT WILL BE MAGNIFIED, UH, BY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DOING THE SAME THING.
AND WITH THAT, WE CAN, WE CAN SAVE MANY LIVES.
WE CAN SAVE MANY FAMILIES SUFFERING, UH, HAVING PEOPLE, UH, LOVED ONES IN THE HOSPITAL.
UH, SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AND ENSURE THAT WE CAN GIVE THOSE GIFTS TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M JUST GONNA, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CRUCIAL, UH, THE THREE CS COVER YOUR FACE, AVOID CONFINED SPACES AND STAY AWAY FROM CROWDS.
UH, IF YOU NEED TO, UM, IF YOU IDEALLY GATHER AND HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS WITH THOSE ONLY IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, AND IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, UH, REFRAIN THAT REFRAIN FROM THAT INTERACTION.
UM, AGAIN, IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO GATHER, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, UH, IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO EXERCISE SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE HOLIDAY ACTIVITY, YOU NEED TO BE SURE THAT YOU ARE COVERING YOUR FACE SOCIALLY DISTANCING, NOT ATTENDING IF YOU'RE SICK, UH, AND, UM, MAKE SURE YOU'RE WASHING YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY AND AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE.
UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, TO ENGAGE IN THESE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, UH, TO MINIMIZE THE RISK.
I WILL ALSO REEMPHASIZE IF YOU DO TRAVEL A WAY, UH, IT'S BEST TO GET TESTED NOW, BEFORE YOU TRAVEL, UH, TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVEN'T GOT COVID, BUT THEN WHEN YOU RETURN, YOU SHOULD, UH, GET A VIRAL AND SO QUARANTINE FOR A FULL SEVEN DAYS AVOIDING ANY ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES UPON YOUR RETURN.
AND WITH THAT, I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A VERY SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AND FINALLY, JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE KNOW WE HAVE HOPE WE HAVE THE VACCINE ON THE HORIZON, BUT WE ALSO, AS DR AS SCOTT TALKED ABOUT THE, OUR INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES WORK, THEY CAN PROTECT US IF WE
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WILL USE THEM.HAND-WASHING STAYING HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND AVOIDING INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT'S HARD NOT TO VISIT GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS AND EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT IT'S SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON THINKING ABOUT EVERYONE'S HEALTH, YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH, YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR FAMILY THAT ARE WITHIN THAT 65 AND OLDER CATEGORY.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE PROTECT EVERYONE SO THAT FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO COME IN THE NEXT YEARS, WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER SAFELY AND HAVE EVERYONE PARTICIPATING WITH THAT.
AUSTIN, HAVE A HOBBY HA HAPPY HOLIDAY THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
MARK ASCOT, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET PICHETTE, CASSANDRA DAILY ON INTERIM APH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION, AND TO OUR POOL REPORTER ASHLEY LOPEZ FROM KUT FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A SAFE DAY.