[COVID-19: Virtual News Conference ]
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I'M LASHONDRA SHOW 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 DR.
MARK ASCOT AND FROM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE HAYDEN, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.
THEN ANDY BROWN, TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE FOLLOWED BY STEVE ADLER, AUSTIN MAYOR.
WE WILL THEN OPEN IT UP TO THE POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, DR.
AND GOOD MORNING, I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN TO, TO SHOW SOME SLIDES TO ILLUSTRATE, UH, THE DISCUSSION POINTS THIS MORNING.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY OUR COMMUNITY HAS REACHED ANOTHER CRITICAL MOMENT IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, UH, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE DECEMBER 1ST, BUT WE'VE SEEN A 97% INCREASE IN OUR NEW CASES, DIAGNOSED IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HAD AN 80% INCREASE IN OUR MOVING AVERAGE OF ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND IN FACT, YESTERDAY ALONE, WE HAD 70 NEW CASES, UH, ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN A 50% INCREASE IN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS BEING UTILIZED FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR POSITIVITY RATE IS ALMOST 10% LAST WEEK, UH, WHICH IS MORE THAN TRIPLE OUR GOAL OF 3% POSITIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THIS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN, UH, FACING US WITH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS, UH, AND THE CONCERN THAT WE MAY SEE AN IMPACT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW DURING THANKSGIVING, UH, THAT'S COMBINED WITH THE THREATS GOING ON AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE SEE SURGES RIGHT NOW HAPPENING IN DALLAS, IN FORT WORTH SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT CREATES A SITUATION, UH, THAT LEAVES SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND RESOURCES SHOULD AUSTIN SURGE AS WELL, UH, DUE TO THIS ONGOING WORSENING CONDITION AND THE UNCONTROLLED WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ELEVATING OUR COMMUNITY RISK LEVEL TO STAGE FIVE, WHICH IS OUR HIGHEST LEVEL OF RISK FOR A COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY? IT'S NOT JUST PROTOCOLS, IT'S NOT JUST INSTRUCTIONS SCORE FOR BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS.
IT GIVES US AN IDEA OF THE RISK AS INDIVIDUALS THAT WE MAY FACE WHEN, WHEN WE ARE OUT, UH, OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSEHOLD.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT RISK IS SIGNIFICANT IN THIS STAGE FIVE.
IT MEANS THAT THERE'S SO MUCH COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION GOING ON, UH, THAT, THAT LITERALLY ANYWHERE WE GO OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSEHOLD, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER OURSELVES AT RISK.
UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT SEEING TRANSMISSION AMONG STRANGERS.
WE'RE SEEING TRANSMISSION AMONGST PEOPLE WHO KNOW ONE, ANOTHER MEMBERS OF EXTENDED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THOSE ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE WILLING TO TAKE OUR MASK OFF IN FRONT OF, UH, SO FOR STAGE FIVE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT EVERYBODY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RISK LEVEL, AVOID NON-HOUSEHOLD GATHERINGS, WE'RE ADVISING THEM TO AVOID DINING AND SHOPPING, UH, AND TO TRANSITION, TO TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY, UH, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, UH, FOR, UH, FOR, FOR GATHERINGS OR FOR OTHER, OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE RECOMMENDING BUSINESSES TRANSITION TO THAT CURBSIDE OR DELIVERY MODEL AS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF, UH, THEIR, UH, THEIR BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, ALL ALONG WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO BALANCE THE, THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW IS SIGNIFICANT IMBALANCE.
WE'RE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN A RAPID INCREASE IN THAT RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WILL ASK, WHY ARE WE SOUNDING THE ALARM RIGHT NOW? WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL THE HOSPITALS ARE FULL? AND TO THEM, I, I ASKED THIS QUESTION, WHEN YOU SEE SMOKE, YOU HAVE FULLY ALARMED.
YOU CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR DO YOU WAIT FOR THE FLAMES TO ROLL DOWN THE HALLWAY? WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
IF YOU WAIT TO PULL THE ALARM UNTIL THE HOSPITALS ARE ALREADY FULL, THAT SURGE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE HOSPITALS AND THE MORGUES ARE OVERWHELMED.
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AND WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THAT IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE TIME TO ACT AS NOW, IT'S NOT IN TWO WEEKS, IT'S NOT IN FOUR WEEKS IT'S TODAY.
AND, AND WE'RE CALLING ON PEOPLE TO BE HEROES, TO SAVE LIVES THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US, ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, ALL OF US, MAKING THE SIMPLE DECISION TO STAY HOME WHEN WE CAN.
AND IF WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO WEAR A MASK TO DISTANCE AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WASHING OUR HANDS AND NOT TOUCHING OUR FACES TOGETHER, WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS, BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS THE MICROPHONE TO APH DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, GOOD MORNING WITH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS, QUICKLY APPROACHING.
WE ARE HERE TO SOUND THE ALARM.
WE MUST MOVE QUICKLY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS MY INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE.
WE ARE GETTING, TRYING TO PUT US ON A PATH WHERE WE CAN FLATTEN IT, THE CURVE.
IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S A CENTRAL, WE HAVE LOST A HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE THIS YEAR DEATH, PLEASE THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES.
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HOLD.
SO DEAR TO YOUR HEART, WHETHER IT'S YOUR PARENTS, YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR NIECES, EVEN YOUR PETS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEIR DOGS AND LOVE THEIR CATS.
DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BE AROUND, TO CARE FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.
I HAVE TO BE ON FUTURE CELEBRATIONS.
I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO COUNSEL THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT WHAT I AM URGING YOU TO DO IS ESTABLISH NEW TRADITIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME VERY CREATIVE WAYS TO BE VIRTUAL.
UM, I AM OLD SCHOOL, PICK UP THE TELEPHONE CALL.
PEOPLE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE WANT YOU TO CELEBRATE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
WE WANT YOU TO, TO REMAIN WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING TO THE LADY AND SHE TOLD ME SHE PUT UP THREE TREES AND I THOUGHT, OH, THIS, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO JUST HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CELEBRATION IN HER HOME.
AND IT'S JUST HER AND HER HUSBAND.
AND SO THEY DECIDED TO PUT UP ADDITIONAL TREES.
YOU CAN WATCH SOME OF THOSE FILMS THAT THEY SHOW THOSE MOVIES.
MY SON IS AN ADULT, BUT I STILL LOVE LOOKING AT FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.
AND SO JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT FELLS THINGS CAN BE JUST TO KEEP US SAFE.
I KNOW THERE'VE BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CELEBRATED MILESTONES AND YOU'VE MADE THAT SACRIFICE.
AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT SACRIFICE THAT YOU'VE MADE.
IT IS REALLY KEPT US TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION COMING UP, THE GREATEST GIFT THAT WE COULD GIVE IS HEALTH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY.
LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CELEBRATE IN YEARS TO COME.
WE NEED TO STAY HOME THIS YEAR.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY SAYING, THIS IS THE TIME AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY.
THIS IS THE TIME WE ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM.
I AM MY BROTHER AND MY SISTER'S KEEPER.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL TRANSITION OVER TO JUDGE BROWN.
UM, AT EVERY STAGE OF THIS PANDEMIC, OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY, OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SCIENCE HAS BEEN OUR GUIDE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
MY KIDS ARE FOUR AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND THEY ASKED ME WHEN THIS IS GOING TO BE OVER.
I KNOW THAT IT IS A ROUGH TIME FOR EVERYONE, BUT IF YOU FOLLOW THE ADVICE THAT WE'RE GIVING TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
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EVERY TIME WE'VE ASKED FOR, FOR THIS COMMUNITY, UM, THESE COMMUNITY SACRIFICES, OUR COMMUNITY HAS RISEN TO THE CALL.WE'VE HELPED PROVIDE NECESSITIES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE HAVE CLOSED OR LIMITED BUSINESSES TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID.
I'VE SEEN THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THIS COMMUNITY CAN HAVE WHEN WE'RE ALL PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
AND BY FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF DR.
SCOTT AND OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, WE WERE ABLE TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.
WHEN WE FACED A SURGE FOLLOWING MEMORIAL DAY, I'M CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
NOW WE'RE ENTERING A DANGEROUS TIME STAGE FIVE.
AND IF OUR COMMUNITY DOES ITS PART AND FOLLOWS THE STAGE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING PRESENTED TODAY, WE CAN STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND THE NECESSITY FOR MORE RESTRICTIVE MEASURES, OUR STAGE FIVE ORDER URGES.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ARE ASKING BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS TO LIMIT OCCUPANCY AND ENCOURAGE PICKUP OR DELIVERY SERVICES.
THIS INCLUDES CLOSING INDOOR DINING SPACES AND LIMITING OUTDOOR DINING TO 50% CAPACITY, LIMITING INDOOR RETAIL OCCUPANCY TO 50% CAPACITY AND ENDING ALL DINE-IN AND RETAIL SERVICES BETWEEN 10:30 PM AND 5:00 AM CHANGES.
LIKE THESE CAN DO A LOT TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID.
IF WE CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY SLOW THIS SURGE, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, AND THAT COULD INCLUDE REQUIRING ACTIONS INSTEAD OF URGING THEM TO ACTIVELY PREVENT MORE SIGNIFICANT MEASURES.
BOTH COUNTY AND CITY DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN ENFORCEMENT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH INCREASED INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO HOLD BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AND ISSUE CITATIONS WHEN DEEMED NECESSARY.
WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, THOUGH.
WE ALL WANT A HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY, AND WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER AND FOLLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT DR.
THESE ARE STILL, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FUN AND FESTIVE COVID SAFE ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FROM HOME.
AND I REALLY LIKED THE ONE STEPHANIE JUST MENTIONED ABOUT USING THE TELEPHONE AND CALLING PEOPLE.
WE CAN ALSO HAVE VIRTUAL HOLIDAY CONCERTS, UH, VIDEO CALLING FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DON'T LIVE WITH YOU.
THERE ARE LOTS OF CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AND DO IT FROM HOME WITH THE PEOPLE WE LIVE LIVE WITH.
UM, NOW FOR TELEMUNDO, UM, IN
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT ON TO MAYOR ADLER.
I THINK, I THINK YOU'RE MUTED THERE.
YOU MENTIONED, UH, UM, UH, DIRECTOR HAYDEN'S, UH, SUGGESTION FOR THE PHONE IS YOUR FAVORITE.
I WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN BY THE SUGGESTION THAT WE ALL WATCH FROSTED SNOWMAN.
AGAIN, I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT NOW.
UH, THE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN MY HOME, UH, I THINK COLLECTIVELY, WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING HERE IS THAT WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO ACT, UH, AND WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO ACT TOGETHER.
IT IS BY OUR ACTIONS, OUR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS, ALL OF US THAT WE GET TO DECIDE THE IMPACT THAT THIS VIRUS IS GOING TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW THAT WE ARE REACHING CRUNCHTIME, OUR FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON OUR ACTIONS.
WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, FOLLOW THE THREE W'S WASH YOUR HANDS, WATCH YOUR DISTANCE, WEAR YOUR MASK.
WE KEEP REPEATING THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY WORK THEY'RE EASY TO DO.
THEY MAY BE INCONVENIENT, MAY NOT THINK WE'D LOOK CUTE WITH A MASK.
THESE ARE EASY THINGS TO DO FOR THE BENEFIT THAT WE GET.
YOU SHOULD COVER YOUR COUGHS AND SNEEZES
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CLEANED FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES, AND ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY STAY HOME.IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL, IF YOU NEED OR WOULD LIKE COVID 19 TESTING, IT IS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFERS FREE TESTING, AND YOU CAN ENROLL AT, EXCUSE ME, YOU CAN ENROLL AT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/ COVID-19 AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/ COVID-19 FOR FREE TESTING AS A COMMUNITY.
WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE VACCINE.
IN FACT, IT IS ALREADY ARRIVED AND STARTED TO BE HANDED OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MOST STRATEGIC WAY WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
THIS MAY BE OUR LAST HARD TIME.
NOW THAT THE VACCINE IS COMING AND BEGINNING TO BE DISTRIBUTED, WE NEED PEOPLE TO HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FIRST OF THE VACCINES ALREADY HERE, WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON VACCINATING, FRONTLINE, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, UH, LONG-TERM, UH, FACILITY, STAFF AND RESIDENTS AT, UH, UH, PLACES LIKE NURSING HOMES, MORE VACCINES ARE GOING TO START COMING AND BE MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BEGINNING WITH THOSE THAT WILL MOST WILL SUFFER THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY GET THE VIRUS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAST ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, UH, AND HAVE, UM, UH, CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THEM MOST VULNERABLE.
BUT UNTIL WE GET THIS VACCINE TO EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE COVID-19 PREVENTION MEASURES.
IT IS NOT TIME TO THROW THE MASKS AWAY JUST YET.
IN FACT, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ARISING WITH THE HOLIDAYS THAT ARE APPROACHING, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYONE WEARS A MASK.
WHEN YOU'RE AROUND ANYONE THAT YOU DON'T LIVE WITH, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HAS KEPT OUR COVID 19 NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY DEATHS, COMPARATIVELY LOW.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT OR BY LUCK, BUT THROUGH REAL COMMUNITY ACTION.
THAT'S WHY TODAY WE ARE ASKING AND ENCOURAGING, UH, REQUESTING, RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE CHANGE BEHAVIORS.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO GET HIT HARDER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THIS REQUESTS, UH, RESTAURANTS AND BARS, AND SOME RETAIL.
SO PART OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION THAT WE'RE CALLING FOR, IF YOU CAN JUST LET THE RESTAURANTS COOK YOU FOOD, A TANK DO DELIVERY, DO TAKE OUT, UH, UH, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN, THAN, THAN YOU HAVE BEEN BY SOME, SOME, SOME GIFT CARDS, MAKE SURE TO TIP YOUR WAIT STAFF.
WELL, IN FACT, IN FACT, OVER TIP, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THESE BUSINESSES ALSO THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST HIT BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY, BY OUR ACTIONS TOGETHER, WE GET TO DECIDE OUR FUTURE.
WE HAVE CONTROL, LET'S USE OUR POWER, OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
WE GET TO DECIDE THE DIRECTION OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE TAKING OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS WITH THAT.
I THINK I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO, UH, TO THE, TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE OUR POOL REPORTER ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA.
CASEY, THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM FOX SEVEN.
WAS THERE ANY RELUCTANCE OR CONCERN TO MOVE INTO STAGE FIVE NEAR THE HOLIDAYS? AND AFTER THE STAGE FIVE RISK, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IF NUMBERS AND CASES CONTINUE TO SPIKE? UH, SO I'LL START OFF BY ANSWERING THAT.
UH, THERE CERTAINLY WASN'T THE RELUCTANCE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS.
NOW, THE DATA'S THE DATA, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE INITIALLY HIT THE 50 RANGE THURSDAY OF LAST WEEK, OVER THE WEEKEND.
WE SAW DROPPED TO 48 AND, UH, AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY, WE, IT BACK UP TO 50, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE AT THIS STAGE IS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AN INDICATION THAT WE'RE FLATTENING, THE POSITIVITY RATE IS GOING UP, WHICH IS PREDICTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CASES THIS WEEK THAN WE DID LAST WEEK, NOT MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS THIS WEEK THAN WE DID LAST WEEK.
UH, AND, UH, I I'M EXPECTING TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE AT LEAST 70 ADMISSIONS, PERHAPS CLOSER TO 80 ADMISSIONS.
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EXPECTING IS A, IS A RAPID INCREASE IN CASES, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW, UH, NEAR THE PEAK OF, OF THE, THE SUMMER SURGE.UH, THAT'S THE THING ABOUT COVID-19 ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS, UH, IT ACCELERATES WITH, WITH THE KIND OF ACTIVITY WE'RE SEEING IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE, TWO PUNCH OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S, UH, THAT MAY ACCELERATE IT EVEN FASTER THAN WE SAW DURING THANKSGIVING.
AND THAT PUTS US IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION VERY QUICKLY AFTER, AFTER NEW YEARS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KX A HOW WILL THE CITY ENSURE THAT PEOPLE TAKE THESE LATEST ORDERS SERIOUSLY, AND THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BINDING LAW, WILL ANY OF THESE BE ENFORCED? WILL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELP DURING THIS TIME, UM, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT, UM, TO ENFORCEMENT HAVE, UM, THEN PROVIDING MORE SO WARNINGS, UM, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, RECENTLY WE HAVE MOVED TO AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, SO WHAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN NOW IS CITATIONS WILL BE ISSUED.
AND SO, UM, WITH THOSE CITATIONS BEING ISSUED, UM, THEY ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE CITATIONS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM UNIVISION WILL OCCUR FOR YOU BEING IMPLEMENTED.
AND WHAT WILL THE CONSEQUENCES BE IF THEY AREN'T FOLLOWED, WE'VE BEEN SEEING BARS OPERATING AS RESTAURANTS.
ARE YOU CONSIDERING ANY RESTRICTIONS OR TIGHTER ENFORCEMENT? WELL, I'LL START BY SAYING THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BARS OPERATING AS RESTAURANTS.
UH, THEY MAY HAVE A FOOD SERVICE PERMIT, BUT THEY ARE STILL FUNCTIONALLY A BAR, UH, AND MARI FOCUSED ON BARS.
THE CONCERN WITH THE BARS IN PARTICULAR IS THAT THE DRINKING HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY THAT THERE'S FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION AND THAT FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION HAPPENS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
UH, SO WE'RE ASKING OUR BARS TO, TO FOLLOW THE RULES THAT MAKES SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SEATED IF THEY'RE BEING SERVED AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S APPROPRIATE SPACING BETWEEN TABLES TO MET, UH, ENSURE THAT THEY'RE MANAGING THE CUES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THOSE FACILITIES.
IF PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES, IF THESE FACILITIES ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES, THEN WE CAN DECREASE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO A CURFEW.
BUT IF WE CAN'T, WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A CATASTROPHIC SURGE, LIKE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED IN EL PASO AND IN LUBBOCK.
UM, I'LL ALSO RESPOND, UM,
UH, THE REASON WHY RESTAURANTS OR BARS, UH, PRESENT, UH, INCREASED RISK IS BECAUSE IN THOSE SITUATIONS, YOU'RE NOT WEARING A MASK ALL THE TIME AND YOU'RE FACE TO FACE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY THE FOCUS IS THERE.
THAT'S WHY THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES TO MAKE SURE WE DO THOSE AS, AS BEST WE POSSIBLY CAN.
CURFEW IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED, BUT ONLY IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SCHOOLS? WILL YOU MAKE THE
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RECOMMENDATION TO IMMEDIATELY CANCEL ALL EXTRACURRICULARS? AND WILL YOU RECOMMEND A PERIOD OF ALL VIRTUAL LEARNING AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK? SO WE HAVE RECOMMENDED TO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS THAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHERE MASKING AND DISTANCING CANNOT BE FOLLOWED, THAT, THAT THOSE BE SUSPENDED OR SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED COULD DECREASE THE RISK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.I KNOW THERE ARE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT'S, THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING SCHOOLS AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS DECREASED THE RISK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN DECREASE THE TRANSMISSION HERE AND FLATTEN THE CURVE.
NOW, REGARDING AFTER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DATA AS IT COMES IN.
IF WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE IN A, UH, SIGNIFICANT AND AGGRESSIVE, UPWARD FASHION IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, THAT IS LIKELY TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT SCHOOLS GO VIRTUAL, UH, THAT MAY NOT BE A UNIFORM, UH, REQUEST ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS.
SO WE WILL TRY TO PRESERVE OUR ELEMENTARY IN-PERSON EDUCATION AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS WHO MOST BENEFIT FROM IN-PERSON AND WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY HAVING TO TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE SUPERINTENDENTS OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND, UH, AND CONTINUE TO ADVISE THEM ON.
I WANT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SUGGESTING.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, WHAT KIND OF CITATIONS ARE BEING ISSUED? IS THERE A FEE, A CHARGE? WHAT IS THE FEE AND THE CHARGE, UH, WHAT WE'D HAVE TO GET WITH OUR, OUR ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, REGARDING TO DETAILS ON THE FINES.
UH, AGAIN, I'LL SAY THAT WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO WITHIN THE LAW TO, TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, SO IF THE FINES AREN'T WORKING AND WE HAVE CAUSED FOR, FOR, UH, REVOCATION OF THINGS LIKE FOOD SERVICE PERMITS, WE WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
GOD, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, TO REPEAT AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG, ULTIMATELY, WE CAN'T ENFORCE OUR WAY TO COMPLIANCE.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO BY ITS COLLECTIVE ACTION.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENFORCE, BUT ULTIMATELY THIS IS REALLY UP TO US AS A COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KVU ASSOCIATED PRESS IS REPORTING THAT TEXAS IS DESPERATE FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES.
ARE WE SEEING A SHORTAGE HERE IN AUSTIN? AND IS IT IMPACTING OUR NUMBER OF STAFFED HOSPITAL BEDS? SO THE, OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN AUSTIN TODAY ARE STABLE.
WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING, WE HAVE ENOUGH BEDS.
UH, THE CONCERN IS WHAT IF WE NEED MORE? WHAT IF WE NEED MORE DOCTORS, NURSES, ALLIED, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PARAMEDICS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE THERE? AND THE ANSWER IS, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY ARE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY, BECAUSE I'M AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN FROM RECRUITERS OFFERING LOTS OF MONEY TO GO WORK IN WEST TEXAS TO GO WORK IN NORTH TEXAS IN DALLAS, IN OTHER STATES.
UH, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NURSES.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NOT FOR OUR RESPIRATORY TECHS AND OTHER FOLKS.
WE NEED THAT INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES AND THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A CRUNCH TIME.
AND IT'S RAPIDLY APPROACHING WHERE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AGAIN, RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE FOURTH IN LINE TO SURGE BEHIND DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, UH, SAN ANTONIO, AND HOUSTON.
UH, AND WE EXPECT THAT THOSE RESOURCES, THE STATE RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE DEPLOYED TO THOSE PLACES THAT ARE FACING MORE SERIOUS SURGE EARLIER.
UH, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING FOR US TO GET THOSE FOLKS IN WHEN WE NEED THEM.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE SACRIFICES.
THERE'S A LIMIT OF ABOUT 200 PEOPLE IN THE ICU.
I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO HALFWAY THERE AT THIS POINT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE DOING THIS TODAY IS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE HAVE CAPACITY TO SERVE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN OUR ICU.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE DOING THIS TODAY.
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THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN, YOU ALL ARE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STAY AT HOME AND TO NOT GATHER WITH THOSE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD FOR THE HOLIDAYS, WITH THAT, WHAT ARE EACH OF YOUR PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS? AND DO YOU PLAN ON FOLLOWING THAT? WELL, LIKE I CAN START, UH, I, I'M HAVING CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH MY WIFE AND SON AND DAUGHTER, OR GOING TO CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS FROM OUR COUCH, UH, IN THE LIVING ROOM.UH, THAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE PLANS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET MORE FOLKS TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE AND TO AVOID THE LARGE GATHERINGS, UH, IF YOUR CHURCH HAS VIRTUAL SERVICES, PLEASE USE THOSE VIRTUAL SERVICES.
BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CHURCHES ARE NONPROFIT AGENCIES.
OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS ALSO DEPEND ON OUR SUPPORT, UH, PARTICULARLY DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO VIRTUAL SERVICES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE MORE THAN YOU MIGHT NORMALLY IF YOU'RE SITTING IN THE PEWS AT CHURCH, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN NEED NOW THAN EVER.
WELL, MY ME AND MY HUSBAND AND MY SON WILL BE HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, YOU KNOW, MAKING THOSE INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO DO ON THANKSGIVING DAY, UM, WAS I WAS ABLE TO, UM, DO A ZOOM CALL WITH, WITH FIVE OF MY VERY CLOSE FRIENDS.
UM, A COUPLE OF LIVES HERE IN TEXAS, ONE LIVES IN PHILADELPHIA AND, UM, A COUPLE OF ONE LIVES IN CALIFORNIA.
SO WE ALL GOT TOGETHER TO HAVE THAT ZOOM CALL BECAUSE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE TYPICALLY GET TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING.
UM, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO THAT WAS A REAL BIG CHANGE FOR US, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE TEND TO GET TOGETHER AND HANG OUT AND CATCH UP AND LAUGH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT WE KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.
THE INFECTION RATE IS DIFFERENT IN ALL OF THE STATES THAT EACH OF THEM LIVE.
UM, AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO ME, UM, WHEN WOULD THEY ADVICE THAT I PROVIDE THEM? AND SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO.
SO MY HOPE IS AS THAT YOU, YOU ALL ARE A HERO.
YOU ARE A NORTH STAR THAT FOLKS CAN SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, MY BEST FRIEND IS DOING THIS ON.
SCOTT, YOU KNOW, ARE VIRTUAL SERVICES.
UM, AND I TYPICALLY DO THE VIRTUAL SERVICES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO GIVE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH NEED.
AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
UM, BY DOING YOUR PART, UM, TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, ANY FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE, IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO THAT, UNLIKE THE OTHERS, I WILL BE WITH MY MEDIA FAMILY, THE ONES I LIVE WITH, UH, OVER THE HOLIDAYS AS WELL, BUT, UH, HOPING TO BE VIRTUALLY WITH, UH, UH, MANY OTHER PEOPLE.
AND, UH, I GUESS I'LL, I'LL THROW MY 2 CENTS.
SO YEAH, GONNA STAY HOME WITH MY WIFE AND OUR TWO KIDS ARE FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLD KIDS.
UM, AND MY DAD ACTUALLY HAS A PRETTY ADVANCED STAGES OF A DISEASE SIMILAR TO PARKINSON'S.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, HOW MUCH I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEAL WITH HIM AND MY MOM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT OTHER THAN, UH, VIRTUALLY OR THROUGH A WINDOW.
BUT, UM, BECAUSE IN ANY, ANY EXPOSURE TO HIM, UH, FROM ANY OF US WITHOUT A MASK ON, CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO HIS HEALTH.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, I ALSO WANT TO JUST TOUCH ON THE GOOD CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH FAITH LEADERS.
AND, UH, I THINK THE MAYOR AND I BOTH REACHED OUT TO, UH, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, TO THE AUSTIN DIOCESE, TO, UH, SOME OF THE MINISTERS AND PASTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AND HEARTENED TO HEAR OF ALL THE MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY PLANNED ON TAKING HOW THEY'RE
[00:35:01]
MAKING SERVICES AVAILABLE, UH, VIRTUALLY.AND FOR THOSE THAT, UM, UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I GUESS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT, THEY WERE TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WORE A MASK.
THERE WAS DISTANCING BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, DID NOT LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE AS ONE ANOTHER.
AND I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THEIR HEALTH AND, AND ACTIVENESS IN THIS SO FAR.
AND I'M CERTAIN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS MOVEMENT INTO STAGE FIVE SERIOUSLY AND DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM KX A N WHAT EFFORT, IF ANY, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WILL WE MADE TO CRACK DOWN ON BARS AND RESTAURANTS, MASQUERADING AS BARS WHERE A LOT OF THE SPREAD IS HAPPENING.
UH, SO WE ARE CONTINUING THE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, UH, AND CONTINUING TO THE INSPECTIONS, UH, THAT HAPPENS THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, THROUGH THE CODE DEPARTMENT OR THE CITY AND COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICES.
UH, WE ARE ASKING OUR ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT, TO, YOU KNOW, ENFORCE, UH, THE MASKING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE STATE LAW, UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
THAT THOSE THINGS ACTUALLY WORK.
THE MASKING AND DISTANCING WORKS.
WE DO NOT SEE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PEOPLE, TO PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.
SO WE ARE NEEDING TO INCREASE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THAT.
BUT AS, AS MAYOR ADLER SAID, WE CAN'T ENFORCE OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE THE SIMPLE DECISION TO WEAR A MASK AND TO REALLY BE A HERO OF THIS, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, IT'S SIMPLY THAT EASY, PLEASE WEAR A MASK.
IT'S IT'S, IT'S THAT A MINIMUM INTRUSION ON EVERY ONE OF US, BUT THE IMPACT COLLECTIVELY CAN BE MASSIVE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, DO YOU HAVE A THRESHOLD IN PLACE THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO RECOMMEND A CURFEW? IF YOU DO NOT SEE A DOWNWARD TREND, WHEN WOULD YOU EXPECT TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION? SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE, UH, THE NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NEW CASES, THE POSITIVITY, THE ICU AND HOSPITAL BED STATUS, UH, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE ANY TERMINATION.
UH, I'LL, I'LL SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SEE SOME CHANGES RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
UH, WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN ABOUT NEW YEARS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GATHERINGS THAT NORMALLY HAPPEN, UH, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
UH, SO THAT DECISION COULD COME QUICKLY.
BUT AGAIN, OUR HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADJUSTING THEIR, THEIR RISK BEHAVIOR, UH, DURING STAGE FOUR AND STAGE FIVE, EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN DECREASE THAT RISK QUICKLY AND AVOID, UH, HAVING TO TAKE STEPS LIKE A CURFEW, MARY YOU'RE MUTED.
SORRY, JUST QUICK TO POINT OUT ON THE QUESTION OF, OF, OF CURFEW.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE DIRECTED BY, UH, DR.
UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CURFEW, THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED AT THIS POINT, IF IT'S NECESSARY AS A CURFEW THAT STARTS ABOUT 10 30 AT NIGHT, AND CONTINUES OVER THE NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, THAT PEOPLE GO HOME, UH, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT OUT, UH, AT THE BARS MASQUERADING AS, AS RESTAURANTS IN THE LIGHT.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THAT DOES POINT TO, UH, AS WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT NEW YEAR'S EVE APPROACHING, UH, THIS IS THE YEAR WHEN WE'LL ALL BE WATCHING THE NEW YEAR COME, UH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR FAMILIES AT HOME.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN JUDGE BROWN SAID DINING AND RETAIL WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED FROM 10:30 PM TO 5:30 AM UNDER STAGE FIVE.
IS THIS CONSIDERED A CURFEW AND WILL CITATIONS BE ISSUED TO PLACES WHO STAY OPEN DURING THESE TIMES? WHAT KIND OF CITATIONS? SO TO CLARIFY THE ORDER THAT, OR THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT STAGE FIVE TODAY IS RECOMMENDATION.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, ALONG WITH DR S SCOTT, UH, AND THE MAYOR,
[00:40:01]
WE ARE HOPING THAT WE DO NOT GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO MANDATE ADDITIONAL MEASURES.BUT TODAY, WHAT IS, WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE THOSE STEPS, THOSE ADDITIONAL STEPS IN STAGE FIVE, UH, ON A, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KVU.
ARE WE CLOSE TO NEEDING A FIELD HOSPITAL BACK AT THE CONVENTION CENTER? UH, OUR, OUR CONCERN IS THAT THAT COULD BE WEEKS AWAY, LIKE, UH, THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AWAY.
UH, SO THE DISCUSSIONS, THE READINESS, UH, IS STARTING TO INCREASE, UH, AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AT PROJECTIONS, WHICH MAY SAY CAPACITY, UH, AGAIN, WE ARE EXPECTING, UH, THE UT MODELING CONSORTIUM TO UPDATE THEIR MODEL TODAY.
UH, IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND, AND I'M QUITE CERTAIN, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE PESSIMISTIC IN TERMS OF THE OUTLOOK.
UH, WE HAVE ALSO ASKED THEM TO MODEL, UH, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE AFTER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS BASED UPON THE SURGE THAT WE SAW AFTER THANKSGIVING.
SO IT MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL MODELS THAT COME OUT IN THE NEXT, UH, NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO GIVE US A BETTER INDICATION OF, OF THE MAGNITUDE OF SURGE THAT WE MAY BE EXPERIENCING OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST QUESTION IT IS FROM UNIVERSAL UNIVISION.
WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING ABOUT CONCERTS ALREADY APPROVED, APPROVED TO TAKE PLACE LIKE IN JERA POSTS IN THE COUNTY? THERE ARE A FEW ANNOUNCED TO TAKE PLACE IN, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, BUT WE, WE FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IS, IS, UM, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE PROACTIVE, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE VENDOR, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING ALL THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CALL THREE, ONE, ONE, IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS, I WOULD BE REMISSED TO SAY, MY HOPE IS ISN'T BECAUSE WE ARE TELLING YOU THIS TODAY, THAT YOU WILL STAY AT HOME, THAT YOUR NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION, YOU KNOW, MOVE THE COUCH BACK, MOVE THE TABLE BACK, CRANK THE MUSIC UP, AND HAVE A CELEBRATION AT HOME.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO IT VIRTUALLY, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST THINK ABOUT NEW TRADITIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE MINDSET OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO LIVE FOR RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME.
MY HOPE IS, IS THAT A YEAR FROM NOW? YOU KNOW, IF YOU CHOOSE AND THINGS ABOUT THEM AND YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO GO TO THE CLUB, YOU KNOW, I TYPICALLY DON'T CLUB, BUT I MIGHT BE SO EXCITED.
I MIGHT GO WITH YOU NEXT YEAR.
SO I JUST, MY, MY HOPE IT IS, IT'S JUST THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW AND DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO, AND JUST DON'T GO TO THOSE CELEBRATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, STEPHANIE, AT THIS TIME, THAT CONCLUDES OUR NEWS CONFERENCE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO APH DIRECTOR.
MARK S. SCOTT, TRAVIS COUNTY, JUDGE ANDY BROWN AND AUSTIN MAYOR STEVE ADLER, AND TO OUR POOL REPORTER CASEY BOWEN FROM FOX SEVEN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY AND HAVE A SAFE WEEK.