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[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.AND I AM THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS ON ATX AND THREE TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.
STEPHANIE HAYDEN WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY DR.
MARK SCOTT, INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY.
THEN JANET PICHET 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 THE POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, STEPHANIE, OVER TO YOU.
AS WE TRANSITION TO LEAVE THE YEAR OF 2020, I WANT US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN SAFELY, UM, HAVE A CELEBRATION AT HOME WITH OUR FAMILY.
HOW CAN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BEST WAY FOR US IN OUR FAMILY TO CREATE THESE NEW TRADITIONS? MY HOPE IS IS THAT YOU, UM, USED AND BE VIRTUAL WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE OTHERS THAT DON'T LIVE WITH YOU IN YOUR HOME.
MY HOPE IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY GATHERINGS IN YOUR HOME.
UM, WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO STAY THE COURSE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WASH OUR HANDS, WATCH OUR DISTANCE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL TO STAY HOME, IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL, WE ALSO NEED YOU TO WEAR YOUR MASK AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UM, EVEN FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE ALREADY, AND WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS AS WELL, WE HAVE TO KEEP AUSTIN SAFE.
IT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO WELL BY PULLING TOGETHER.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE LAST WEEK HAS BROUGHT US A WORSENING SITUATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND, UH, IN MANY PARTS OF TEXAS OVER THE PAST TO THREE WEEKS OR SO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, OUR EMISSIONS ON AVERAGE ARE UP 106% SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE CURRENTLY 365 ON AVERAGE, 404 YESTERDAY, AN INCREASE OF 67% SINCE THE FIRST OF THIS MONTH.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE'VE SEEN EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR ICU WITH A 62% INCREASE IN ICU UTILIZATION IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE.
UH, OUR PROJECTIONS FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR CONTINUE TO LOOK WORSE AND WORSE DAY AFTER DAY.
UH, AND I, I THINK RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENTER 20, 21 IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
UH, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF US TAKING NOTE TODAY, US CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR TODAY, CHOOSING TO STAY HOME, CHOOSING TO DECREASE GATHERINGS, UH, AND, AND INTERACTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT OUR MASKS ON, UH, CONTINUING TO CHOOSE, TO USE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND TO AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE, WASHING YOUR HANDS.
OFTEN THESE SIMPLE THINGS, THESE NON-PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS ARE THE KEY TO MANAGING THIS DISEASE.
UH, OUR, OUR FUTURE RIGHT NOW INDICATES TO US THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS WE MAY RUN OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS.
WE MAY RUN OUT OF ICU BEDS AND IT COULD HAPPEN A LOT SOONER THAN THAT AS, AS EARLY AS A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, UH, THIS IS, THIS IS SERIOUS, AND WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES.
NOW WE HAVE A VACCINE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VACCINES BEING PUT IN THE ARMS OF TEXANS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, EVERY DAY.
LET'S TIGHTEN THE BELT A LITTLE BIT.
LET'S CONTINUE TO, UH, TO PROMOTE THAT VIGILANCE FROM OURSELVES AS WELL AS OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
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GOOD MORNING.I'M GONNA JUST MAKE, MAINLY TALK ABOUT, UM, WHAT, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE OVER THE NEXT WEEK.
AND SOME OF THAT WILL BE, UH, THE IMPACT OF OUR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, UH, ON OUR CASE COUNTS AND OUR HOSPITALIZATION RATES.
AND SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK SHOULD BE A VERY TELLING WEEK FOR US.
AND SO, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEW YEARS, UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO GATHER WITHIN THEIR HOME AND WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
UM, IF FOR SOME REASON YOU CONTINUE TO CHOOSE TO GATHER OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, OR YOU PARTICIPATE IN NON ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES, UH, SUCH AS SHOPPING AND BEING OUT AND ABOUT, UM, WE, WE ASK THAT YOU DO THREE THINGS AND ONE IS TO COVER YOUR FACE, MAKE SURE YOUR FACE IS COVERED.
UH, MAKE SURE THE PERSON WHO YOU'RE WITH HAS THEIR FACE COVERED AS WELL.
YOU NEED TO AVOID CONFINED SPACES.
SO IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE, THAT'S BETTER.
UM, WE'VE HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL WEATHER HERE IN THE AUSTIN AREA OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND IT'S BETTER TO BE OUTSIDE WHERE THERE'S PLENTY OF AIR CIRCULATING, UH, AND, AND YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED.
AND THE THIRD THING IS TO AVOID CROWDS.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE DURING, UH, THE NEW YEAR NEW YEAR'S EVE ACTIVITIES AND HOLIDAY PARTIES THAT CONTINUE ON THAT.
UH, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PRACTICING THOSE ACTIVITIES.
UM, MAKING SURE IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY SYMPTOMOLOGY AT ALL, THAT YOU STAYED HOME, UH, BECAUSE YOU MAY BE ILL WITH COVID, UH, YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO BE SPREADING THIS ABOUT, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO, UH, GET IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, MY, MY THREE POINTS, UH, COVER YOUR FACE, AVOID CONFINED AREAS AND AVOID CROWDS OF ALL POSSIBLE.
UM, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE OUR VACCINE STARTING TO ROLL OUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, GLAD TO SEE MANY, MANY NEW PROVIDERS COMING ONLINE AS VACCINE PROVIDERS.
AND THAT OFFERS US A LOT OF CHOICE FOR OUR VARYING DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS THAT, UM, ARE SLATED FOR THESE FIRST INITIAL PHASES.
WE KNOW IN THE COMING WEEKS, MORE AND MORE VACCINE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.
AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE PART IN THAT AS THEY ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINE.
WE HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THERE IS SO MUCH INTEREST IN VACCINE, AND SO THAT THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING IN THE MEANTIME VACCINE AS A TOOL THAT WE CAN USE AS, AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE THOSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THAT WE USE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE HAND-WASHING MASKING, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, UM, TAMP DOWN THE CURVE, UM, AND, UH, GET US, UH, TO A SPACE THAT THIS, UH, DISEASE IS NO LONGER A THREAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, ALICIA.
IF FROM INNOVATION QUESTION, FIRST OFFENSE, THEY BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR AREA.
HOW HAS IT BEEN WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF ANY CITATIONS? THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY ACROSS THE CITY.
WE CALL COMPLIANCE THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THOSE EFFORTS WILL TO BE IN PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS.
THE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS, IS THAT IF YOU ARE DECIDE TO GO OUT, UM, WITH OTHERS, AND IF YOU SEE SOME THINGS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
WE'LL CALL THREE ONE, ONE, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY, UM, HAVE A TEAM THAT CAN RESPOND TO THOSE THREE, ONE, ONE COMPLAINTS.
I'LL JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, WE CAN'T ENFORCE OUR WAY OUT OF, OUT OF A SURGE.
IT REQUIRES EACH OF US AS INDIVIDUALS, AS BUSINESSES TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE THREAT IS REAL AND THAT IT MEANS HOSPITALIZATIONS.
AND IT MEANS SOME POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE.
UH, I, I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE COULD TAKE MORE SERIOUSLY THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, TO FOLLOW THE, THE REGULATIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE CITY, STATE, OR COUNTY REGULATIONS,
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BECAUSE THEY'RE MEANT TO, TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND PROTECT PEOPLE FROM HOSPITALIZATION.AND, UH, IN PARTICULAR, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE'RE ASKING OUR RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE, TO DO THEIR PART SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BRIGHTER 20, 21 SECOND QUESTION FROM CBS AUSTIN, GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS SAID HE EXPECTS THERE TO BE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY MARCH.
DID YOU HAVE GREAT WITH THIS TIMELINE? I, I, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THAT'S AN ACCURATE TIMELINE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK MARCH, APRIL, UH, IS CERTAINLY, UH, A VERY REALISTIC TIMELINE, BUT REMEMBER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL POPULATION, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE STATE, UH, APPROVING UTILIZATION OF, UH, COVID-19 VACCINE FOR THE ONE BEAT GROUP, WHICH IS PART OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, UH, THAT'S INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65 OR INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN 16 AND 65 THAT HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.
UH, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A, UH, YOU KNOW, STEADY INCREASE IN, IN THOSE, UH, THOSE VACCINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, I WANT TO APPLAUD COMMISSIONER HELLER STAT, UH, FOR A LETTER THAT HE SENT OUT LAST WEEK SAYING IF YOU'VE GOT VACCINE, GET IT IN PEOPLE'S ARMS. UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE ONE AGE GROUP, OUR HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, IN MANY OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HAVE TO STAGGER THE DOSES.
SO WE'RE NOT DOING ENTIRE SECTIONS OF THE, OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE HOSPITALS.
UH, AND THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET THAT VACCINE OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE, IF WE HAVE TO, TO ROLL THAT OVER TIME, UH, WE'RE SAYING THAT, UH, PART OF THE GENERAL POPULATION IS, IS GOING TO BE VACCINATED THIS WEEK IN PARTICULAR, OUR NURSING HOME AND, AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, RESIDENTS AND STAFF, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE START TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65, AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, THE THREAT OF, OF COVID-19 IN, IN THE SPRING STARTS TO DIMINISH VERY QUICKLY.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD OUR GOAL IS TO VACCINE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO VACCINATE FOLKS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, UM, FOLLOWING THE PHASES APPROACH AS DR.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EVEN AS VACCINE ROLLS OUT, WE STILL HAVE TO BE VIGILANT WITH ALL OF THE OTHER PREVENTION MEASURES TO PROTECT US, UM, FROM, FROM ADDITIONAL DISEASE SPREAD.
NEXT QUESTION FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN QUESTION FOR DR.
SCOTT HOSPITALIZATIONS IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY ARE NOW AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
SO HOW SOON IT ALL IT ALL DID YOU EXPECT HOSPITALS TO OVERFLOW? DO WE HAVE SPARE BEDS AND STUFFING FOR WHEN THIS HAPPENS? UH, SO THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE UPDATED ON A, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, EVERY TIME THEY WERE UPDATED, THEY SEEM TO GET A LITTLE WORSE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT THAT WITHIN A WEEK WE CAN RUN OUT OF ICU BEDS.
UH, WE'VE SEEN DRAMATIC INCREASES IN THE ICU UTILIZATION IN PARTICULAR OVER THE PAST WEEK.
AND THAT OF COURSE IS WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST LIMITED RESOURCES.
ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE THE HOSPITAL SPACES, WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF VENTILATORS.
UH, WE'VE GOT A LIMITED NUMBER OF CRITICAL CARE STAFF, BIT, THE NUMBER OF, OF HOSPITAL STAFF.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FACE THE CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY SINCE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH ARE LEADING THE SURGE RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS, WE'VE GOT SAN ANTONIO RIGHT BEHIND THEM.
WE'VE GOT HOUSTON BEHIND SAN ANTONIO AND WHERE WE ARE FOLLOWING, UH, HOUSTON RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS IN TEXAS, ALL SURGING AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S GOING TO PLAY SIGNIFICANT STRESS ON THE REDUNDANCY OF, OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THIS STATE.
AND, UH, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THAT THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFF MAY NOT BE THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM PATCH.COM.
DID YOU ATTRIBUTE RECENT ALVIN SPOTS TO CONSTITUTING GATHERINGS AND HEALTHY BEEN TRACED ACCORDINGLY?
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IF I CAN START ON THAT AND JANET MAY WANT TO ADD IN, AGAIN, AFTER THANKSGIVING, WE SAW OUR CASE INVESTIGATION, CONTACT TRACING INDICATING LOTS OF SPREAD ASSOCIATED WITH THANKSGIVING GATHERINGS, UH, WHERE, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON IN THE FAMILY WAS POSITIVE AND THEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, EVERYBODY AT THE THANKSGIVING GATHERING THEN DEVELOPED COVID-19, UH, THEN OF COURSE, WE SEE THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT IT FROM THANKSGIVING, SPREADING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.UH, SO THAT CYCLE IS CONTINUING AND THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASES IN CASES, INCREASES IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE CYCLE.
WE'VE GOT TO BREAK THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD CHRISTMAS LAST WEEK, WE'VE GOT NEW, YEAR'S COMING UP THIS WEEK.
WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE THAT NOW'S THE TIME TO STOP IT.
NOW'S THE TIME TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY, TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE WE HAVE A VACCINE AND IT IS ROLLING OUT EVERY DAY INTO ARMS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO TAKE CHANCES.
NOW'S THE TIME TO PROTECT OURSELVES MAYBE MORE THAN, THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE, AND TO REALLY MAKE THE HARD DECISION TO STAY HOME.
AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO OUT AND IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUT FOR ESSENTIALS WHERE I'M ASKING DISTANCE, WASH YOUR HANDS, DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE, RIGHT.
IT IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE, THOSE METHODS WORK.
AND WE'VE GOT TO, WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE THAT ADVOCACY FOR THOSE SIMPLE MEASURES IN ORDER TO BREAK THAT CHAIN.
AND I WILL JUST ADD, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IN PREVIOUS MEDIA BRIEFINGS IS THAT WE DEFINITELY SAW AN IMPACT FROM OUR CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING THE RESULT OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS.
I IMAGINE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SIMILAR SPIKE IN CASES, UH, PROBABLY OCCURRING THIS WEEK AND THEN FOLLOWING THE, UH, THE NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AND NEW YEAR'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AS WELL.
SO, UM, AS DR S SCOTT SAID, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER NOW TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR LOVED ONES, UH, WHO, WHO MAY BE AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ELDERLY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VACCINATE THEM.
SO THEY DON'T BECOME ILL THAT WE STILL NEED TO USE THOSE PREVENTION MEASURES THAT, UH, DR.
S SCOTT MENTIONED, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE WE'RE COVERING OUR FACE, SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING HOME.
IF YOU'RE SICK, EVEN IF YOU HAVE SNIFFLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU SHOULD BE EVEN EVER MORE VIGILANT ABOUT WASHING YOUR HANDS AND AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE, UH, AND COVERING YOUR COUGH AND COLDS, UH, SO THAT YOU'RE NOT IMPACTING ANYBODY ELSE.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K L O P RADIO.
CHRIS STACK IS IN HIS RECENT BOOK.
APOLLOS ARROW SUGGESTS THAT AN EFFECTIVE NPI IS FOR ACTIVE SCHOOL CLOSURES.
ARE THEY ABLE TO DO SOCIAL MIXING, GET FILMS FROM ACTING AS VECTORS AND FORCE PARENTS TO STAY HOME AS WE ENTER IN THEIR SPORTS SEASON, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND COCOA OF HIGH SCHOOL SPURS? UH, SO WITH THE TRANSITION TO STAGE FIVE, WE DID MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS TO, TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOLS, UH, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY CAN'T POSTPONE OR CANCEL THAT THEY, UH, INSTITUTED A PROACTIVE TESTING PROCESS FOR THOSE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
BUT YES, THAT, THAT IS THE, THE NUMBER ONE PLACE WE'RE SEEING TRANSMISSION OF, OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOLS.
NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT TRANSMISSION HAPPENING IN, IN BASKETBALL.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT IN, IN OTHER, UH, WINTER AND SPRING SPORTS AS WELL.
UH, THE NEXT STEP IS TO IDENTIFY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO DECREASE RISK, UH, AND THE DISCUSSION THAT I'VE HAD WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, AS WELL AS THE TA IS THAT THAT WOULD START WITH TRANSITION OF HIGH SCHOOLS TO VIRTUAL EDUCATION, THEN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND THEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS A LAST RESORT.
UH, I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION THAT INCREASES THE HOSPITALIZATION AND ICU INCREASES THAT WE HAVE OVER THE PAST WEEK, THAT I WILL MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT OUR SCHOOLS TRANSITION MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO
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VIRTUAL FOR THE WEEK TO TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE BREAK.AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT EVEN IF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE CURTAILED IN THE SCHOOL AND, UH, BECAUSE OF VECTOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OR, UH, CURTAIL IT IS GOING TO BE ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE AT HOME OR CHILDREN AT HOME, THAT THEY ARE LIMITING THEIR EXPOSURES OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME, THAT MEANS NOT HAVING SLEEPOVERS, NOT HAVING SOCIAL GATHERINGS IN YOUR HOMES AND NOT DOING THOSE THINGS AVOIDING ESSENTIAL NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE GOING OUT AND SHOPPING OR EATING OUT, ESPECIALLY DURING STAGE FIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP US FLATTEN THE CURVE HERE IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KB YOUI LBC, THERE'S ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH, NO, WHICH LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
WE'LL START RECEIVING THAT THINGS TODAY.
THAT INFORMATION, UM, CAN BE, UM, RECEIVED FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND SO REACHING OUT TO THEM OR LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THERE.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR LONG-TERM CARE, UM, INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM.
THAT TEAM IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT ALL LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, UM, ARE CONNECTED WITH A, UH, WITH A PROVIDER.
SO THEY WILL GET THEIR VACCINE IN THE EVENT THAT ONE OF THE PROVIDERS HAS NOT SIGNED UP.
HUSTON PUBLIC HEALTH WILL ASSIST THEM WITH GETTING THEIR VACCINES.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN.
NOW THAT WE HAVE STAGE FIVE, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET OUT OF THIS? WELL, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO TAKE US FLATTENING THE CURVE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US REVERSING THE TREND.
UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW LAST WEEK LOOKS LIKE THE DATA'S SUGGESTING THAT OUR POSITIVITY RATE WENT UP AGAIN FROM 9.6 TO 10.6%, UH, WITH EVEN HIGHER CHANGES IN OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES, UH, WITH PLACES LIKE CALDWELL COUNTY, HAVING MORE THAN DOUBLE POWER POSITIVITY, RIGHT? UH, THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE STATE IS SURGING AND WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE TREND FOR NOT ONLY AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN TEXAS.
AND THAT'S GOING MEAN PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS DISEASE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM COVID-19 RIGHT NOW AND DYING FROM COVID-19.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE MOST OFTEN IT IS OLDER AND OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT THIS ALSO DOES STRIKE YOUNGER PEOPLE, HEALTHIER PEOPLE, AND THAT IT'S A TERRIBLE DISEASE.
IT IS A DISEASE THAT CAUSES INDIVIDUALS TO SUFFOCATE PROGRESSIVELY OVER TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO MAKE THE DECISION, TO STAY HOME, TO DECREASE OUR RISK SO THAT WE CAN GET OVER THIS HUMP, GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND SAVE A LOT OF LIVES.
UH, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRING, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PUSH THROUGH THAT.
WE'VE GOT, UH, WE'VE GOT A RALLY ONE MORE TIME.
AND REALLY, I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY ONE MORE RALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS TO GET US OVER THIS HALL TO START THE DECREASE IN CASES, AND TO ALLOW FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED.
AND AGAIN, SAVE MANY, MANY LIVES.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM CBS, AUSTIN, ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH T T ABC TO GET THEM TO GET THEM TOO CLOSELY MONITORS BAR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE? HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT BARS BEING PACK FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE? SINCE WE WE'VE BEEN SEEING VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF THEM BE IMPACT ON A REGULAR WEEKEND DAY? YEAH.
SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT BARS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO REOPEN DESPITE, UH, EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO THE CONTRARY.
AND AGAIN, UH, THERE'S A LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN HEADING INTO NEW YEAR'S EVE IS THE BARS THAT ARE OPERATING AS RESTAURANTS.
AND AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS OVER THE PREVIOUS
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WEEKS.THOSE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEK AS WELL.
UM, WE NEED THEM TO, TO CLOSE.
WE NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THEY ARE PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH AT RISK BY BEING OPEN.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER, UH, OVER, OVER NEW YEAR'S EVE.
WE KNOW THAT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE PEOPLE IN THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES AND MAYBE FORTIES, AND MAYBE THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE A SEVERE CHORUS BY AND LARGE, BUT SOME OF THEM WILL, SOME OF THEM WILL END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
SOME WILL END UP IN THE ICU, SOME MAY DIE FROM THAT, BUT THEY WILL SPREAD IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY'LL SPREAD IT TO PEOPLE IN THEIR FIFTIES AND SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES WHO WILL HAVE A SEVERE COURSE WHO DO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF NEEDING AN ICU OR DYING.
AND THAT'S NOT A RISK THAT WE CAN AFFORD, BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN UPWARD TREND, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBLY OF A CURFEW, NOT TOWARDS THE END OF THIS WEEK TO TRY TO HELP MITIGATE THAT RISK.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CAPACITY LEFT IN OUR HOSPITALS IN OUR ICU IS TO TAKE A LOT OF CHANCES THIS WEEKEND.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM, UH, KCC IN LAST WEEK, HELD OFFICIALS SAY THERE WILL BE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT FOR COVID-19 VIOLATION WITH MORE CITATION BEING ISSUED.
IS THIS HAPPENING? HOW MANY BARS ESTABLISHMENT WHERE CITED OVER THE PAST WEEK AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT OUR STAFF ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE WORKED VERY, UM, UM, HAVE WORKED ACROSS THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, AS WELL AS IN THE COUNTY AREA.
THOSE EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE, BUT AS DR.
SCOTT STATED EARLIER, UM, WE KNOW WE CANNOT ENFORCE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS ISSUE.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IS, IS THAT, UM, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TODAY BY STAYING HOME, UM, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND NOT GOING OUT TO BARS TO CELEBRATE WHETHER IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE OR NEW YEAR'S WEEKEND.
SO OUR HOPE IS, IS THAT YOU WILL MAKE A BETTER CHOICE AND NOT GO OUT, UM, TO BE IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.
AND IF YOU DO DECIDE TO GO OUT, OUR HOPE IS, IS, UM, UH, GIVE US A CALL AT THREE ONE ONE, UM, AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM K A K U T.
THERE ARE REPORTS OF CHIEF BRIAN, MAINLY TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID.
DID YOU KNOW HOW HE'S DOING AND WHAT, AND WHAT IS THE TIMER FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC DEPARTMENT AND AUSTIN PART OF THE APARTMENT TO GET VACCINATED? UH, SO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WE DID HEAR THE NEWS ABOUT CHIEF MANLEY.
UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE WON'T DISCUSS THE CONDITION OF CHIEF MANLEY OR IN ANY PATIENT, UH, DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY, UM, REGARDING THE TIMELINE FOR IMMUNIZATIONS, UH, AUSTIN FIRE AND AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS BEGAN THE PROCESS OF, UH, VACCINATIONS, UH, ALREADY UNDERSTAND THAT THE EMS DEPARTMENT, UH, IS ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH VACCINATING FOLKS WHO WANT VACCINES.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DOING A PART TWO TO OUR GREAT PARTNERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL, UH, OUR PARTNERS AT ASCENSION SATAN, UH, WHO'VE HAD SOME, SOME VACCINES TO OFFER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, AND THAT PROCESS WILL CONTINUE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR AUSTIN, UM, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY WELLNESS, UH, WHO HAS A VACCINE ALLOCATION, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO VACCINATE, UH, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, EMS, AND, AND THEN SOME, UH, APD, UH, AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS ON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND, UH, IN THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE.
SO THOSE OVER 65 OR THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.
NOW, I ANTICIPATE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER WEEK TO TWO WEEKS TO GET THROUGH ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS.
BUT AGAIN, UH, WE'RE EXCITED THAT THAT PROCESS HAS BEGUN AND LOOK FORWARD TO PROTECTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO DO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO PROTECTING US.
[00:30:04]
THIS QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATEMENT, DR.MAHER, AS SCOTT MENTIONED, POSSIBLY BEGINNING 2021 IN, IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHAT WOULD THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY LOOK LIKE? WHEN WOULD IT, WHEN WOULD IT PLAYS INTO EFFECT WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED ON THAT? A STATE OF EMERGENCY W WHEN I SAY A STATE OF EMERGENCY, I MEAN, WE MAY START 2021 WITH OUR HOSPITALS FULL OR NEARLY FULL, UH, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF 2020, UH, FURTHER EXCEEDING THAT CAPACITY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITY OF NEEDING TO CALL IN TRAILERS TO STORE, UH, ADDITIONAL BODIES.
IF, IF WE HAVE AN UNCONTROLLED SURGE LIKE THAT, WHICH HAPPENED IN EL PASO AND LUBBOCK, UM, YOU KNOW, TH TH THIS IS, THIS IS A REAL CRISIS, AND WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ACTUALLY FACE THAT WHETHER OR NOT WE EXCEED OUR CAPACITY OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TO CARE FOR PEOPLE IS UP TO US.
AND I I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
NOW IS THE DAY TO CHANGE THE RISK SO THAT WE CAN AVOID THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS REALLY UP TO ALL OF US TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM A PATCH.COM MINORITIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT A CORONA VIRUS BE VACCINATED FIRST WHEN THE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, IS A SAFETY NET PROVIDER.
WE KNOW THAT, UM, HISPANICS, AS WELL AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE DATA, UM, UM, INDIVIDUALS WITH COVID-19 AND OUR HOSPITALIZATION AND OUR DEATH RATES.
SO IT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DO RECEIVE, UM, THEIR VACCINE FROM US AS BEING THE SAFETY NET PROVIDER.
WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCATES, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE SET UP CLINICS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BACKSEAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM K O O P RADIO.
LAST WEEK, YOU REPORTED THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE PARTICULARLY TO PROTECT THE COUNTRIES 80 K HEALTH HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE FENCE THEN TO PERMIT THE INCLUSION OF APD OFFICERS THIS WEEK.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE PLEASED THAT VACCINE CONTINUES TO ROLL OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT ALLOCATION HAS BEEN TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY WELLNESS CENTER.
UH, NOW OF COURSE IN THE ONE AGE GROUP, WE HAVE OUR EMS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS, UH, WHO ARE CERTIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND PROVIDING CARE TO PEOPLE THAT WE ALSO HAVE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THAT WELLNESS PROGRAM.
UH, THOSE POLICE OFFICERS ARE, ARE OFTEN THE FIRST, FIRST RESPONDER, UH, WHILE THEY MAY NOT BE MEDICALLY CERTIFIED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH, AS EMT IS FOR INSTANCE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING FIRST AID TO PEOPLE.
NOW THEY ARE PROVIDING HELP AND SUPPORT TO OUR, UH, EMS PROVIDERS AND, AND FIREFIGHTERS.
UH, AND AGAIN, THE FOCUS ON, ON THE APD INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE WHO ARE, UH, ARE AT HIGHER RISK.
SO THOSE ARE, WHO WERE IN THE ONE B GROUP, UH, WHO, UH, EITHER MEET THE AGE CRITERIA OR CRITERIA BASED UPON OTHER HEALTH FACTORS.
UH, AGAIN, MAYBE SOMETIME BEFORE ALL OF A PD CAN GET VACCINATED, BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT IN OUR RESEARCH FROM THE STATE HAS BEEN, THE VACCINE WILL CONTINUE TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN VACCINATE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH EVERY WEEK.
THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION FROM KVU
[00:35:01]
LAST WEEK, DR.ESCALADE MENTIONED, IF THINGS DON'T GET BETTER, MOST WILL START TO OVERFLOW.
WHAT IS THE CAPACITY LOOKING LIKE NOW? SO WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT MORGUES? UH, SO RIGHT NOW, THE THERE'S CAPACITY IN THE MORE SIMILAR TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, UH, SOME CAPACITY LEFT IN OUR ICU, UH, AND IN THE HOSPITALS, THE CONCERN IS THAT, THAT WE MAY ACCELERATE THAT, THAT GROWTH IN TERMS OF, OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, ICU, ADMISSIONS, AND DEATHS, UH, AS WE SAW IN EL PASO, THAT ACCELERATION CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND WE CAN GO FROM BEING OKAY IN TERMS OF CAPACITY, THE HOSPITALS AND MORGUES TO BEING, YOU KNOW, GROSSLY OVERRUN.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
AND WE HAVE A, UH, A TEAM WHICH IS DEDICATED TO MORTUARY SERVICES THAT ARE CONTINUALLY ASSESSING THAT, UH, THAT CAPACITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE PROJECTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE SAY THAT CAPACITY LOCALLY, THEN, THEN THEY WOULD MAKE THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING REFRIGERATED TRAILERS.
THANK YOU TO OUR POOL REPORTER AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE CLOSING COMMENTS STARTING WITH STEPHANIE.
AS WE TURN TO CLOSE THIS YEAR OF 2020, MY HOPE IS, IS THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN I HAVE A NEW TRADITION? MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU DID FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, OR MAYBE IT WAS, UM, THE WAY YOU CELEBRATE IT FOR THANKSGIVING, THAT WAS SAFE.
THAT WAS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LIVE WITH, THAT YOU USE TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU PICKED UP THE TELEPHONE AND CARL'S FOLKS AND CHECKED ON THEM, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE.
MY HOPE IS IS THAT YOU TAKE THE LOWEST RISK POSSIBLE THAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW CAN I DO THIS IN MY HOME WITH THE PEOPLE I LIVE WITH THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SAFEST THING.
AS WE THINK ABOUT MOST OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, WE ESTABLISH NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION? ARE YOU GOING TO BE SAFE? ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS? THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN EASILY CHECK OFF BY SAYING, I'M GOING TO STAY AT HOME AND I'M GOING TO BE SAFE.
AND I'M GOING TO THINK ABOUT OTHERS AS WELL.
SO I DON'T BRING COVID-19 AND TO MY HOME.
AND SO MY CHILD WILL NOT TAKE COVID TO THEIR SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT YOU TO DO AS YOU ARE REFLECTING OVER 2020.
MY HOPE IS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR MASK, WASH YOUR FACE, WATCH YOUR DISTANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, DESIGNATE AN INDIVIDUAL TO, UM, GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.
MY HOPE IS, IS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES BY ORDERING CURBSIDE, UM, AND PICK THAT FOOD UP OR HAVE IT DELIVERED AND HAVE IT AT HOME, BUT PLEASE BE SAFE FOR THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO BE SAFE AS WE TRANSITION INTO 2021.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, OUR, OUR CASES ARE ON THE RISE, OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ICU'S ARE ON THE RISE.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO RUN OUT OF CAPACITY TODAY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES REPORTED THERE ARE 41 ICU BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE 11 COUNTIES SURROUNDING AUSTIN.
UH, IT IS NOT AN UNLIMITED RESOURCE AND THAT RESOURCE IS GROWING SMALLER AND SMALLER EVERY DAY.
SO PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO STAY HOME, TO DECREASE RISK, DECREASE, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, THAT DON'T INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT YOUR MASK ON.
UH, AND SO SIMPLE THINGS THAT, THAT WILL HELP US THROUGH THIS, UH, NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, GET US PAST THE HUMP, START THE DECLINE OF CASES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A, A, A BETTER OUTLOOK FOR 2021.
AND IT TAKES ALL OF US DOING OUR OWN PART TO STOP THE SPREAD AND FLATTEN THE CURVE AGAIN, WITH THAT ALL, PASS IT OVER TO JENNIFER SHOW YOU, YEAH, AS WE RING IN THE NEW YEAR,
[00:40:01]
I JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE THINGS THAT BOTH DR S SCOTT AND STEPHANIE HAS SAID ARE, ARE JUST VITALLY IMPORTANT, UH, SO THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY AND SAFE 20, 21, UM, AGAIN, UH, WEARING A MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASHING YOUR FACE AND YOUR HANDS, AND, UM, AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE, UH, WASHING YOUR HANDS AND, UM, MAKING SURE THAT YOU STAY HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK.UM, THESE ARE THE THINGS, MY, MY HOPE FOR 2021 IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ME SAY THOSE FOUR THINGS EVER, THAT IT IS JUST INHERENT IN WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
I MEAN, IT'S PREVENTION THAT WORKS, AND I'M HOPING THAT EVERYBODY TAKES SUCH A PART.
THEY'RE PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING US SAY IT, BUT WE KNOW THESE THINGS WORK.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, UH, IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO GO OUT AND ACT AND ARE INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF NONESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE THREE CS TO COVER YOUR FACE, UM, AVOID CONFINED SPACES, INDOOR ACTIVITIES, GET OUTDOORS, IF YOU CAN, AND AVOID CROWDS OF ALL POSSIBLE.
AND I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
AND FINALLY, JUST TO REITERATE, AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2021, WE ALL A PART IN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE 20, 21, A HEALTHIER AND SAFER YEAR FOR ALL OF US.
THIS IS A TIME THAT MANY OF US SET NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS TO MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES, WHETHER IT'S TO STOP SMOKING, GET MORE EXERCISE, EAT HEALTHIER, PREVENTING COVID CAN BE A PART OF THOSE HEALTHIER CHOICES.
AND SO THINKING ABOUT IS YOUR NEW IN YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS AND THOSE PLANS.
ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE VACCINE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE? ARE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THOSE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR WORKPLACES AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY? I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK AHEAD TO 2021 AND SEE THAT WE WILL CONQUER THIS DISEASE, AND WE WILL HAVE A HEALTHIER AND SAFER NEW YEAR AND OTHER YEARS TO COME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
MARK S. SCOTT CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET PICHETTE, CASSANDRA DAILY ON INTERIM APH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION, AND TO OUR POOL REPORTER ALICIA RAMOS' FROM UNIVISION.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A SAFE DAY.