[00:00:14]
[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
MORNING, EVERYONE.I'M A PIO AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'LL BE MODERATING TODAY'S AWESOME.
PUBLIC HEALTH MEDIA, Q, AND A EVENT TODAY I'M JOINED BY INTERIM APH DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STIRRUP, DR.
DEZ MAR WALKS, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY, JANET PICHET, APH, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND CASSANDRA DELYON APH CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION.
WE'LL BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH SOME OPENING REMARKS BY OUR SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE WILL MOVE OVER TO THE MEDIA, UM, QUESTION, UH, THE MEDIA PORTION, UM, WHERE KUT IS OUR POLL REPORTER ASKING ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
UM, WE COME TO YOU TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON, UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING OR HOW WE BELIEVE THINGS SHOULD GO.
BUT I DO WANT TO BRING YOU THE FACTS OF THE MATTER, UM, CASES ARE HAVE BEEN SURGING UP THE LAST MONTH AS THE DELTA VARIANT IS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.
UM, AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SICK IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE UNVACCINATED AND UNPROTECTED, THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE SEVERE DISEASE FROM COVID-19 DEVELOPING AND MORE PEOPLE REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION.
UM, THIS IS CAUSING A STRAIN ON OUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ON OUR MEDICAL SERVICES AND, UH, SERVICES, HOSPITAL RESOURCES, HOSPITAL STAFFING.
WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR 200 BED CAPACITY IN OUR ICU, AND WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD WITH AN EXPANSION TO ACCOMMODATE THE 239 SOULS THAT ARE NOW IN OUR ICU.
UM, 160 PLUS THAT ARE ON VENTILATORS.
AND, AND THIS SITUATION CONTINUES TO, UM, GROW AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS SURGE.
THIS, THIS DELTA BARRIER IS MOVING LIKE WILD FIRE THROUGH OUR CITY.
UM, WITH SCHOOLS REOPENING, WE'RE SEEING MORE CASES AND WE REALLY WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE NEED YOU TO GO AND GET VACCINATED.
AND WE REALLY WANT US OUR KIDS TO BE PROTECTED OUR CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED BY MASKING IN SCHOOLS.
WE'VE GOT ALTERNATE OVER TO ADRIAN STERN.
UM, ADRIAN STIR AT BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH OVER THE PAST WEEK.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE.
THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE IT IS ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE AND IN THE SAME WAY, WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE A CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVER ON THE ROAD, SO THAT WE'RE ALL SAFE IN THE SAME WAY.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO RESPECT NON-SMOKING AREAS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE SAFE IN THE SAME WAY.
WE ASK PEOPLE TO WEAR SEATBELTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A DRAMATIC ACCIDENT CAN HAVE EFFECTS BEYOND THAT INDIVIDUAL DRIVER.
WE ARE ASKING AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DECIDE TO WEAR MASKS.
THE SCIENCE HAS PROVEN THAT MASKS HELP KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
IF YOU'RE SICK, IF YOU'RE SICK, WE WANT YOU TO GET A TEST AND WE WANT YOU TO OBSERVE THE SAME HYGIENE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES THAT KEPT US RELATIVELY SAFE THROUGHOUT 2020.
NOW WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT TO CASSIE DALIAN.
UH, THIS IS, UM, AN IMPORTANT TIME.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME BECAUSE NOW WE'RE IN SCHOOL.
UM, NOW WE ARE IN THE SWING OF, UH, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL BE OUT, UM, MORE AGGRESSIVELY AND MORE IN PUBLIC THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEFORE, UH, DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME BECAUSE WE STILL KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LARGE MAJORITY OF LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION THAT STILL ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED.
OUR NUMBERS INDICATE THAT WE'RE AT 66% OF OUR ELIGIBLE POPULATION BEING VACCINATED.
[00:05:01]
WE'RE MAKING THAT PROGRESS, BUT IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S STILL OVER 300,000 PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT FULL PROTECTION.AND WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS DELTA VARIANT THAT UNFORTUNATELY THOSE THAT ARE YOUNGER, THAT FEEL INVINCIBLE ARE NOT AGAINST THIS DISEASE.
AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AS WE WANT TO ENJOY THE FALL FESTIVITIES AND ALL THAT TV'S GOING ON, THAT OUR BEST PROTECTION IS TO GET VACCINATED.
SO AT LEAST YOU CAN HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO JANET.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MENTION THAT TODAY MARKS, UH, ON TUESDAY ACTUALLY MARKED A MILESTONE FOR THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COMMUNITY, WHERE WE HAD OVER 100,000 A PIECE PCR, POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TO US.
UM, UH, THIS IS JUST A NUMBER WE NEVER ANTICIPATED.
WE WOULD BE SEEN, UH, AND IT'S, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, UH, LARGELY PREVENTABLE ILLNESS.
YOU CAN GET VACCINATED, YOU CAN WEAR A MASK, YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF BY SOCIALLY DISTANCING AND YOU CAN REDUCE TRANSMISSION RISKS BY STAYING HOME.
UH, AS CASSIE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION.
WE ARE STARTING TO BEGIN TO SEE CLUSTERS OCCURRING IN SCHOOLS.
WE'VE SEEN, UH, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS IN A SCHOOL THAT ENCOURAGES MASKING AND HAS A MASKING ORDER VERSUS THOSE THAT MAKE MASKING OPTIONAL, UH, UH, LEANDRA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES.
AND OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED CLOSURE OF THAT SCHOOL.
UH, AS PARENTS, AS, UH, CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, WE ENCOURAGE THE SAME PROVINCIAL MEASURES THAT WE'VE ALL SAID, GET VACCINATED, WEAR A MASK, AVOID TOUCHING YOUR HANDS ARE AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE WITH YOUR HANDS.
AND IF YOU'RE HOME BY ALL MEANS, STATE STAY HOME.
IF YOU'RE SICK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JANET.
AND AT THIS TIME WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER FROM KUT TO ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA.
AND AS A QUICK SIDE NOTE, WE DO HAVE A HARD STOP AT 1120 TODAY DUE TO A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WILL BE FOLLOWING OURS.
IF WE DO NOT GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER YOUR, YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE MEDIA AND BOX.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, UH, DIRECTOR STIRRUPS.
WE KNOW THE VIDEO IS, IS NOT, UM, GREAT THERE.
UM, SO HER VIDEO MAY END UP DROPPING, UM, AT SOME POINT, UM, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY, UM, THE AUDIO SHOULD STILL BE GOOD.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO KUT.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM KUT, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT SIDED WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT YESTERDAY AND AGREED TO LET HIS ORDER STAND IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY WHILE THE CITY, WHILE THAT CITY AND COUNTY CHALLENGED THE BAN ON MASS MANDATES, HAVE YOU ALREADY DISCUSSED WHAT THAT RULING MIGHT MEAN FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY'S MASS MANDATE, WE'RE IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR LEGAL ADVISORS AND WE WILL FOLLOW THEIR GUIDANCE.
AND WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO WEAR MASK OR FACE COVERINGS TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN PARTICULAR, THE DELTA VARIANT, SO THAT WE CAN SAFELY CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR ECONOMY OPENED AND HAVE OUR CHILDREN GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN PERSON FOR INSTRUCTION.
I'LL PASS IT OVER TO JANET FOR FURTHER COMMENTS.
NO, I MEAN, I, I THINK MY GENERAL CONCERN FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TAKE THE LIBERTY CHET TO FOLLOW THESE, UH, ORDERS AND, AND NOT DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M IMPLORING AS THE REST OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND, AND A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING SO THAT WE CAN, UH, SQUASH THIS BUG AND, AND GET IT, GET IT BEHIND US.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KX A N WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
[00:10:01]
DOES THE CITY HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE OR PUSH CITY EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED? AND IS THAT COMING, ESPECIALLY AFTER YESTERDAY'S NEWS THAT ANOTHER APD OFFICER HAS DIED OF COVID-19 OUR CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF SERGEANT STATE AREAS AND SEEING YOUR OFFICER RANDY BOYD WHO SUCCUMB TO COVID-19.UM, ANY FAMILY WHO'S LOST, LOVED ONES AS A RESULT OF THIS DISEASE ARE, UM, HAVING THE PAIN THAT WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE IS, UM, SO DEEP THAT WE, WE JUST STAND WITH THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM AND, AND WE'LL GIVE THEM WHATEVER RESOURCES WE NEED TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS TIME.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD, UM, AS AN ORGANIZATION IS TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAYS THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE PROTECTING OUR EMPLOYEES AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO RISK THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROTECT TO THEM.
AND AGAIN, WHEN OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THESE TWO OFFICERS, JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WALKS AND INDEED CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES QUICKLY.
UM, FROM THE BEGINNING, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SUPPORTED OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND SUPPORTING VACCINE CLINICS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
UM, AS A TEAM, WE HAVE VISITED SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT.
UM, TWO WEEKS AGO WE HOSTED A CLINIC FOR EMPLOYEES ON, AT ONE OF OUR APH CAMPUSES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO, UM, THAT SORT OF THING FROM A PROGRAM, EXCUSE ME, A PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL.
AND I KNOW AS PART OF THE, UM, FISCAL YEAR 22 BUDGET PROCESS, THERE WAS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY CAN INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES TO BECOME VACCINATED.
AND WE EXPECT A FULL ROLLOUT OF THAT AS, UM, THEN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS THERE BEEN IN SECURING MORE HOSPITAL AND ICU STAFF THROUGH THE STATE? WE HAVE HAD SOME STAFF, UH, COME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP RELIEVE THE, UH, SITUATIONS IN OUR HOSPITALS.
WE ANTICIPATE WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE KNOWN TRANSMISSION FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS, THAT OUR CASE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.
SO STAFFING ISSUES WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN, AND WE, UM, ARE MAKING THOSE REQUESTS TO THE STATE.
AND THEY'RE BEING GRANTED AS THE STATE HAS RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN SEND OUR WAY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CVS AUSTIN, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE RATIONALE FOR CANCELING BAD FEST.
THIS EVENT WAS CANCELED WHILE AUSTIN FC SOCCER GAMES CONTINUE WITH THOUSANDS SHOUTING AND GATHERED CLOSELY WITHOUT MASKS.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING AN EVENT AND CHOOSING, UH, TO HAVE AN ICU BED AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE THAT NEEDS INTENSIVE CARE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING AND THE CHOICES THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE REGARDING THOSE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE PERMITTING AUTHORITY OVER, UM, HAVE THEM BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RESOURCES TO CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN OUR HOSPITALS SYSTEMS AT THIS POINT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SURGING IN SURGE, IN CASES.
SO, UM, THE, THE VIRUS DOESN'T HAVE A TIMETABLE AND IT'S GOING AT ITS OWN PACE.
AND WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE, THE POINTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THE TIME LINE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR EVENTS TO OCCUR.
AND, UH, BUT OUR SITUATION IS PREDICATED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:15:02]
AND JUST TO ADD ON REALLY QUICKLY, UM, FOR THOSE PARTNERS THAT HAVE EVENTS THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, PROVIDING THEM RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDANCE ABOUT PRACTICES THAT THEY CAN EMPLOY, UM, TO KEEP THEIR PARTICIPANTS SAFE.THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN, AUSTIN, WHAT ARE THE CASE NUMBERS AT THIS POINT INSIDE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA? IS THAT STILL A CONCERN? THE CASES IN OUR AUSTIN SCHOOLS ARE INCREASING.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE, UM, REGARDING CASES AND CLOSE CONTACTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, BUT WE KNOW THAT, UM, WE'RE EXPERIENCING MORE CASES, UM, THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND OUR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET TO SHARE.
CAN YOU GET EVEN MORE DETAILS ON THIS? UH, YES.
UH, OBVIOUSLY I MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK AS WELL, THAT, UH, WE WERE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MONITOR AND DETERMINE AND INTERVENE WHEN WE COULD, UH, TO PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT, UH, THEY'RE FOLLOWING TEA GUIDANCE RELATED TO, UH, DOING CONTACT TRACING AND FOLLOW UP ON CASES THAT ARE POSITIVE AND ALERTING, UH, INDIVIDUALS, IF THEY'RE EXPOSED.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
IT IT'S, AS I PREDICTED WOULD HAPPEN.
UM, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS AND YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE, UH, PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT MATH, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SEE A NUMBER OF CASES INCREASE, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT IN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHERE THEY HAVE MASKING IN PORTION AND IN ORDER, UH, THEY'RE NOT HAVING, THEY'RE NOT HAVING THAT INCREASE IN CASES THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE MASKING IS OPTIONAL.
SO WE ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO TRY TO GET THEIR KIDS TO WEAR MASKS IF POSSIBLE, UH, TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION.
AND, UM, JUST TRY TO TRY TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE IN THE SETTINGS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KTU, AS WE SEE CASES RISING IN SCHOOLS AND PROJECTIONS FOR STUDENTS, AND THE INCREASE IN COVID ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WILL APH BE PUSHING FOR MORE VIRTUAL LEARNING.
LIKE LAST YEAR, OUR CURRENT GUIDANCE IS FOR THE VIRTUAL OPTION TO BE AVAILABLE OR MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
AND MANY OF OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE OFFERING THAT OPTION FOR STUDENTS.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS THE DECISION OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS FOR THESE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS TO WHETHER THAT OPTION'S AVAILABLE.
AND, AND, AND WE, AS I SAID, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT OPTION FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE RETURNING TO SCHOOL.
UM, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT, UH, THE SCHOOLS WILL STAY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CDC, THE SOPHOS, AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AND ENCOURAGE, AND, UH, HAVE CHILDREN WEAR MASKS WHILE IN CLASS.
IT IS A CLOSE, UM, CONTACT, VERY, UM, POORLY VENTILATED SITUATION WHERE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VIRUS CAN BE, UM, VERY EASY.
AND WE REALLY WANT TO DECREASE THE SPREAD BY HAVING CHILDREN WEAR A MASK.
AND I'LL ADD ON, YOU KNOW, UM, IF PARENTS ARE AWARE THAT THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN EXPOSED OR IS POSITIVE, UH, WE ARE STRONGLY, STRONGLY RECOMMENDING THAT THEY STAY HOME AND BE PLACED IN QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION SO THAT, UH, THEY DO NOT CAUSE FURTHER DISEASE, TRANSMISSION RISKS, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE MASKING AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE SLIGHT SNIFFLES AND A HEAD COLD, THAT COULD BE A VERY, UH, TELLTALE SIGN THAT THEY HAVE COVID, UH, THEY SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, HAVING THOSE KIDS TESTED.
[00:20:01]
UM, WE MAY ADD THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, NOT HAVE ANY AWARENESS OF WHETHER THAT TEST RESULT IS POSITIVE OR NOT.IF THAT'S THE CASE, UM, YOU NEED AS PARENTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE ISOLATED IN QUARANTINE, ACCORDING TO THE GUIDANCE OF THE CDC.
THE FDA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT TAKING LARGE DOSES OF
ARE YOU SEEING PATIENTS AT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AS A RESULT HAS THIS THE POTENTIAL TO ADD TO THE ALREADY BURDENED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WE'VE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING THIS MEDICATION.
THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE USE OF THOSE, FOR THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19.
I WOULD URGE ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING THIS AS A TREATMENT TO NOT DO THIS, UM, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION, UH, FROM OUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE, UM, GOING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER YOU OPTIONS SUCH AS MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY, WHICH IF USED EARLY ON IN THE DISEASE PROCESS OF COVID-19 AND ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, THAT IT DOES DECREASE THE NEED FOR HOSPITALIZATION BY 70%.
SO JUST ASK YOUR LOCAL PROVIDER ABOUT IT AND WHETHER YOU QUALIFY AND THEY CAN REFER YOU FOR THIS TREATMENT.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT THE GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENT TRUMP USED, AND THEY WERE EFFECTIVELY TREATED BY THIS MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY.
SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN MEDICAL, UH, FOR DOCTOR WALKS, UH, IN TUESDAY'S JOINT COVID-19 BRIEFING, YOU TOLD MAYOR ADVERT THAT YOU EXPECT IT TO HAVE YOUR ANALYSIS ON LARGE EVENTS AND COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS READY IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
CAN YOU PLEASE ELABORATE ON IF THIS MEANS YOU PLAN TO SOON RELEASE NEW HEALTH AUTHORITY RULES FOR LARGE EVENTS AND GATHERINGS? WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ACE TO, UH, ROLL THOSE GUIDANCES OUT.
UM, THEY'RE BASED ON EVALUATING THE MITIGATION PLANS FOR EACH EVENT AND ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IS WITH OUR HOSPITALS SYSTEMS EMERGENCY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS, UM, FOR THE TIME THAT THESE EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, WHERE ARE WE ON BOOSTER SHOTS? WE ARE, UM, NOW, UM, OFFERING BOOSTER VACCINATIONS TO IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY OF THE LOCAL PROVIDERS, THE PHARMACIES, UM, OFFICES, THAT CLINICS SITUATIONS, AND THROUGH APH, UM, WHEN WE REACHED THE SEPTEMBER 20TH, UM, MILESTONE, THAT'S BEEN, UM, PUBLICIZED BY THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE FDA AND CDC, WE WILL BE OFFERING THIS RASHAD'S TO ANYONE WHO SAID THEIR EIGHT MONTH MARK, WHERE, UM, THE MRNS VACCINES OF PFIZER AND MADONNA
UM, THE, LIKE THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM UNIVISION IN RECENT NATIONAL NEWS, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE TAKING DEWORMER MEDICATION TO PREVENT COVID AGAINST FDA ADVICE.
HAVE WE HAD ANY CASES REPORTED HERE LOCALLY? DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TAKING MEDICATION OR ADVICE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO CURE COVID-19? AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, PLEASE SKIP THE DAY WORMER AND CONTACT A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.
WHEN YOU LEARN THAT YOU'VE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, UM, AND ASK ABOUT WHETHER YOU QUALIFY OR NOT AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY, IT'S EFFECTIVE, IT'S SAFE, AND IT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
[00:25:01]
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, OR AT LEAST FLATTENING, BUT ADMISSIONS STILL APPEAR HIGH.HAVE WE HIT A PEAK? ARE PATIENTS BEING TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITALS OUTSIDE THE MSA? OKAY.
UM, IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT WE'VE REACHED A PEAK.
WE HAVE, UM, CASE NUMBERS CLIMBING IN OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS JUST REOPENED.
SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY ANOTHER 14 TO 21 DAYS BEFORE WE SEE WHAT THE, UM, EVENTUAL OUTCOME FROM THOSE INCREASES IN CASES HAS ON OUR CASE NUMBERS WITH REGARDS TO TRANSLATORS.
UM, WE HAVE, WE SERVE AS THE PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS THAT REQUIRE ICU CARE FOR A NUMBER OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO OUR SYSTEM, AND THEY CANNOT BE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE BEDS AT THIS POINT TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
SO THE SITUATION IS STILL DIRE AND WE STILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK AND VACCINATED, STAY HOME IF WE'RE SICK AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
UM, THE NEXT QUESTION FROM KSAN YESTERDAY, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY TO PRESENT A BOOSTER SHOT PLAN BEFORE COUNCIL BY NEXT MONTH.
WHERE ARE YOU ALL ON THAT RIGHT NOW? WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING? AND WILL YOU MEET THE COUNCIL'S DEADLINE? YEAH, I CAN JUMP IN, UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN ANTICIPATING BOOSTER SHOTS BEING A PART OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE RESPONSE EFFORTS SINCE THE VACCINES CAME INTO THE MARKET BACK IN, UH, DECEMBER.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE HAD THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE INITIAL ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE, UM, AND HAVE LEARNED QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR AND WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE TO HELP SUPPORT AND FACILITATE THIS RESPONSE.
UH, WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEET THE COUNCIL DEADLINE.
OUR STAFF IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO INCORPORATE BOOSTER, UM, PLANS INTO OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS AND HAVE BEEN, UM, AS DR.
WACHS SAID, WE HAVE ALREADY INTEGRATED THE THIRD DOSE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INTO OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS.
AND SO THAT'S A NICE WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH AND SEE HOW THIS, UM, MERGES INTO EXISTING OPERATIONS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN, UM, THIS BE A VERY FLUID PROCESS AND, UM, OUR CLINICAL OPERATIONS ARE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS CURRENTLY.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, THE SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DIFFERENT FROM WHEN WE INITIALLY ROLLED OUT VACCINE.
UM, BACK IN JANUARY, WE WERE ONE OF VERY FEW PROVIDERS THAT HAD VACCINE, AND THERE WAS A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF VACCINE AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE THE LUXURY NOW OF HAVING A LOT OF VACCINE AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM MANY, MANY PROVIDERS.
AND THIS GIVES AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY THAT WE TYPICALLY ARE FOCUSING OUR RESOURCES ON.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MEET THOSE WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY OVERALL WITH THE BOOSTER ROLLOUT STRATEGY, AS WELL AS REALLY FOCUSING AND MAKING SURE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AT ALL, OR HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THAT LAYER OF PROTECTION.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, HAS APH SEEN TRACTION FROM ITS VACCINE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, OFFERING HEB GIFT CARDS.
WE DEFINITELY ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE ARE MAKING THAT DECISION TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE THERE'S THE INCENTIVE, UM, AND HAVE SEEN SOME INTEREST, UH, THAT THAT WAS A MOTIVATOR, UM, NOTING THAT, UM, IT HAS NOT REALLY SURGED OUR OPERATIONS, UM, MEANING THAT WE'VE SEEN PRETTY STEADY OPERATIONS, UM, EVEN WITH THE INCENTIVE BEING MADE AVAILABLE.
UM, WE DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, VACCINE OPERATIONS, VACCINE CLINICS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE, UM, THIS WEEKEND.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE STILL SOMEONE TO SUPPLY OF GIFT CARDS.
SO, UM, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO, TO GET YOUR VACCINE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED.
AND, UM, IF YOU'RE IN NEED OF THAT INCENTIVE TO HELP SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND GETTING VACCINATED, UM, WHERE WE HAVE SUPPLY AVAILABLE, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO SUPPORT YOU IN THAT WAY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CBS, AUSTIN, SHOULD AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EXPECT TO SEE MORE LARGE EVENTS CANCELED IN THE COMING WEEKS DUE TO THE SAME CONCERNS THAT SAW BAT FEST CANCELED.
[00:30:02]
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE EVENT ORGANIZERS.UM, MANY HAVE, UH, VOLUNTARILY POSTPONED THEIR EVENTS, UM, BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT OUR SITUATION IS SUCH THAT WE CANNOT HAVE ANY STRAIN ON OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM, OUR ENS SYSTEM, PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM, PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO WE'RE WITH AND CONVERSING WITH OUR, UM, AND THEN ORGANIZERS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE SITUATION WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE THEIR EVENTS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THEY'RE HELPING US ENCOURAGE MASS GLARING.
THEY'RE HELPING IN SOME CASES WITH, UM, CLOSE STEAM VACCINE EVENTS.
SO THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND, UM, MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE MAKING THE CHOICE TO WORK WITH US TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
THE OTHER THING I'LL ADD REALLY QUICKLY IS THAT, UM, IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND THE WE'VE CONSISTENTLY SAID THE WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS SURGE IS FOR PEOPLE TO MASK STAY HOME.
IF THEY'RE SICK TEST OF THEIR SICK AND PRAY AND PRACTICE PROPER HYGIENE.
SO IT REALLY WILL TAKE THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ENJOY OUR FALL EVENTS, OUR FALL FESTIVALS AND THE FASHION THAT WE TYPICALLY DO.
IF WE ONLY HAVE 200 STAFFED ICU BEDS AVAILABLE, BUT 239 PATIENTS, WHERE ARE THE OTHER 39 GOING, IS ANOTHER CITY OR MSA HELPING US EASE THE LOAD? OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING NO, UH, WE ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER TO OTHER LOCALITIES.
UM, EVERY MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA IN OUR STATE IS BEING IMPACTED BY THIS DELTA SURGE.
UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT WE'RE STRETCHING OUR CURRENT RESOURCES TO THE MAX AND WE HAVE, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE SHOWING UP FOR THE JOB AND THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.
AND WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE AND STOP THE NUMBERS OF CASES OF CASES FROM INCREASING.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K O O P RADIO.
THE U S SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT THE CDC OVERSTEPPED ITS AUTHORITY WITH ITS EVICTIONS BAN, COULD APH STEP IN TO CONTINUE THE BAN LOCALLY, UM, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY JURISDICTION IN THAT REGARD.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM UNIVISION, CAN YOU GIVE AN UPDATE OF CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH RSB AND COVID, WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, REPORTING OF RSV NUMBERS.
UM, WE SAW, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU AT A LATER DAY.
UH, RSV IS NOT A REPORTABLE CONDITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ENTERING IN FLU SEASON AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN TRACKING, UH, RESPIRATORY, LIKE, UH, RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, LIKE FLU AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE READILY MONITOR OR SURVEIL.
I WANT TO JUST ADD THAT WHEN WE ARE GIVING OUR REPORTS ON COVID NUMBERS, THOSE ARE TRUE NUMBERS THAT ARE, AS JANET POINTED OUT, HOGAN IS A REPORTABLE ILLNESS.
AND DOES YOUR DOCUMENTED POSITIVE CASES CODED THAT ARE BEING TREATED IN OUR HOSPITALS? THE LAST QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, HOW MANY ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE STAFF HAVE BEEN SENT TO AUSTIN FROM WHERE THEY EXACT NUMBERS OF STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO OUR AREA ARE
[00:35:01]
SOMETHING THAT COULD, THAT THAT NUMBER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CAPITOL AREA TRAUMA REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL? YEAH, I WILL ADD, UH, SO THE CAPILLARY TRAUMA REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, TRAUMA SERVICE AREA, UH, WHICH IS INCLUDES THE AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND JURISDICTIONS, UH, ON BEHALF HAD MADE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING RESOURCES.AND SO, UM, WHEN THOSE ARE DEPLOYED TO THE AUSTIN AREA OR, UH, TO THE, TO OUR, OUR REGION, UH, THEY ARE THEN, UH, DEPLOYED OUT TO VARIOUS HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT AN 11 COUNTY REGION.
SO WHILE WE MAY GET SOME, UH, OTHER AREAS, UH, THAT MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS ALSO ARE, ARE GETTING THE SAME STAFF.
UM, IF THERE IS A SURGE ON STAFFING DEMANDS, UH, WE WILL ALSO MAKE SURE AND MAKE THE REQUEST ALONG WITH THEM, UH, TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL, UH, STAFFING RESOURCES FROM THE STATE, UH, TO ADDRESS ANY NEED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, FOR KUT, UM, BEING OUR POLAR REPORTER TODAY AND ASKING QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR CLOSING COMMENTS AND WE'LL START WITH DR.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALL OF THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS POINT TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
UM, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE HELP US AGAIN BY CONTINUING TO MASK, UH, CONTINUING TO GO AND GET VACCINATED.
IF YOU'RE UNPROTECTED BY VACCINATION.
AT THIS POINT, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH MASK TO PROTECT THEM IN SCHOOL.
UM, WE'D ASK THAT ANYONE WHO IS SICK, STAY HOME, UM, CONSIDER, UH, PLEASE GETTING TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY, UM, THAT YOU CAN AVAIL YOURSELF OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND PREVENT HAVING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR CARE AND POSSIBLE ADMISSION TO AN ICU, IT'S A, IT'S A TREATMENT THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING MANY.
UM, AND WE REALLY URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OR CALL OUR NURSE HOTLINE FOR INFORMATION, THE, THE ECONOMY THAT WE SO, UM, WIDELY WANT TO KEEP OPEN, UH, THE ADVANCED THAT WE WANT TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP OPEN, ALL NEED TO HAVE.
EVERYBODY'S IMPORTANT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT I'VE SAID, JUST IN THESE LAST FEW MINUTES, WE NEED EVERYBODY TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE NEED EVERYBODY TO TAKE THAT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY SO THAT WE CAN DECREASE OUR CASE NUMBERS.
WE CAN KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND WE CAN PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO TAKE CARE OF US IN OUR HOSPITALS, TAKE US TO THE HOSPITAL BY EMS WORKFLOW, WITH US TO KEEP US SAFE IN OUR, IN OUR PUBLIC AREAS AND, AND GET THROUGH THIS.
AND I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS.
I CAN ONLY REITERATE, UM, THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE REALLY NEED THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE THIS PANDEMIC SERIOUSLY.
UM, BECAUSE COVID-19 IS NOT PLAYING GAMES WITH US.
MY SAD STORY FOR THE WEEK, UM, THAT I, I HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO HEAR WAS OF A YOUNG MAN, 30 YEARS OLD CALLED HIS WIFE FROM WORK, NOT FEELING WELL, COMES HOME, TUFTS IT OUT NEXT DAY.
DAY THREE WIFE DECIDES IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY.
AND NOW THERE'S A 28 YEAR OLD WIDOW WITH TWO KIDS, NEVER IN HER WILDEST DREAMS. DID SHE THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE IN THIS SITUATION? SO WHAT CAN WE DO? YOU CAN WEAR A MASK.
IF YOU'RE SICK AND GET TESTED, JUST TO BE SURE YOU CAN WASH YOUR HANDS
[00:40:02]
AND HELP EVERYONE ELSE STAY SAFE.AND WITH THAT, I PASS IT ON TO KASEY DAILY ON, THANK YOU, ADRIAN.
AND YES, AS WE LOOK INTO THIS WEEKEND, AGAIN, WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE A PLAN, MAKE A PLAN TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE, PRACTICE ALL OF THOSE STRATEGIES.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT, GET THAT DONE.
IF YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME.
WE TALK ABOUT TAKING A LOVED ONE TO THE DOCTOR.
BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM, BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE CAN GET THIS DONE, BUT WE HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER AND KNOW THAT THIS IS BIGGER THAN US.
THIS VIRUS IS, IS GETTING PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT THEY'RE INVINCIBLE THINK THAT THEY COULDN'T BE TOUCHED AND WE'RE SEEING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SUFFER.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'VE GOT TOOLS THAT CAN PREVENT THAT WE CAN DO THIS AUSTIN, AND I'LL PASS IT OVER.
UH, YES, AND AS KATHY MENTIONED, WE HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COMMUNITY AND OVERCOME THIS ILLNESS.
WE HAVE VACCINATION, WE HAVE MASKS, WE HAVE A REGIONAL INFUSION PROMOTED CRIMINAL ANTIBODIES TO, TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THEIR ILLNESS.
UH, WE'RE, WE'VE ASKED FOR EXTRA STAFFING AND CAPACITY.
UH, WE HAVE ISOLATION FACILITIES SO THAT YOU CAN SAFELY ISOLATE OR QUARANTINE, UH, AND PROTECT THOSE IN YOUR FAMILY.
UH, SO ALL THOSE TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO US.
AND, UH, WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE IT IS ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THESE THINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UH, IT'S GOING TO INTAKE A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GET US OVER THE HUMP.
AND WE AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR EPIDEMIOLOGY STAFF WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING THE NUMBERS BECAUSE I AM WANTING THESE NUMBERS TO GO DOWN AND WE'RE WATCHING THEM, UH, MINUTE BY MINUTE, JUST TO MAKE SURE, UH, WE CAN SEE SOME, WE'LL TAKE ANY LITTLE BIT OF SUCCESS WE CAN, BUT IT WILL TAKE A COORDINATED EFFORT BY OUR COMMUNITY TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND WITHOUT ALL OUR, OUR GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JANET.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR SPEAKERS FOR JOINING US TODAY AND FOR OUR POOR REPORTER FROM KUT.
I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND, GET VACCINATED WHERE I'M ASKED AND LET'S GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, AUSTIN.