[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
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I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I AM THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE ON ATX IN THREE TO START, DR.
DESMOND WALKS AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY INTERIM AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STIRRUP.
THEN JANET PICHET AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOLLOWED BY CASSANDRA DE LEON APH, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR DAVITA DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION.
WE WILL THEN OPEN IT UP TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, DR.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DEATHS THIS PAST WEEK, UM, WITH 36 INDIVIDUALS PASSING, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO, UM, REFLECT ON OUR NEIGHBORS, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO'VE PASSED AND TO THINK, AND I'M PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM COVID-19.
WE NOW KNOW THAT THE DELTA VARIANTS IS A VERY DIFFERENT VARIATION OF THE VIRUS, SARS KOBE TOO.
AND IT HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY HUGELY IN THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.
UH, WE HAVE SURPASSED PREVIOUS SPIKES AND NEW CASES.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE CASES PLATEAU, UM, AND DROPPED TO SOME EXTENT, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL.
AND I SEE YOU AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS.
UM, RECENTLY WE'VE HEARD REPORTS IN THE NEWS OF THE PARENTS OF FOUR CHILDREN WHO BOTH PASSED FROM COVID-19.
AND WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TODAY TO REALLY URGE THOSE WHO VIEW, WHO ARE PLANNING TO SOCIALIZE AND GET OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PROTECT YOURSELVES FOR THE LOVED ONES AND YOUR FAMILY FROM GETTING COVID-19 THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, WEAR A MASK, UM, SOCIALLY DISTANCE.
WHEN YOU'RE IN CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, PLEASE WEAR A MASK.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO.
UM, WE'RE SEEING MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE YOUNGER ON VACCINATED, UM, DIE FROM THIS ILLNESS WHO ARE PERFECTLY HEALTHY, AND WE REALLY WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE VACCINE AT THIS TURN.
AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PASS IT TO THE DIRECTOR STIR, THANK YOU, DR.
UM, IT'S A SOBERING MOMENT TO REALIZE THAT WE'VE HAD 36 PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY FROM COVID IN THE LAST WEEK.
AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THOSE DEATHS WAY, HAVING ALL MY MIND, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE CAN DO, THE VIRUS IS CHANGING AND ADAPTING AND WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.
WE WE'VE, WE'VE PROVEN IT MASS GAIN, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AVOIDING LARGE CROWDS, WASHING YOUR HANDS, STAYING HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BEING VACCINATED WHEN WE ARE VACCINATED AND WE GIVE THE VIRUS LESS OPPORTUNITY TO REPLICATE.
AND FOR OTHER CONNOTATIONS TO COME ON THE SCENE, IF WE WANT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL, IT STARTS WITH THIS.
HERE'S MY CUTE LITTLE B TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR ME.
RIGHT? SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COMMUNITY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK AND TELL YOU THAT WEEK AFTER WEEK, UNTIL WE REACHED THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITY FROM COVID-19 WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT TO JANET BISHOP.
UM, AS WE HEAD INTO THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, I WANTED TO MENTION TWO THINGS.
ONE SEPTEMBER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH.
AND WHILE YOU BEGAN TO TAKE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEKEND AND REST UP, I REALLY DO FEEL THAT YOU ALSO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CONSIDERING SELF CARE AND PREPAREDNESS WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
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AND THOSE ARE.DO YOU MEAN THOSE THINGS THAT, UH, ARE GOING TO PROTECT YOU FROM COVID-19? SO IF YOU ARE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN OR PARTICIPATING IN LARGE GATHERINGS AND EVENTS, PLEASE BE PREPARED, WEAR A MASK SOCIALLY, JUST, UH, AS ADRIAN MENTIONED, DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA PROTECT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OTHER PREVENTABLE DEATHS OCCUR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE SICK, TAKE THE TIME TO STAY HOME AND, AND, AND RECUPERATE AND REST CONSIDER GETTING A TEST.
IF YOU'RE HAVING SYMPTOMOLOGY THAT IS, UH, INDICATIVE OF A COVID TEAM.
UM, SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND OVER THE LAST WEEK AS WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE A LARGE NUMBER CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT MASKING WORKS.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN DEBATED OVER AND OVER, BUT WE ARE SEEING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE MASKING WAS IMPLEMENTED A MUCH LOWER INCIDENT RATE OF COVID-19 AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF THAN THOSE, THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE MASKING IS NOT OCCURRING OR MASKING IS OPTIONAL.
SO DO THOSE THINGS TO PREPARE YOURSELF AND PLACE YOU IN A BETTER POSITION, MASK UP, UH, GET VACCINATED, SOCIALLY DISTANCE, AVOID TOUCHING YOUR PACE AND, AND JUST KEEP YOURSELF OUT OF HARM'S WAY AND ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CASSIE.
AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN, UM, IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE AT, UH, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL, AND AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC TO CONTINUE TO SEE INDIVIDUALS SUFFER AND TO CONTINUE TO SEE INDIVIDUALS, UM, SUCCUMB TO THIS DISEASE, UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TOUCHED PERSONALLY, AND THERE IS A LOT THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH, UH, JUST TO CONTINUE ON, UH, THIS DISEASE IS DEVASTATING.
IT'S DEVASTATING TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE LOSING PARENTS.
UM, THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE LOSING THE HEAD OF THEIR COMPANY, UM, AND OTHER COWORKERS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEVER IMAGINED COULD HAPPEN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, NOW WE'RE SEEING PARENTS HAVING TO DEAL WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN BEING AFFECTED BY THIS VIRUS.
WE DO HAVE TOOLS, UH, TO HELP PROTECT EACH OTHER.
UM, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON JUST ENCOURAGING THOSE TO USE THOSE INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES REGARDING VACCINE.
FOR THOSE THAT CAN GET VACCINATED.
WE KNOW THAT MAJORITY OF THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING IN THE HOSPITAL AND THAT ARE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY PASSING AWAY FROM THIS DISEASE, MAJORITY ARE UN-VACCINATED.
SO WE KNOW THAT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO GIVE A LAYER OF PROTECTION AGAINST THIS VIRUS.
AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THAT UNVACCINATED POPULATION.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HOSTED CLINICS AT SITES TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S THOSE CONES OF PROTECTION AROUND FOR THEIR STAFF AND FOR THEIR, UM, ELIGIBLE CHILDREN TO GET VACCINATED LEANDER ISD, FOR EXAMPLE, HOSTED A CLINIC WITH AWESOME PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND WE D WE VACCINATED OVER A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS, UM, JUST THIS WEEK.
NOW I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR VACCINE STRIKE TEAMS. WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THOSE WHO WERE STILL IN VACCINATE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THOSE, UM, CLINICS.
AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF, WE'VE GOT OUR, A LARGE, UM, POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS, UM, OF INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAD, UH, INCREDIBLE STORIES OF OUR STRIKE TEAMS GOING INTO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, PARTICULARLY UNDER A BRIDGE DOWNTOWN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE THERE WERE 30 SHOTS ADMINISTERED TO THOSE WHO MAY HAVE HAD NO OTHER WAY TO GET TO A VACCINE CLINIC.
AND THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH AT ITS BEST WHERE WE GO AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO VACCINATE INDIVIDUALS, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO FLATTENING THE CURVE.
WE AS INDIVIDUAL, UM, CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY, ALL OF THOSE INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND AS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO MEET OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF GIVING YOU ALL THE PROTECTION WE CAN.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER FROM UNIVERSITY ON KARA MAE HERNANDEZ.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION FROM MY STATION.
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN? IF THEY WILL BE TRAVELING THIS WEEKEND, AS FAR AS RETURNING TO SCHOOL GOALS, WAIT, YOU WANT TO START DR.
I CAN GO AHEAD AND START, UH, FOR ANYBODY WHO'S TRAVELING AND, UM, IN GENERAL, YOU NEED
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TO WEAR A MASK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, UH, YOU NEED TO AVOID CROWDS AND, AND SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT LAWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN THE DESTINATION LOCATIONS THAT YOU'RE, UH, GOING TO BE VISITING.UH, IF, UH, IF A CHILD AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE FULLY VACCINATED UPON RETURN AFTER TRAVEL, UH, THEY NEED TO SELF MONITOR THEMSELVES SYMPTOMOLOGY.
AND IF THEY BEGIN DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS, THEY NEED TO CONSIDER GETTING TESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IF, UH, INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT VACCINATED, UH, THEY SHOULD GET A BASELINE TEST BEFORE THEY TRAVEL.
SOME LOCATIONS ARE REQUIRING A NEGATIVE TEST, A NEGATIVE VIRAL TEST BEFORE, UH, TRAVELING TO SOME LOCATIONS.
UH, AND, UM, AGAIN, THEY NEED, WHEN THEY RETURN FROM TRAVEL, THEY NEED TO, UH, UH, CONSIDER OR THEY NEED TO GET, UH, A VIRAL TEST THREE TO FIVE DAYS AFTER THEIR TRAVEL.
AND, UH, THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO VET A QUARANTINE FOR A SEVEN DAY PERIOD.
UH, IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GET, UH, A VIRAL TEST AFTER RETURN FROM TRAVEL, THEY NEED TO QUARANTINE FOR A 10 DAY PERIOD.
SO, UM, EVEN IF YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST AFTER YOU'RE RETURNED FROM TRAVEL, YOU STILL NEED TO, UH, QUARANTINE FOR A FULL SEVEN DAYS.
THAT WHEN YOU COME BACK FROM TRAVEL, UM, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELING ANYWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE ALL AT ALL PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU ARE COMING BACK HOME AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE AROUND LOVED ONES WHO HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM, THAT SHE PROTECTS THEM BY WEARING A MASK, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE VACCINATED OR UN-VACCINATED, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN PROTECT THEM FROM DEVELOPING COVID-19.
AND THAT ALSO APPLIES TO CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 AND ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN VACCINATION AT THIS POINT.
NEXT QUESTION FROM CBS AUSTIN LAST LABOR DAY WEEKEND DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE A SUPER SPREADER HOLIDAY.
IN FACT, IT HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.
DO YOU THINK THIS LABOR DAY WILL BE DIFFERENT AND WHY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT, UM, UH, OUTCOME THIS TIME, BECAUSE LAST YEAR SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION AND WE WERE, UH, DEALING WITH A VIRUS THAT, UH, WAS NOT THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19, UM, WHICH IS MUCH MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, VACCINES IN PLACE AND WE HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WEAR A MASK IF THEY'RE INDOORS.
AND IF THEY'RE OUTDOORS IN PLACES WHERE THEY'RE UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY SOCIAL DISTANCE MASKING IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SO THAT WE DO NOT INCREASE OUR NUMBERS.
AND THAT PARTICULARLY GOES FOR PLACES WHERE, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR MASK OFF BECAUSE YOU'RE EATING AND SOCIALIZING LIKE TAILGATING PARTIES.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU'RE UNPROTECTED BY VACCINE, THAT YOU AVOID SITUATIONS WHERE YOU PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER OF GETTING COVID-19.
AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN CROWDS WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE NOT LIVING WITH AND AROUND VACCINATED OR UNKNOWN, THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR VACCINE STATUS IS THAT YOU WEAR A MASK AND SOCIALLY DISTANCE WHEN POSSIBLE.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.
UH, ONE THING THAT ISN'T DIFFERENT IS OUR MESSAGE.
WACHS MENTIONED, WEAR A MASK, MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES, SOCIALLY DISTANCE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IF YOU'RE GATHERING, YOU KNOW, AVOID CROWDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, DIFFERENCES, UH, WE'RE MUCH MORE OPEN THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, WHERE THERE MAY BE, UH, MORE PEOPLE CONGREGATING IN SITUATIONS, UH, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A SUPER SPREADER EVENT.
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SO IF WE WANT TO REPEAT THE LAST YEAR WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A SHARP INCREASE AFTER A HOLIDAY EVENT, LIKE, UH, THIS WEEKEND, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, THOUGH.THE DIFFERENCE ISSUE WE HAVE VACCINES AVAILABLE TO, UH, GO AHEAD AND GET VACCINATED, UH, TAKE THE TIME THIS BEGAN TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY RECORDED 12 NEW DEATHS FROM ILLNESSES LINKED TO COVID-19 YESTERDAY.
DID 12 PEOPLE DIE ON THE SAME DATE AND WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE NUMBER OF FLUCTUATION WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SURGE RIGHT NOW? UM, ACTUALLY, AND SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS TRANSFER TO ICU ADMISSIONS, THAT WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO USE COGNITIVE COVID-19, UM, AND THEN TAILOR THE DELTA BARRIER BECAUSE IT CAUSES SEVERE DISEASE AND IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.
AND SO THE DEATHS AND THE NUMBERS OF DEATHS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A SURGE AND OUR ICU IS, ARE FULL.
UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS AND, UM, AT A POINT WHEN WE THINK THEY MAY SURVIVE THAT USUALLY IN A THREE WEEK TIMEFRAME AFTER ONSET OF SYMPTOMS, THEY MAY COME OFF OF THEM TO BE FINE.
BUT IN OTHER INSTANCES, THEY DON'T MAKE IT.
THEY HAVE, UM, UH, AN EVENT THAT CAUSES THEM TO DIE.
THIS IS THE NATURAL COURSE OF THIS DISEASE, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND UNLIKE LAST YEAR, THIS TIME WHEN WE WERE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SURGE, WHEN SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION, TOLD HIM WE'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT, UM, NOT WEARING MASK.
UM, WE DID NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE DO RIGHT NOW IN OUR ICS AND WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS, BUT WE DO NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AND YES, ALL 12 PEOPLE DIED ON ONE DAY.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM KECK SAYIN IN A BRIEFING EARLIER THIS WEEK, DR.
WACHS SHOWED ONLY 9% OF THE COMMUNITY BEING VULNERABLE, 10% PARTIALLY VACCINATED IN A PROGRESS TO HERD IMMUNITY REPORT.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE ALREADY AT ROUGHLY 80% IMMUNITY AND HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM HERD IMMUNITY? WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HERD IMMUNITY, UM, CALCULATIONS WERE DOING THAT BASED ON, UM, THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY.
UM, AND SO WE ARE ACTUALLY ONLY A 58% HERD IMMUNITY FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE AT THIS TIME, THOSE WHO ARE 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER WERE AT 67.5.
UM, AND WE'D STILL HAVE A LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION UNDER THE AGE OF 12 WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THEM BY WEARING MASKS.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM AUSTIN CHRONICLE, ACCORDING TO DATA TRACKED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, ABOUT 67% OF TRAVIS COUNTY VACCINE ELIGIBLE POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED.
THE LOCAL GOAL IS TO HAVE 70% OF TRAVIS COUNTY POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED BY LABOR DATE.
HOW CONFIDENT IS APH THAT WE'LL REACH THAT GOAL.
WE, UM, ARE HOPING THAT, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE FOLKS, UH, GET VACCINATED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, UM, AND WE'LL GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.
UM, IT IS, UH, SOMETHING WE REALLY WANT TO SEE IT'S, UH, A LITTLE OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD NEED TO GET VACCINATED.
UM, BUT WE WON'T HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND GET THE VACCINE.
UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS, UH, OUR CLINICS OPEN TODAY AND TOMORROW, UM, AS WELL AS MANY CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE, UM, COMMUNITY HAS VACCINE AVAILABLE.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED AND TO, UM, BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT, UH, FULL PROTECTION FROM THIS VIRUS.
NEXT QUESTION, WE'RE GONNA SKIP K VIEW.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH K U N
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K U T IS APH CONCERNED THAT SATURDAY'S UT FOOTBALL GAME AT HOME WITH A FULL STADIUM AND NO MASK REQUIREMENT WILL BE AS SUPER SPREADER EVENT.OH, I'LL SAY THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A CONGRESS PEOPLE GATHERING AND AS THEY ENTER A STADIUM EXITING THE STADIUM, UH, IS ALL, THERE'S ALWAYS A POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN THOSE SCENARIOS.
AND SO, YES, I AM CONCERNED THAT, UH, UH, IT COULD LEAD TO, UH, UNNECESSARY EXPOSURES THAT PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE RIGHT PRECAUTIONS.
THERE'S CONCERN WHEN THERE ARE LARGE GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, A MIXTURE OF UNVACCINATED AND VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE RECOMMENDED MASKING FOR EVERYONE, UM, AND CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, NOT LIVING TOGETHER IN ONE SETTING.
UM, WE'VE ASKED FOR MASKING BECAUSE IT DOES STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
UM, I WOULD URGE THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO THE GAME TO, UM, CHECK YOURSELVES BY TESTING YOURSELVES.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD ANY SYMPTOMS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE ALLERGIES, UM, GO AHEAD AND TEST YOURSELVES.
AND IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME, UM, IF YOU'RE POSITIVE, FOR SURE, STAY HOME AND, UH, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION EARLY.
SO THEN IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY, UH, YOU CAN GO AND HAVE THAT DONE.
UM, THE TAIL GATING PARTIES, UM, ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE'RE REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE SOME TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THOSE ARE SITUATIONS WHEN PEOPLE WILL BE CLOSE TOGETHER, UM, IN CLOSE CONTACT CONGREGATING LIKELY ON MAST AND, AND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
SO, UH, IF YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED BY VACCINE, OR EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED AND YOU HAVE ANY CO-MORBIDITIES THAT PUT YOU AT RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE FROM COVID-19, YOU SHOULD AVOID, UM, THOSE SITUATIONS.
AND WE WANT THIS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL GAME FOR UTI THINS.
UM, BUT MASKING IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND PEOPLE STAY HOME.
IF THEY'RE SICK, IT'S GONNA REALLY HELP TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS FOR THE TEAM AND FOR US AT
AND WE'D LIKE TO SAY TO BE A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
I'M ABOUT TO START THE SEC READING THE SECOND QUESTION WITH KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.
DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR POSSIBLE FLU OUTBREAKS OR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES THAT WE TEND TO SEE DURING THE FALL? UM, SO I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION OR START OFF WITH THAT.
UH, SO EVERY OCTOBER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE MARKS THE BEGINNING OF, UH LUCY'S AND THEN DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEGINNING THE SURVEILLANCE OF FLU AND INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A PLAN, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE, UH, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND WE GET TO WORK WITH THOSE PARTNERS WHO MAY HAVE SURGES OUTBREAKS IN, UH, CERTAIN SPECIFIC SETTINGS.
UH, NOT ONLY ARE WE LOOKING AT LU IN THOSE TIME PERIODS, BUT WE'RE, AGAIN, OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO RE LIKE I SAID, INFLUENCE A TYPE ILLNESSES THAT ARE EVEN SIMILAR TO COVID.
I THINK ONE THING WE FOUND OUT FROM LAST YEAR WAS THAT BECAUSE WE HAD, UM, LOW NUMBER OR PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY MASKING AND WE HAD A VERY, VERY, UH, INSIGNIFICANT FLU SEASON.
AND SO WE HAVE FEWER CASES THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN IN THE TIME THAT I'VE WORKED AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND I I'M GONNA, UH, ATTRIBUTE THAT TO PEOPLE TAKING THOSE PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE, UH, REC ENDED FOR COVID.
THOSE ARE ALSO RE RECOMMENDED FOR ALL RESPIRATORY VIRUSES AND HELP REDUCE AND PREVENT TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE.
AND I THINK IT DID IMPACT A FLU SEASON LAST YEAR.
I WOULD JUST ADD THAT LAST YEAR, UM, AS JANET MENTIONED, WE HAD THE LOWEST NUMBER OF FLU CASES ON RECORD, AND IT REALLY IS BECAUSE WE DID
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MASKING SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND HAND-WASHING THIS YEAR WE ARE OPENING A SCHOOL AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THOSE PRACTICES IN PLACE.AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MOVING FORWARD THAT WE DO THAT NOT ONLY TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19, BUT THE FLU AS WELL.
AND IN THIS INSTANCE, WE HAVE TO DO MASKING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12.
WE'RE STILL UNABLE TO RECEIVE VACCINE, UM, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GOES OUT AND GETS THEIR FLU SHOT.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM CVS, AUSTIN, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING? THE TOP FEDERAL OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THE WHITE HOUSE TO SCALE BACK PLANS TO OFFER BOOSTER SHOTS IN SEPTEMBER.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE CDC AND THE FDA, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED AND COMPLETE THE FIRST PART OF THAT SERIES, THE FIRST AND SECOND SHOTS, SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO MASK SOCIAL DISTANCE, STAY HOME ONE SEC AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN INFORMATION HAS BEEN CIRCULATING AMONG COMMUNITIES ABOUT FORCE, THE WARMING MEDICINE BEING USED AS A COVID-19 TREATMENT.
FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE, MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
WHY IS THAT TREATMENT? NOT A HEALTHY OPTION? IVERMECTIN IS A DEWORMER THAT'S USED IN HUDDLE, UM, AND LIVESTOCK TO PREVENT INFECTIONS FROM WORMS. UM, IT HAS ALSO USED IN, UH, HUMANS AT LOWER DOSES FOR OTHER CONDITIONS, BUT IT IS NOT APPROVED FOR THE USE OF TREATMENT FOR TREATMENT OF COVID-19.
UM, AND SO FROM THIS INFORMATION THAT'S BEING, UM, CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN REMOTE SITES, UM, SHOULD BE DISREGARDED, UM, THE CDC AND FDA, UM, DO NUMEROUS, UM, UH, INVESTIGATIONS BEFORE THEY APPROVE MEDICATIONS FOR USE FOR TREATMENT OF COVID-19.
AND I'VE INVENTED HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT.
WE DO HOWEVER, HAVE TREATMENT FOR COVID 19, THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION THAT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE OFFERED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RISK OF DEVELOPING SEVERE DISEASE AND THAT'S MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY.
AND WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, YOU CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, UM, AND SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.
IT'S BETTER TO HAVE IT DONE EARLIER THAN LATER IN.
AFTER DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMS CAN BE DONE UP TO 10 DAYS AFTER THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. UM, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL REDUCE THE RISK FOR PEOPLE BEING HOSPITALIZED BY 70%.
AND SINCE AUGUST 16TH, WE'VE GIVEN 767 PEOPLE, UM, IVY MONOCLONAL FUSION THERAPY, AND THAT'S HAD A GOOD IMPACT ON OUR CURRENT SITUATION OR HOSPITALS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
SO HE FEELS SICK, UM, GET TESTED IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME.
AND IF YOU DO HAVE COVID-19, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY.
NEXT QUESTION FROM KX, N ARE YOU SEEING INCREASED CASES AND MORE SERIOUS CASES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN? YES, WE ARE SEEING MORE SERIOUS CASES IN WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT.
UM, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, COMPLICATIONS THAT OCCUR WITH PREGNANCY.
UM, FOR WOMEN WHO DO DEVELOP COVID-19, WE'VE HAD SOME WOMEN WHO'VE HAD TODAY ON LIFE SUPPORT AND AN ICU, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME WHO'VE HAD TO DELIVER WHILE THEY WERE SICK.
AND I SEE IT AS, SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT TO GO AND GET VACCINATED IS SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OBSTETRICS
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AND GYNECOLOGY.COVID-19 VACCINES ARE SAFE IN PREGNANCY AND FOR WOMEN WHO ARE BREASTFEEDING AND THEY DO PREVENT SERIOUS DISEASE FROM COVID-19.
SO IF YOU'RE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING, PLEASE GET VACCINATED AND PROTECT YOURSELF.
NEXT QUESTION FROM AUSTIN CHRONICLE APH HAS ATTRIBUTED THE RECENT PLATEAU AND KOBE HOSPITALIZATION TO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATIONS THAT IS MASKING STAYING HOME OF SICK RATHER THAN INCREASE IN VACCINATION.
WHEN DOES APH EXPECT TO SEE THE IMPACT OF INCREASED VACCINATIONS ON LOCAL CASE NUMBERS AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS? WE'RE GOING TO SEE, UM, WE ARE SEEING AN IMPACT IN VACCINATION RATES, UM, AND TO SOME EXTENT, UH, FROM THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED FOR THE SURGE BEGAN, THE IMPACT THAT WE'LL SAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ARE SAVING VACCINES WILL OCCUR, UM, AFTER THEIR VACCINES HAVE, UM, BEEN FULLY, UM, PROTECTIVE, WHICH MEANS 14 DAYS AFTER THAT LAST SHOT HAS BEEN RECEIVED OF A TYSHAUN SERIES.
UM, WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO THE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AS WELL.
UM, MASKING IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNPROTECTED AND UN-VACCINATED, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANCE AND INCREASING TRANSMISSIBILITY.
AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE MILD OR ASYMPTOMATIC DISEASE IN AN UNVACCINATED AND SOME IN VACCINATED PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE SOME SEVERE DISEASE AND THOSE WHO HAVE CO-MORBIDITIES THAT MAKE THEM AT HIGHER RISK, UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE VACCINATED.
SO THE PROTECTION OF THE VACCINE IS THERE.
UM, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM SPREAD BY WEARING MASK.
UM, SO THESE IT'S NOT AN EITHER, OR IT'S A YES AND GREAT.
THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION FROM KUT.
HOW MANY VACCINE DOSES ALLOCATED TO APH HAVE BEEN WASTED BECAUSE THEY SPOILED EXPIRED OR NO LONGER BUYABLE IN SAY THE LAST WEEK AND CUMULATIVE, HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS APH BEEN IN ANY EFFORTS TO LIMIT THAT LOSS I'LL RESPOND? UM, EARLY ON IN THE VACCINE EFFORT, WE HAD TO REALLY MAKE SURE BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF VACCINE AVAILABLE THAT WE, UH, HAD NO WASTE AND WE TRACKED WASTE, UM, TO MAKE AN, ANY VACCINE THAT WE HAD.
WE MADE SURE THAT WE TRIED TO FIND AN ARM THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
UM, LATER AS THE VACCINE SUPPLY BECAME MUCH MORE PLENTIFUL, UM, THE CDC AND THE DEPARTMENT'S HEALTH SERVICES, RELAXED, THOSE PROVISIONS ABOUT, UM, WASTE, UM, AND ENSURING THAT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO VACCINATE A PERSON TO THAT NEEDED THE VACCINE.
UM, THEN POTENTIALLY WASTING A VACCINE IN THE VIAL THAT, UH, DID NOT HAVE, UM, INDIVIDUAL ARMS AVAILABLE.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO WORK AND WE WANT TO NEVER HAVE WASTE, UM, WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT MAKING SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO IS PRESENTING TO US AND IS WANTING THE VACCINE, THAT THAT'S THE PRIORITY.
AND SO THE, UM, WE DO TRACK WASTE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURE AVAILABLE AT THIS MOMENT, BUT THAT IS A FIGURE THAT WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE HOW MUCH WASTE, UM, HAS, UH, HAS, UM, ATTRIBUTED THIS WEEK, UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN CUMULATIVELY.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS ON GETTING PEOPLE VACCINE, UM, AND ENSURING THAT, UM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WEEK, THAT WASTE DOES NOT BECOME A BARRIER TO INDIVIDUALS GETTING VACCINATED.
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING REMARKS, DR.
SO I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT, UM, WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO THREE DAY WEEKEND, UM, FOR REST RELAXATION AND FUN WITH OUR FAMILIES.
LET'S WEAR A MASK LET'S, UM, BE IN CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KNOWN TO US, UH, STAY IN OUR BUBBLE.
UM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A MASK, UM, TRY TO AVOID SITUATIONS WITH LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE, UM, AND, AND AREAS WHERE YOU'RE
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GOING TO PUT YOURSELF AT RISK FOR, UM, CONTRACTING COVID-19.UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT MASS STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE AND CROWDS WHERE YOU'RE, UM, CLOSE TO OTHER PEOPLE, MAKE IT REALLY EASY FOR YOU TO GET SICK.
UM, SCHOOL'S IN SESSION, WE'RE SEEING SO MANY MORE CASES, 817 MORE CASES LAST WEEK IN SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS HAVING TO CLOSE CLASSROOMS AND, AND PEOPLE IN GOING INTO HOSPITAL AND DYING, UM, YOUNG PEOPLE DYING, UM, LEAVING THEIR KIDS, UM, WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS.
THESE ARE ALL SITUATIONS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO KEEP OUR, THIS AS I'VE BEEN A NURSE THAT'S GOING IN AND IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL OF, UH, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER BY THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE.
WE STARTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE'RE SICK AND WE'RE WEARING MASKS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THOSE THINGS, THE CURVE SHOWING US THAT THAT WORKS.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO KEEP GOING FORWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE TO DO, AND THE SEASONS AHEAD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP DOING THOSE THINGS.
SO I ASK YOU TO HAVE A SAY, UM, HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND, UM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY OUT OF THOSE TAILGATE PARTIES IF YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING DIED, ACCELERATION, WATCHED GAME AT HOME.
LOX FROM THE TIME YOU'RE WERE SMALL, LIKE KINDERGARTEN, IT'S ALL ABOUT LEARNING YOUR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND TALENTS, BUT THEN BECOMING PART OF A SOCIAL GROUP.
AND THEN EVERY STAGE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT, THE THINGS THAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS, WE TEACH THEM HOW TO BE LEADERS, BUT ALSO TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE.
WE TEACH THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION, MAKING SHORT TERM SACRIFICES FOR LONG-TERM GOALS.
THIS IS THE TIME AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ENACT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE INSTILL IN OUR CHILDREN.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MODELING FOR OUR CHILDREN, THIS IS THE MOMENT WE MODEL AND PROTECT.
AND SO THE SHORT-TERM GOAL IS MASKING STOPS THE SPREAD.
IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO BE OUT IN A SOCIAL GATHERING, PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK VACCINATIONS, PROTECT US.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN YOUR VACCINATION GO AND GET ONE TODAY, THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS THE WEEKEND MASS STOP, THE SPREAD VACCINES, PROTECT.
AND I'LL JUST SAY, ADD ON TO WHAT BOTH DR.
WALKS AND ADRIAN HAD TO SAY IN THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE, UH, START THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MAP, MAKE A PLAN AND PREPARE YOURSELF THAT INCLUDES SELF CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT BE SURE THAT YOU ARE MASKING EM, AND YOU HAVE A, UH, TO KEEP YOU SOCIALLY DISTANCED FROM PEOPLE.
IF YOU ARE EXPOSING YOURSELF UNNECESSARILY AND DEFINITELY GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WORKS, UH, FOR EVERYONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE AT AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY SINCE, UH, JANUARY OF 2020 ON COVID-19.
AND WE WANT THIS TO END AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT SELF CARE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
THIS IS GRADING AND WEARING ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORK THE EXTRA LONG HOURS.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
UH, FORTUNATELY WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THESE CASES OF, OF DISEASE.
AND SO, UH, AS YOU GO OUT AND, UH, CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, UH, STAY SAFE AND MASCOT BOSTON.
AND I'LL JUST CLOSE THIS OUT WITH, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND, AND EVERYONE HAS THE RESOURCES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
UM, IF YOU ARE NEEDING A VACCINE OR IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO NEEDS A VACCINE, UH, THERE ARE MANY, MANY LOCATIONS AVAILABLE.
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UM, MANY OF THE PHARMACIES, UM, HEB, GROCERY STORES HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH HAS VACCINE AVAILABLE.SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WEEKEND.
YOU'VE GOT THREE DAYS TO GET THAT DONE.
UM, AND, UH, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT LAYER OF PROTECTION AND YOU CAN HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE.
AND AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY LIFE, THAT YOU HAVE THAT LAYER OF PROTECTION, AS WELL AS LAYERING IN THE MASKING, THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE HAND-WASHING, ALL OF THOSE OTHER PROTECTIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THIS VIRUS, WITH THAT.
I WISH YOU A GREAT WEEKEND AND HOPE EVERYONE HAS A HEALTHY AND SAFE HOLIDAY THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
DESMOND WALK'S INTERIM APH DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STIRRUP, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET PICHET, CASSANDRA DE LEON APH, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION, AND TO OUR POOL REPORTER.
KAREN MAY HERNANDEZ FROM UNIVISION.