[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
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I'M CLEARLY BN AND I WILL BE THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.
STEPHANIE HAYDEN WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY, DR.
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA, STEPHANIE, OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING HOME.
WE WANT YOU TO VOLUNTARILY MAKE A DECISION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, THAT YOU WILL ONLY LEAVE YOUR HOME FOR ESSENTIAL DUTIES.
SO YOU WILL ONLY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU NEED TO, UM, GO OUT TO BUY GROCERIES FOR YOUR FAMILY, THAT YOU WILL GO OUT TO DO THAT.
OTHERWISE WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO MAKE THE DECISION TO VOLUNTARILY STAY HOME.
AS WE SEE THE INCREASES OF CASES, WE CONTINUE TO GROW TO BE CONCERNED.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOSPITALIZATION DATA, AND IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO TAKE SOME MORE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CHECK ON YOUR LOVED ONES, MAKE SURE YOU ARE CALLING THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND ENCOURAGE THEM AND OTHERS IN YOUR CIRCLE TO ALSO VOLUNTARILY STAY AT HOME.
MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT TO US AS WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THIS RESPONSE.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES THAT MAY SUFFER FROM A MENTAL HEALTH OR A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE, THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
AND IF YOU COULD REACH OUT AND CHECK ON THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE, THEY ARE OKAY AND ENCOURAGE THEM.
IF THEY ARE STARTING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS TO REACH OUT AND RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, ALL OF THAT HELP CAN BE PROVIDED BY TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND CAN BE MADE BY A PHONE CALL.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE INTERNET, IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT OUR WHOLE HEALTH.
UM, LET ME START BY, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WE SAW YESTERDAY.
SO YESTERDAY WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL ADMISSION NUMBERS BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ADMISSIONS AND DISCHARGES AND THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZED PEOPLE ADDED, UH, EACH DAY.
AND THAT WAS BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED, BUT WERE NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL A SUBSEQUENT DAY, BUT THOSE ADDITIONS WERE NOT CREDITED ON THAT HOSPITAL ADMISSION NUMBER, WHICH WAS NOT REFLECTED IN THE RATE AS A RESULT OF THAT CHANGE.
THAT PUTS OUR SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE AT ALMOST 75 FOR NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED EARLIER, UH, IN JUNE, THEY THRESHOLD FOR ENTERING STAGE FIVE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 AND 123, DEPENDING UPON THE TRAJECTORY OF, OF THAT ENTRANCE INTO THAT, UH, THAT RED PHASE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS MEETING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND, UH, DR.
LAUREN MODEL MEYERS AND HER MODELING TEAM TO LOOK AT THE UPDATED MODEL BASED UPON OUR CURRENT NUMBERS, SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO TRANSITION TO STAGE FIVE.
UH, BUT AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID EARLIER, IT'S CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE ACT NOW, WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO AVOID TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THE HOSPITAL'S OVERCROWDING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME A WORLD CLASS CARE THAT THEY ALWAYS DO.
AND NUMBER TWO, WE'RE DESPERATELY TRYING TO AVOID SHUTTING DOWN THIS ECONOMY THROUGH A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR, TO, TO SHELTER IN PLACE.
UM, WE CAN ALL ACT IN A WAY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET TO THAT POINT.
I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING AROUND LESS THAN THEY WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A, A MASKING MANDATE THAT I'M PROUD THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY'RE IN PUBLIC PLACES, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE MUST DO WHAT HE MUST AVOID.
THOSE NONESSENTIAL TRIPS TO PLACES.
WE MUST AVOID GATHERINGS, EVEN WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE USING CAUTION WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE PUBLIC, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO A, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE GROCERY
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STORES, BUT THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND ARE LESS PROTECTIVE WHEN THEY'RE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WE CANNOT TELL, AND YOU CANNOT TELL IF SOMEONE HAS COVID-19 AND THE ABILITY TO TRANSMIT THAT DISEASE.WE HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON FAMILIES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S TIME THAT WE LISTENED TO THE MESSAGE, IT'S TIME THAT WE TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S TIME THAT WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT IT'S WISE FOR US TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN PERSON.
UH, I FIRSTLY ENJOY GOING TO CHURCH IN PERSON, BUT AS THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION INCREASES, AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO OVERWHELMING OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO ACT IN A MORE PROTECTIVE WAY.
AND THAT MEANS IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF TUNING IN FROM HOME TO THOSE CHURCH SERVICES, MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO DO THAT NOW AND TO TAKE OTHER PROTECTIVE ACTIONS SO THAT WE CAN SLOW THE SPREAD.
WE CAN AVOID OVERWHELM IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AND WE CAN AVOID HAVING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR, UH, TO, TO GO BACK TO A SHELTER IN PLACE.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU NOW TO OUR POLL REPORTER, AUSTIN SANDERSON FROM THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, UH, UH, THIS IS, UH, AUSTIN SANDERS WITH THE CHRONICLE.
UM, SO FIRST, UH, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE OUTREACH EFFORTS TO, UM, UH, VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY, UM, UH, LATIN X AND BLACK AUSTINITES WHERE, UM, DIS DISPARATE RATES OF INFECTIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SEEN.
UM, SO WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH IS BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED, UM, KNOW ABOUT ISOLATION OPTIONS AND ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHER RESOURCES LIKE THE HOTEL ROOMS, UM, AND HOW ARE YOU MEASURING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SUCCESS OF THESE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND WHAT ARE THE RESULTS THUS FAR YOU'RE ON MUTE.
AND, UM, WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR TESTING IN THE LATIN X AND AFRICAN AMERICAN, UM, COMMUNITIES.
IT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT FOR US EARLY ON.
WE ESTABLISHED A SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH THAT SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH HAS EITHER BEEN CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF AND, OR OUR PARTNERS, AND THOSE PARTNERS HAVE, UM, PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT TESTING, ABOUT THE ISOLATION FACILITY, UM, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF, OF ENSURING THAT YOU GET A TEST AND ANY OF YOUR CONTACTS GET A TEST AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SEEING THOSE INCREASES BY, BY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING IN, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE INCREASE BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TESTING POSITIVE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IS, IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH AS THEY ARE, UM, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL, UM, OUTREACH AND INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THEY KNOW ALL OF THE RISKS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED.
SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS, IS TAKING A TEST, UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS THAT THEY SHOULD ASSUME THAT THEY ARE POSITIVE UNTIL THEY RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM US.
THAT SAYS THAT THERE ARE NOT, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO, TO GO TO WORK.
WE HAVE USED THE RISE PROGRAM WITH SEVERAL OF OUR PARTNERS, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UM, WORKING THROUGH OVER 40, UH, NONPROFIT PARTNERS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS, UM, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE FUNDING HAS GONE TO THE LATIN X AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
AND WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THAT PROCESS IS WORKING WELL.
HOWEVER, WE ARE OPEN TO COMMUNICATION FROM OUR PARTNERS TO LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE AREAS WE HAVE ESTABLISHED TWO, UM, THREE COMMUNITY SITES.
TWO OF THEM WERE OPEN YESTERDAY AND WE'RE REALLY FEELING GOOD ABOUT THOSE, UM, SITES.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT TESTING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
UM, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM REPORT, THEY AUSTIN, UM, I SAY, UH, ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE
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IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ARE BEING DENIED A NEW TEST TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FULLY RECOVERED.SOME COMPANIES ARE REQUIRING A NEGATIVE RESULT, SO THEY CAN GO BACK TO WORK.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO INCLUDE THEM FOR NEW TESTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE? SO, UH, WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE, THE TWO NEGATIVE TESTING OR THREE NEGATIVE TESTING STRATEGY FOR CLEARANCE OF INDIVIDUALS.
UH, THE CDC ALSO RECOMMENDS, UM, UH, TIME-BASED CLEARANCE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY IN THE LABS, UH, TO TEST EVERYBODY, UH, MULTIPLE TIMES, UH, TO, TO PROVE NEGATIVITY.
UH, THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE IN THE, THE CLINICAL CLEARANCE, THE TIME-BASED CLEARANCE.
AND, UH, WE ARE, WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CERTAINLY IF, IF EMPLOYERS, UH, WANT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE TESTING STRATEGY FOR, FOR CLEARANCE OF INDIVIDUALS, UH, THEY CAN WORK WITH, WITH PRIVATE LABS, UH, AND OFFER A FREE TESTING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES IF THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT FOR RETURN TO WORK.
UH, OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM, UH, ASTONIA, UM, LEE ASKED, UH, MAYOR ADLER SAID, AUSTIN IS COMPETING FOR TESTING SUPPLIES AND LAB RESULTS BECAUSE OF INCREASED DEMAND STATEWIDE.
HOW'S THIS AFFECTING TESTING CAPACITY OUT OF BOSTON, PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER SITES.
IS IT GETTING WORSE, BETTER OR HOLDING STEADY? UH, SO, SO THE LAG TIME AND, AND TEST RESULTS IS, IS HOLDING STEADY AND PERHAPS GETTING A BIT WORSE, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST ON, ON COMMUNITY CARES TESTS FROM THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY'RE STILL WAITING ON 2000 TEST RESULTS.
UH, AND THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE THAT HAVE RESULTED ALREADY.
UH, AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF NOT BEING TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE SAW A DECREASE IN, UH, POSITIVE TESTS OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, WE ARE MISSING THOUSANDS OF RESULTS.
SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO TELL, UH, IF, IF THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER AND NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING THE TURNAROUND TIMES THAT WE USED TO, UH, WE USED TO GET TURNAROUND TIMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TWO TO THREE DAYS.
NOW IT'S SEVEN TO 10 DAYS SOMETIMES LONGER THAN THAT.
UH, SO WE ARE COMPETING AND AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID EARLIER, UH, WE, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WAIT ON A TEST TO TAKE ACTION IT'S COVID-19 SEASON RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 DURING COVID-19 SEASON, WHICH WE'RE IN, YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE COVID-19 AND TAKE THOSE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION, TO FAMILY, TO FRIENDS, AND TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, OUR NEXT QUESTION IS KIND OF A FOLLOW UP ON THAT FROM KVU.
SO CAN YOU JUST KIND OF PROVIDE MORE OF AN UPDATE ON TESTING? LIKE, UH, WHAT IS THE, UH, HOW LONG IS THE WAIT TIME, UM, NOW FROM, UM, GETTING A TEST TO WHEN SOMEONE CAN EXPECT A RESULT, AGAIN, THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL VARIABILITY BASED UPON WHO'S DOING THE TESTING AND WHICH LABS THOSE ARE BEING SENT TO.
UH, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH A LAB CALLED AIT, AND WE USUALLY GET RESULTS IN ABOUT TWO DAYS.
UH, THE NICE THING ABOUT THAT IS THE TEST RESULTS ARE AUTOMATED.
SO INDIVIDUALS ARE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL OR TEXT THAT THEY HAVE A RESULT AS SOON AS THAT RESULT COMES OUT.
SO IN THAT SYSTEM, WE'RE NOT RELYING ON A FAX COMING IN TO RECEIVE THE RESULTS.
WE GET THEM RELATIVELY INSTANTLY.
UH, BUT FOR OTHER LABS, PARTICULARLY THE NATIONAL LABS, SUCH AS QUEST AND LAB CORE.
NOW WE'RE SEEING SEVEN TO 10 DAY TURNAROUND TIMES YESTERDAY AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, AT ONE TIME WHERE WE SAVED 289 RESULTS, UH, FROM ONE OF THOSE MAJOR LABS AND THOSE TESTS WERE DONE AROUND JUNE THE 26TH.
SO 11 DAYS BETWEEN WHEN THE PERSON WAS TESTED AND WHEN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THOSE TESTS AT THAT STAGE, THE TEST RESULTS ARE RELATIVELY USELESS FOR US BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THE TESTING IS TO IDENTIFY THE CONTACTS, TO ISOLATE THE POSITIVE PERSON, THEIR CONTACTS, AND GET THEIR CONTACTS TESTED TO BOX IT IN.
BUT IF WE'RE GETTING RESULTS AFTER THE PERSON IS NO LONGER INFECTIOUS, THAT STRATEGY DOESN'T WORK, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED PEOPLE TO PROTECT PROTECTIVE ACTION.
WHEN THEY BECOME SYMPTOMATIC, WE NEED PEOPLE TO UTILIZE CROWDSOURCING FOR NOTIFICATION OF THEIR CONTACTS.
SO IF YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS, COVID-19, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CONTACT THOSE WHO, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DURING THE 48 HOURS BEFORE YOU DEVELOP, DEVELOP
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SYMPTOMS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.THEY NEED TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES SO THAT WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF TRANSMISSION.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM, UH, KOP RADIO, UM, SCHOOLS ARE SET TO OPEN NEXT MONTH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT STAGE, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH SETS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, IS APH ADVISING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.
IF SO, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE ON REOPENING? UH, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF.
SO WE'VE BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH, UH, THE AREA SUPERINTENDENTS, UH, FOR, FOR MORE THAN A MONTH NOW, REGARDING PLANS FOR REOPENING, OF COURSE, MUCH OF THE DIRECTION COMES FROM THE TDA, AS WELL AS THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS REGARDING THE, THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HOW THEY WILL PROCEED.
UH, I DO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF, OF OFFERING AN OPTION FOR, IN PERSON AND FOR VIRTUAL.
UH, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THAT RIGHT NOW, THE STATISTICS SUPPORT THE CONCEPT THAT THAT SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE LESS SEVERELY IMPACTED, UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING FROM COVID-19, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CHILDREN, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER RISK.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FACULTY AND STAFF WHO ARE GOING TO BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.
SO THE PLANS HAVE TO ALLOW FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW, UH, PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON THEIR INDIVIDUAL RISK.
I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT MASKING AND HAVING SCHOOL CHILDREN WEAR A MASK.
I'M I WAS, I WAS HAPPY TO SAY THAT TEA MADE THAT MANDATE.
UH, I THINK SIMILAR TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE WITH KEEPING BUSINESSES OPEN.
IF WE DON'T HAVE MASKING IN SCHOOLS, WE ARE LOSING THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY RIGHT NOW FOR US TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN CULTURE FOR STUDENTS, BUT IT'S A CULTURE THAT WILL ADAPT TO.
AND, UH, I I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL, UH, ENFORCE THAT AND, UH, THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO OPEN SCHOOLS AND KEEP THEM OPEN.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS THAT THIS SUMMER WITH ALL OF THE ATHLETICS AND BAND CAMPS THAT ARE GOING ON, WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS BEFORE THEY ESTABLISH THOSE CAMPS.
AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THEM ABOUT HOW TO SAFELY DO THOSE CAMPS, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME, AS DR ESCADA SAID, IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SEVERAL SCHOOL BOARD STAFF FROM SEVERAL DISTRICTS, UM, DURING THIS TIME.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THE STAFF, AS THEY ARE TRANSITIONING AND LOOKING AT WAYS OF HOW THEY CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD IN A, IN THE SUMMER WITH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS OR CHILL CHEERLEADING PROGRAMS, OR ANY OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS WHERE THEY MAY BE BRINGING FOLKS IN TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT INTERACTION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR, UM, THEIR GRADUATION EFFORTS.
UM, THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO US AS WELL.
SO DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY WITH COVID-19, WE WILL MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EVEN AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN.
UH, NEXT QUESTION IS FROM, UH, UNIVISION A FEW WEEKS AGO, APH ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO HELP, UH, THE LATINO COMMUNITY TACKLE THE CORONAVIRUS.
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN WEEKLY UPDATES AS FAR AS WHAT THIS GROUP IS DOING TO ASSIST IN EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO LEARN OF SPACES THAT WILL ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES IS, WERE MADE.
NONETHELESS, THE HISPANICS AND HOSPITALS ARE STILL LEADING THE CHARTS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, 41% OF THE DEATHS IN AUSTIN IS THE TASK FORCE MEETING WEEKLY.
ARE THEY CHANGING THEIR STRATEGY STRATEGIES, SEEING THAT THE NUMBERS ARE CHANGING, PLEASE GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE WORK.
THIS GROUP IS DOING THE, THE INTERNAL GROUP, UM, THAT WAS ESTABLISHED, UM, ON JUNE THE 11TH.
UM, AT THE TIME THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STIRRUP PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION TO OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL ABOUT THE OVERALL PLAN TO ADDRESS, UM, COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
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SO THERE'VE BEEN SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.UM, ONE, UM, WE'VE HAD A, UM, A SATURDAY MEETING WITH THE LATIN X POPULATION TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THEM ABOUT, UM, UM, ASPECTS OF THIS, OF THE RESPONSE, WHICH WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UM, PROVIDE IN THE RESPONSE.
AND SO, AS A RESULT OF THAT, UM, THAT A SMALL TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS FROM AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, COMMUNITY CARE AND DELL MED UT HAVE TAKEN THE RESPONSE FROM, UM, ADRIAN STIRRUP AND HAVE COME UP WITH A, ANOTHER DOCUMENT AND COME UP WITH A WORKING PLAN, THAT WORKING PLAN.
UM, WE SENT THAT OUT TO SOME PARTNERS OVER WEEKEND.
WE ARE GOING TO, UH, PROVIDE, UH, THE INFORMATION TO OUR MAYOR AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON, THAT DOCUMENT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND OUR HOPE IS, IS THAT BASED UPON THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THAT PLAN, WE WILL GO AHEAD BASED UPON FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL IN TURN, CONTINUE TO DO MORE EFFORTS.
SO WE KNOW WE NEED TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE STARTED THUS FAR, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO DO MORE.
UH, NEXT QUESTION IS FROM, UH, THE AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL, UM, IN RE IN REFERENCE TO THE DISCUSSION AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT YESTERDAY, WHAT IS THE DATE FROM UT REGARDING THE TRAJECTORY OF HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT COULD INDICATE THE NEED FOR A STAGE FIVE RECOMMENDATION? HOW WILL THAT TRAJECTORY BE MEASURED OR SIZED UP? OKAY.
SO BASICALLY, UH, WE'RE MEETING WITH, WITH UT, UH, AT NOON TODAY, ALONG WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATED MODEL LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM THE LAST WEEK TO DETERMINE IF, IF WE'RE AT THE TRIGGER POINT OF NEEDING TO MAKE FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, TO DIAL THINGS DOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PRIMARILY BASED UPON THE, THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT DO ADMISSIONS.
UH, BUT WE ALSO REALIZE THAT THAT RIGHT NOW THE PINCH POINT SEEMS TO BE OUR ICU CAPACITY.
UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT MODELS RELATED TO ICU CAPACITY AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE WITHIN TWO OR THREE WEEKS OF EXCEEDING THAT CAPACITY.
UH, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE'LL NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION TO HAVE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR, OUR MAJOR GOAL HERE IS TO AVOID OVERWHELMING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
UH, WE REALLY WANT TO AVOID HAVING TO USE ALTERNATE SITES OF CARE, UH, FOR VICTIMS OF, OF COVID-19.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE'RE AT THAT TRIGGER POINT, THEN WE EXPECT THAT DECISION TO BE MADE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT, INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ICU CAPACITY, THE DOUBLING TIME OF, OF CASES, THE DOUBLING TIME OF, OF, UH, THE, THE INCREASES IN THE, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS.
AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING THAT DECISION.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM, UH, KSAN IS, UH, THE PAST FEW DAYS INDICATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE OF CONFIRMED NEW COVID-19 CASES IN OUR AREA.
HOW SIGNIFICANTLY DO YOU BELIEVE A LAG IN TESTING IS IMPACTING THIS NUMBER? IS THERE A CHANCE THOSE NUMBERS COULD BE RETROACTIVELY UPDATED AND SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE FROM WHAT WE SEE ON THE DASHBOARD NOW? SO THERE'S TWO THINGS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT TELL TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STORY.
UH, THE, THE NEW CASES, UH, DASHBOARD SHOWS WHEN THOSE CASES WERE RECEIVED AND REPORTED TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE EPI CURVE IS WHEN THE DISEASE ONSET HAPPENED AND, UH, THAT WILL BE REFRESHED.
SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN, WHEN THE DISEASE ONSET, UH, HAPPENED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, WE CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WE HAD THE INITIAL REOPENING OF 25% PHASE ONE, AND WE LOOK TWO WEEKS LATER, UH, THERE WASN'T MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN THE NEW CASES, BUT THE TWO WEEKS BETWEEN PHASE TWO AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHICH WAS AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY AND JUNE 1ST, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, UH, AND THAT REFLECTS TO US THAT PERHAPS OPENING TO 50% IS TOO MUCH.
UH, SO RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE IN A BETTER SPOT IF WE DIAL THINGS DOWN BACK TO
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25% OCCUPANCY SO THAT WE CAN SLOW THE CURVE, WE CAN DECREASE THE ACTIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT DIALING OFF COMPLETELY.AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE, UH, AFTER THE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, NEXT FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, UH, AS HAS HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE IN LEADERS MAKE SURGE PLANS.
LOCAL HOSPITAL CAPACITY IS A CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION WE FACE UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT NUMBER TO PIN DOWN DUE TO EVER CHANGING STAFFING NUMBERS IS APH ANY CLOSER TO PROVIDING CAPACITY ON ITS DASHBOARD.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR, OUR PARTNER AT THE CAPITAL AREA, TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, UH, WHO MANAGES THE DATA, UH, OF THAT NATURE.
SO AS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ARE NOT LEGALLY ENTITLED TO INFORMATION ABOUT ALL HOSPITALIZED INDIVIDUALS AND ALL HOSPITAL BEDS.
WE'RE ONLY ENTITLED TO INFORMATION RELATED TO THOSE WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
UH, BUT WE DO HAVE A PARTNER AT CAT TRACK WHO, UH, CAN TRACK THAT DATA.
AND WE EXPECT THAT WITHIN, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK, UH, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME, SOME REAL TIME IDEA ABOUT NOT WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF CAPACITY.
UH, FROM FOX SEVEN, WE HAVE A QUESTION AND SAYS, IS THERE ANY INDICATION WE WILL NEED TO UTILIZE THE CENTER BEDS? UH, SO AGAIN, THE, THE, THE CONVENTION CENTER BEDS, OUR ALTERNATE CARE SITE, UH, IS MEANT TO BE A BUFFER.
SO IF WE, IF WE MISS THE MARK, IF WE OVERSHOOT AND WE EXCEED CAPACITY, THEN THAT'S WHERE THE EXTRA CAPACITY CAN GO.
UH, THE ALTERNATE CARE SITE IS DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF LOW ACUITY PATIENTS.
UH, SO THERE'S MAYBE PATIENTS IN A, IN A NON MONITORED HOSPITAL BED THAT, THAT MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF OXYGEN, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE CARE.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PATIENTS WE COULD SHIFT FROM THE HOSPITALS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, THAT CAN BE SUPERVISED AND MANAGED RELATIVELY EASILY.
SO THE HOSPITALS HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND SPACE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE, ARE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO APPRECIATE THAT AS ICU CAPACITY DECREASES, THE HOSPITALS HAVE TO TRANSITION, UH, NON ICU BEDS INTO ICU BEDS, WHICH WILL CUT DOWN ON THEIR, UH, CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE, WHICH MAY HASTEN THE, THE NEED FOR THE USE OF THE ALTERNATE CARE SITE.
AGAIN, WE EXPECT THAT THAT SITE WILL BE READY TO GO ON JULY THE 20TH.
AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT ALL RIGHT.
UM, FROM, UH, CBS AUSTIN AND SAY, AUSTIN IS HOLDING OFF GOING TO STAGE FIVE, EVEN THOUGH THE CRITERIA FOR NEW HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS HAS BEEN MET AFTER OUR DROP TO 247 NEW CASES ON MONDAY, THE CASE COUNT WENT BACK UP YESTERDAY TO 482.
IS THAT ENOUGH OF A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY TO KEEP US IN STAGE FOUR? DID TUESDAY'S NUMBERS REFLECT A DELAY IN THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND COUNT LIKE WE SAW IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE? SO I THINK THAT THE, THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, UH, DID ACCOUNT FOR A DECREASE IN, IN CASES THAT WE RECEIVED, BUT EVEN, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT WE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A DECREASE IN CASE, UH, CASES ON, ON FRIDAY AS WELL.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM, FROM TODAY, AS WELL AS THE UPDATED MODELS TO SUGGEST IF IT'S TIME TO TRANSITION TO THE STAGE FIVE.
UH, IF YOU RECALL, THERE WAS A TRANSITION, UH, BETWEEN 70 AND 123 REGARDING THAT, THAT MOVEMENT TO STAGE FIVE, THAT DEPENDS ON THE TRAJECTORY, AND THAT'S THE ASSESSMENT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION.
WHEN WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT THE DATA THAT WE ARE RECEIVING, WE ALSO LIKE TO CONSULT WITH OUR PARTNERS.
UM, TODAY AT NU WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THAT DATA DATA AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS OUR, UM, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER STAFF.
AND SO WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
WE LOOK AT THE DATA, WE MAKE A DECISION AND WE PROVIDE OUR INFORMATION,
[00:30:01]
BUT COLLABORATIVELY, WE COME TO THE RESPONSE OF MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.AND SO THAT WAY, AS WE'VE MOVED THROUGH THE SUCCESS OF OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 HAS BEEN MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL WITH THE USE OF, OF PARTNERS.
SCOTT STATED EARLIER, UM, WE WILL HAVE THE UT MODELING TEAM ON THE PHONE AS WELL, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, PROVIDE BASED UPON THE MODELING THAT THEY HAVE PRESENT FOR US.
SO THAT IS HOW WE TYPICALLY MAKE OUR DECISIONS TO MOVE TO THE NEXT STAGE.
THANKS TO THE BOTH OF YOU THERE.
UM, SO NEXT FROM KUT, UM, THEY'RE ASKING, WHAT IS THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER FIELD HOSPITAL, AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE STILL NEEDED? UH, I, I DON'T HAVE CURRENT UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UH, THE TEAMS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EXECUTING CONTRACTS AND THE BUILD OUT PROCESS.
UH, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO, TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE AN THIS WEEK PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON, ON WHERE THEY ARE ON THAT.
UH, AGAIN, THE PINCH POINT, UH, FOR THE HOSPITALS FOR ALTERNATE CARE SITES, NOT ONLY IN AUSTIN, BUT IN SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON AS WELL IS THE PERSONNEL ISSUE.
AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS RECRUITING EFFORTS GOING ON NATIONWIDE TO PULL PEOPLE, PHYSICIANS, NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, INTO TEXAS TO HELP.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
IT INCLUDES CIVILIANS, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE TIME IN OUR SURGE WHERE WE NEED THE SUPPORT FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WHO MAY NOT BE AS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED AS TEXAS IS RIGHT NOW, UH, TO HELP US, UH, WE SAW A NUMBER OF NURSES AND PHYSICIANS FROM TEXAS GOING TO NEW YORK WHEN THEY WERE FACING SURGE.
AND I THINK WE ARE STRONGER AS A COUNTRY IF WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER DURING THEIR PERIODS OF SURGE.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST QUESTION IT'S FROM ME AT THE CHRONICLE.
UM, SO MAYOR ADLER HAS, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR A 35 DAY SHUTDOWN TO KIND OF SLOW, UH, TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS.
AND IF EITHER OF YOU COULD KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE, LIKE WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES WOULD CLOSE, WHAT WOULD REMAIN OPEN.
UM, AND THEN WHAT'S THE CURRENT THINKING ON THE LEGALITY OF, OF MAYORS COUNTY JUDGES, UM, ISSUING AN ORDER LIKE THAT WOULD, THEY WOULD Y'ALL BE ABLE TO, OR WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE THAT ORDER UNDER, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S CURRENT EXECUTIVE ORDER? SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WOULD BE A DIALOGUE WITH THE STATE.
UH, I THINK GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS BEEN VERY REASONABLE IN TERMS OF, OF LISTENING TO THE DATA AND LISTENING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF, OF THE LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS FOR THE JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE BEING HEAVILY IMPACTED RIGHT NOW.
UH, I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SAY PEOPLE UNNECESSARILY DIE.
AND, UH, I, YOU KNOW, I I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE AND THAT IF WE MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE NEED TO DIAL THINGS DOWN FURTHER OR DIAL SOME THINGS OFF, UH, THAT THAT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR, UH, FRATERNITY THINGS DOWN A BIT MORE THAN WE CAN LEGALLY DO WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
UH, PART OF THAT DISCUSSION WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW, UH, AT CITY COUNCIL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO ALL OF US.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO TURN THINGS OFF FOR PEOPLE TO STOP GOING TO THOSE PLACES.
IF YOU REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE HAD, UH, RIGHT BEFORE THE SHELTER IN PLACE, WE WERE ADVISING PEOPLE NOT TO, UH, TO GO INTO RESTAURANTS, TO DO TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY ONLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THAT.
FOLKS CAN CHOOSE TO NOT GO INTO RESTAURANTS AND TO DO TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY.
THEY CAN CHOOSE NOT TO GO INTO RETAIL STORES AND DO TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY OF RETAIL ITEMS. WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO TURN THINGS OFF.
IF WE, AS A COMMUNITY, DECIDE TO TURN THINGS DOWN ON OUR OWN AND TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD, NONE OF US, INCLUDING DIRECTOR HAYDEN, I WANT TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO GO BACK TO A SHELTER IN PLACE.
WE KNOW THAT IT THREATENS PEOPLE'S EMPLOYMENT.
WE KNOW IT THREATENS THE ECONOMY, AND WE WANT TO FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PLEADING WITH PEOPLE TODAY TO MAKE THE CHOICE, TO DIAL THINGS DOWN THEIR OWN, TO ACT IN A MORE PROTECTIVE WAY SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO FACE THAT DECISION OF MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO GO BACK TO
[00:35:01]
A SHELTER IN PLACE.WELL, BEFORE WE WRAP UP, WOULD YOU, UH, DR.
SCOTT OR DIRECTOR STEPHANIE HAYDEN, LIKE TO GIVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS? WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING HOME.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR AS IN THIS WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND AS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING UP WITH SO MANY NEW TRADITIONS, WE'RE WANTING US TO GO BACK BEFORE THERE WERE ORDERS IN PLACE FOR US TO ONLY GO OUT WHEN IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
AND IN THOSE INSTANCES, WE WERE ACTUALLY, WE CAME UP WITH WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL A NEW NORMAL.
AND WITHIN THAT A NEW NORMAL, WE FOUND WAYS OF HOW DO WE ENSURE THEIR ACTIVITIES FOR MY CHILD? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT I AM CONTINUING TO DO THINGS SAFELY AND MAKE SURE MY BASIC NEEDS ARE MET.
WE ARE WANTING INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTARILY LOOK AT HOW MUCH MORE YOU ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME, HOW MUCH MORE YOU ARE SPENDING TIME WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE WITH YOU NOW, AND GO BACK THREE MONTHS AGO AND THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE INCREASED YOUR ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.
WE WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO THOSE DAYS.
WE WANT YOU TO VOLUNTARILY MAKE THAT DECISION TO STAY HOME AND THINK ABOUT THAT TIME.
THE THING THAT WE KNOW FROM JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH PEOPLE, JUST, YOU KNOW, ACROSS, UM, OUR AREA AND OTHER AREAS, THIS HAS ALLOWED US SOME TIME TO DO THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO AT HOME IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIFE AND IN OUR INDIVIDUAL SPACE.
SO IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST VOLUNTARILY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE GETTING OUT AND DECREASE THOSE EFFORTS.
PLEASE CHECK ON YOUR LOVED ONES AND ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND, YOU CAN RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THOSE SERVICES ARE SO IMPORTANT.
AND PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE LATER THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE WILL HAVE A DOCUMENT FOR RESPONSE AND A SURVEY FOR THE LATIN X COMMUNITY.
LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL, WE SPOKE ABOUT NEEDING TO DECREASE OUR ACTIVITY BY 90, 95%.
SO IF RIGHT NOW YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH 10 PEOPLE A DAY OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
WE NEED YOU TO DECREASE THAT TO ONE TO ONE PERSON SO THAT WE CAN GET A HANDLE ON THIS.
WE CAN PUT THE LID BACK ON THIS DISEASE TRANSMISSION, AND WE CAN BE IN A HEALTHIER PLACE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND OUR ECONOMY NOW IS REALLY NOT THE TIME TO GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS NOT THE TIME TO HAVE BABY SHOWERS AND BACHELORETTE PARTIES.
WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S CONFLICTING MESSAGES, UH, POLITICAL MESSAGES.
THERE IS NO CONFLICT IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
THERE IS NO CONFLICT WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DATA.
WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY, VERY CLEAR.
WE ARE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE JOINED MANY OTHER STATES WHO WE'RE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION RIGHT NOW.
WE SIMPLY MUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE VERGE OF, OF A REAL CRISIS IN TEXAS.
NOW'S THE TIME TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY BY STAYING HOME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
MARK S. SCOTT AND THE POOL REPORTER FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WELL, WHEN I OWN DOWN A BOND, A RAID, I SPEND THE AFTERNOON DRINKING ALL DAY IN A CHEAP CAFE.