[00:00:07]
I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I AM THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS ON ATX IN THREE TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS.
STEPHANIE HAYDEN WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY DR.
MARK S. SCOTT, INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY, AND THEN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET PICHET.
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP THE MIC TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA.
STEPHANIE, THIS IS A REMINDER ABOUT THE LOCAL MANDATES.
WE APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR FOR CONTINUING THE MASK FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE OUR LOCAL ORDERS THAT ARE IN PLACE, AND WE WANT TO ADHERE TO THOSE ORDERS.
WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO GATHER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE TO, UM, THE CAPACITY AND, UM, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT GATHER, UM, IF YOU GO TO A VENUE THAT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU, UM, TO MAKE OTHER CHOICES.
WE ALSO CONTINUE YOU TO, UM, ESTABLISH TRADITIONS AND JUST KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE.
THIS IS JUST A REMINDER ABOUT THE RISE FUNDING.
UM, THAT PROCESS, UM, IS COMING TO A CLOSE AND WE WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO, UM, CALL THE CALL CENTER OR I'M LONG GONE AND RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION.
AND ALSO WE HAVE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.
I WANT TO START BY ECHOING DIRECTOR HAYDEN'S COMMENTS.
UH, WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR, UH, FOR CONTINUING THE MASK BANDAID.
UH, THAT REMAINS A, A EXCELLENT WAY FOR US TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF, OF SPREAD OF DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE.
UH, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO KEEP BARS CLOSED.
UH, I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE CALLED THIS UNFAIR, UH, BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
IT'S THE WAY THE BUSINESSES ARE DESIGNED WITH WHERE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING TOGETHER FACE TO FACE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, AND I ECHO THE GOVERNOR'S SENTIMENT THAT THAT BARS HAVE TO FIND NEW WAYS TO OPERATE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM SAFER, UH, TO PUT THEM IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN REOPEN.
I WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT, ABOUT OPENING THINGS UP FURTHER.
UH, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S COMING FROM.
UH, WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT WE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL WE WERE AT STAGE TWO OF OUR RISK SO THAT WE COULD BE A BIT SAFER WHEN WE OPENED THINGS FURTHER.
AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY CONCERNING BECAUSE OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR NUMBER OF NEW CASES.
ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, WE HAD A MOVING AVERAGE OF, OF 69 NEW CASES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THAT'S INCREASED 83% IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE THEN.
UH, SO WE'RE SEEING INCREASED, UH, INCREASED CASES.
WHERE ARE THOSE HAPPENING? THE HIGHEST POSITIVITY RIGHT NOW IS IN TWO GROUPS, 10 TO 19 YEAR OLDS IN 20 TO 29 YEAR OLDS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT DATA FURTHER, WE KNOW THAT COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE A POSITIVITY OF AROUND 10%, WHICH IS MORE THAN DOUBLE OUR COMMUNITY RISK.
WHEN WE LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEIR POSITIVITY'S 14%, UH, SO TRIPLE WHAT THE COMMUNITY RATE IS.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ACTING IN A PROTECTIVE WAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SCARED ABOUT SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE IN HAND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR DOZEN CASES IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL SETTING IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF CASES IN THE COLLEGE SETTING IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW THAT ANY OF THOSE CASES WERE TRANSMITTED IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.
ARE THEY HAPPENING? THEY'RE HAPPENING IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS, THEY'RE HAPPENING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
WE'VE SEEN CLUSTERS IN THE AREA RELATED TO FOOTBALL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FOOTBALL PRACTICE.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN CHEERLEADING.
[00:05:02]
UH, WE KNOW THAT THESE ACTIVITIES ARE LIKELY TO PRESENT SITUATIONS WHERE MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE OR PRACTICAL.SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE ACTIVITIES BRINGING AN INCREASED RISK OF TRANSMISSION FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THOSE CHILDREN, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ACTIVE IN THOSE PROGRAMS MASK IN SOCIAL DISTANCE OF HOME TO PROTECT THE REST OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
GOOD MORNING, I JUST LIKE TO BRING UP A FEW, FEW POINTS, ONE, UH, AND INFORM THE COMMUNITY THAT ONE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN REGROUPING CURRENTLY.
UM, AS THE CASE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN INCREASING SINCE MONDAY AND WE STAND READY, UH, AND HAVE CREATED SOME ADDITIONAL STRIKE TEAMS, WHICH I'VE MENTIONED IN THE PAST, UH, TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON SCHOOLS, UH, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, AS WELL AS HIGHER EDUCATION.
UM, THERE, I ALSO WANTED TO BRING UP THAT THERE REMAINS TESTING CAPABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OR NEED TO BE TESTED, THAT AVAILABLE AVAILABILITY IS OUT THERE.
UH, WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT.
AND THREE FALL IS FAST APPROACHING AND IT IS THE BEGINNING OF COLD AND FLU SEASON.
AND SO NOW IS THE PRIME TIME FOR YOU TO, UH, GET YOUR FLU VACCINATION, UH, BEFORE THERE'S A RUN ON FLU VACCINE.
UM, IT WILL, YOU KNOW, PRI PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION TO THOSE, UH, FROM RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER AND A WRECKER WHO IS REPRESENTING KVU ANA.
UM, OUR FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU THIS MORNING IS ALTHOUGH BARS ARE STILL TECHNICALLY CLOSED.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH THE AMOUNT OF DOWNTOWN BARS THAT HAVE, UM, KIND OF FOUND A LOOPHOLE WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING FOOD AND CAUSING GROUPS TO GATHER AGAIN, OR DEFINITELY SEEING MORE ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THAT? YES.
UH, WE'RE CONCERNED WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE GATHERING TOGETHER FACE TO FACE FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IF THAT'S AN, A BAR, IF THAT'S AN, A BACKYARD PARTY OR OTHER SOCIAL GATHERING, UH, YEAH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE AREN'T STAGE THREE OF OUR RISKS, WHICH MEANS WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOLKS, UH, AVOID GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT FOLKS WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK, UH, AVOID ANY GATHERINGS, UH, OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
UH, THE DISEASES STILL OUT THERE WE'RE AT THE PLACE WE ARE NOW BECAUSE OF THE MEASURES THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE.
AND BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN, IF WE TAKE TOO MUCH RISK, NOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT IN THE FALL.
AND, UH, WE'VE GOT THE OTHER THREAT OF INFLUENCE THAT COMING AS WELL.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
UH, MY RECOMMENDATION FOR, FOR BARS, AS I SAID EARLIER, IS THAT THEY LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO OPERATE SO THAT THEY CAN BE DONE SAFELY.
UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF PEOPLE ARE SEATED AND AT TABLES THAT ARE DISTANCE APART, IT'S GOING TO BE SAFER THAN THE TRADITIONAL SETTING, WHERE PEOPLE ARE CROWDED, UH, AROUND A BAR AND, AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS DISEASE TO SPREAD.
L SCOTT STATED, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED.
UM, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.
UM, OUR TEAMS WILL MAKE REGULAR ROUNDS IN THOSE AREAS TO ENSURE THAT THE, UM, OWNERS ARE ADHERING TO THE LOCAL MANDATES.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT IT IS A SYSTEM THAT ENFORCEMENT DOES COME IN HAND.
SO WE ARE ABLE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT AND, UM, MOVE CASES ALONG IN OUR SYSTEM.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM CDS, AUSTIN.
AND IT'S ALSO REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY.
IT SAYS, DO YOU THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR'S RELAXING OF THE RESTRICTIONS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE AUSTIN AREA? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT WILL BE OF 75% CAPACITY AT RESTAURANTS, GYMS,
[00:10:01]
AND OFFICES, AGAIN, UH, MOVING TO PREFERRED TO WAIT UNTIL WE WERE AT STAGE TWO OF RISKS.UH, AND THAT MEANS OUR HOSPITALIZATION AND SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE IS UNDER 10.
UH, AND AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO SEE OUR POSITIVITY RATE LESS THAN 3% BEFORE WE WERE TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO 75%.
UH, I THINK ULTIMATELY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, UH, IF THEY GO INTO A PLACE AND INTEND TO HAVE A MEAL AND FIND THAT AS CROWDED, YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR SOME SOMEPLACE ELSE TO EAT.
UH, I AM PLEASED THAT THE GOVERNOR CONTINUED THE, THE SIX FOOT OF DISTANCING BETWEEN TABLES OR FOUR FEET WITH A PHYSICAL BARRIER.
UH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF RESTAURANTS TO GET TO 75%, BUT THOSE MEASURES STILL IN PLACE.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY UPSET WITH THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BALANCE THE RISK TO OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE RISK TO THE ECONOMY.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM A POSITION WHERE WE WOULD HAVE, HAVE SUPPORTED THIS.
UH, AGAIN, FAMILIES HAVE TO DECIDE, UH, AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT IF THEY ARE HIGH RISK, THEY HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, OR THEY HAD SOMEONE LIVING IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE TAKING RISKS.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE OUR TOOLS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AS I STATED EARLIER, JUST TO REMIND HER ABOUT THE LOCAL MANDATES THAT OUR MAYOR HEALTH AUTHORITY AND COUNTY JUDGE HAVE PUT IN PLACE.
WE ALSO, AS A REMINDER OF OUR RISK BASED TOOL WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE, WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOU WITH AN INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
BUT WE KNOW IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION THAT, UM, FOLKS WILL WANT TO BE MORE MOBILE, BUT WE WANT YOU TO, UM, ADHERE TO ALL OF THE MASS MANDATES, THE HAND HYGIENE AND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHOUT WHATEVER YOUR CHOICE IS GOING TO BE.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM K U TEAM NEWS.
S GOD SAID HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE AREA HAVE A 14% PELVIS POSITIVITY RATE AS MORE KIDS IN THE AREA, HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASING CAPACITY IN SCHOOLS? SO LET ME START BY SAYING, WE, WE CHOSE THE PHASED IN APPROACH TO GIVE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THINGS WERE GOING AT 25% AND THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE TO 50% IF THINGS WERE WORKING WELL, IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING WELL, THEY NEED TO RECONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MOVE UP TO 50%.
IF THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF RISK MODIFIED THEIR, THEIR PROCEDURES, AND THEN MOVED TO 50%, I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
BUT RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, ALL ALONG, SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT PREVENT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF CASES.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL OUTBREAKS WITHIN SCHOOLS.
AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO THAT.
UH, SO AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE DEPENDENT UPON THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF, OF INFORMING THEIR COMMUNITY.
MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE CREATED A DASHBOARD TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, UH, SCHOOL SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
AND I THINK THAT ENGAGEMENT'S IMPORTANT SO THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILD INTO THE CLASSROOM.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ALL ESTONIA.
IT SAYS POSITIVE RAP, THAT ANTIGEN TEST RESULTS CONTINUE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS PROBABLE CASES RATHER THAN CONFIRMED PER CDC.
GUIDELINES IS APH HAD A SENSE OF WHAT PORTION OF COVA TESTS CONDUCTED IN TRAVIS COUNTY ARE RAPID VERSUS GENETIC, AND WHETHER THE SCOOP EXCLUSION OF RAPID TEST RESULTS IS AFFECTING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.
UH, SO I'LL START, I'M SURE THAT, UH, THE JANET MAY, MAY WANT TO ADD SOMETHING.
UH, WE ARE, AGAIN, AS YOU NOTED REPORTING IN NORMAL CONVENTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING PCR TESTS, AS CONFIRMED CASES, WE ARE LOOKING AT A WAY TO DISPLAY ALSO
[00:15:01]
THE PROBABLE CASES BASED ON ANTIGEN TESTING, UH, AND SPEND, SO FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE SIA, THEY, THE ANTIGEN TESTING IS, IS FAIRLY GOOD, FAIRLY ACCURATE.UH, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IT MAY BE A BETTER MEASURE FOR US IN THE FUTURE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS INFECTIOUS OR NOT.
UH, SO I EXPECT THAT WE MAY SEE SOME, SOME CHANGES IN, UH, IN HOW THE, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANT TO TREAT THOSE CASES.
UH, BUT FOR NOW, WE'LL, WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO DISPLAY BOTH THE, UH, THE PROBABLE AND THE CONFIRM.
THIS COMES FROM COOPA RADIO, AND THIS IS ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY WITH A 75%.
IT SAYS RECENTLY DINING IN RESTAURANTS HAS BEEN SINGLED OUT AS BEING AS LIKELY TO SPREAD COVID-19 IS BARS BY THE CDC, HIGHEST RISK ONSITE DINING WITH BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING GYMS HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MORE RISKY LOCATIONS ALONG WITH BARS.
HOW THEN IS IT THAT BOTH ARE ALLOWED TO EXPAND TO THAT PERCENT OCCUPANCY TO 75% WHILE BARS REMAIN CLOSED AGAIN? UM, I, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK GEMS ARE CONCERNING, UH, OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY WHO IS RUNNING ON A TREADMILL AND, AND BREATHING QUICKLY, UH, IS, IS GOING TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD DISEASE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE DEPENDENT UPON GYMS ENSURING THAT, UH, PEOPLE ARE SPACED APART AND THAT APPROPRIATE CLEANING IS DONE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE INCREASED RISK COMPARED TO NOT GOING TO THE GYM.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE GONNA HAVE TO, TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK AND MAKE A DECISION OF IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT OR NOT, UH, REGARDING THE RESTAURANTS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON, ON THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN PLACE AND, UH, AND WHO YOU'RE DINING WITH, UH, IF CAME WITH OUR SPACE SIX FEET APART AND YOU'RE DINING WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, UH, IT SEEMS LOGICAL THAT THE RISK IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE IS NOT GOING TO BE VERY HIGH, UH, SINCE YOU'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT AND ONLY WITH OTHER FOLKS THAT YOU NORMALLY HAVE CLOSE CONTACT WITH, UH, WHEN RESTAURANTS GET CROWDED, THE CONCERN INCREASES, UH, WHEN RESTAURANTS ARE NOT ABIDING BY, UH, THE, THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, UM, RISK IS GOING TO INCREASE.
SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT.
THE OTHER THING TO UNDERSTAND IN SOME OF THESE PUBLICATIONS, UH, IS THAT, IS THAT THERE'S AN ASSOCIATION THEY'VE DESCRIBED AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE COVID POSITIVE AND HAVING BEEN TO A RESTAURANT IN THE APPROPRIATE PERIOD OF TIME TO BE INFECTIOUS.
THE PREVIOUS 14 DAYS, THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM CAUSATION, THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THE DISEASE.
SO IT MAY BE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FREQUENTING RESTAURANTS ARE ALSO TAKING OTHER RISKS, WHICH MAY EXPOSE THEM TO COVID-19 JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF WITH EACH, UM, PHASES WHEN YOU ARE AT THE 25%, AND NOW WE'RE AT 50%.
AND THEN 75%, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, UM, AND REALLY WORK WITH THE RESTAURANTS HAND IN HAND TO ENSURE WE CREATE A PLACE WHERE IT IS VERY SAFE.
UM, AS I STATED EARLIER, UM, WE INITIALLY START WITH TECHNICAL SYSTEMS. WE MOVE TO WARNINGS AND FERRIS NONCOMPLIANCE, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, UM, IT CAN MOVE TO BE A FINE AND POTENTIALLY CLOSED.
SO WE WILL BE USING, UM, ALL OF OUR TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, UM, TEAM TO KEEP AUSTIN SAFE.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TEXAS TRIBUNE.
IT SAYS, DO YOU SEE EVIDENCE THAT THE RETURN OF UT AUSTIN STUDENTS SLASH RESUMPTION OF CLASSES HAS LED TO COMMUNITIES SPREAD IN AUSTIN? IS THERE ANY ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY CASES IN AUSTIN ARE RELATED TO UT? SO WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY SPREAD FOR MONTHS IN AUSTIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE UT CASES, UH, THEY ACCOUNT FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER, THEY ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST 40% OF ALL OF THE CASES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, SO CERTAINLY IT'S A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR.
THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR.
UM, AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH, WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS TO, UH, TO KEEP A LID ON THAT SPREAD.
UH, AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
[00:20:01]
AGE STUDENTS ARE, UH, FAR LESS LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND FAR LESS LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID-19.WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT SPREADING THIS TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE ENGAGED THOSE STUDENTS.
WE'VE ENGAGED THE FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES, AND WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED FOR MONTHS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE MESSAGING IS APPROPRIATE, THAT THE TESTING IS AVAILABLE.
WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO'VE BEEN IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS WHERE MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, UH, WAS NOT PRACTICED TO GET TESTED.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY FOLKS WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC OR PRESYMPTOMATIC, BUT STILL HAVE THE RISK OF SPREADING TO OTHERS.
AND I THINK IF WE CAN ENGAGE IN THAT PRACTICE AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN KEEP THINGS UNDER CONTROL.
OH, JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND UT BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
UH, AGAIN, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A HIGHER EDUCATION, UH, STRIKE TEAM TO ASSIST, UH, IN ANY CLUSTERS THAT MAY OCCUR AT THE UNIVERSITY OR OTHER, UH, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
UM, WE, UH, ARE ALSO MEETING WITH THEM REGULARLY TO HELP INTERVENE WHEN WE CAN, AND WE DO HAVE AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH UT AUSTIN, UH, AND THEY ASSIST WITH OUR CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON THAT COLLEGE, A THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE ON THEIR CAMPUS.
SO, UH, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, YOU KNOW, STOP THE TRANSMISSION CYCLE IN THOSE SETTINGS.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TAXING, AND IT'S ALSO PERTAINING TO THE UPDATE YESTERDAY WITH A GOVERNOR, BUT THIS ONE'S AIMING MORE WITH NURSING HOMES.
IT SAYS, DO YOU THINK THE LATEST EXPANDED BUSINESS CAPACITIES AND NURSING HOME VISITATIONS ARE PRUDENT TO GET IN OUR CURRENT LANDSCAPE AGAIN? UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE STILL IN OUR STAGE THREE OF RISK, UH, WHICH MEANS WE'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATE OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
I THINK IN PARTICULAR, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT NURSING HOMES AND OTHER LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
UH, IF THEY INTEND TO VISIT AN INDIVIDUAL IN ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES, THEY SHOULD ACT IN A MORE PROTECTIVE WAY THAN EVEN STAGE THREE.
THEY SHOULD ACT LIKE THEY'RE IN STAGE FOUR, THEY SHOULD AVOID SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
THEY SHOULD BE STAYING HOME IN THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO VISITING.
UH, WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 IS DEVASTATING FOR NURSING HOMES AND OTHER LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES.
AND IT'S, IT'S PRUDENT FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, THESE FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, IF THEY FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO VISIT THEIR LOVED ONE IN PERSON TO PROTECT THEM AND PROTECT OTHER MEMBERS OF, OF THAT, UH, FACILITY BY ACTING IN A SAFE WAY PRIOR TO VISITING.
AND I'VE HEARD THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY SHOULD THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS BE CONCERNED, NOT WITH A COVID-19, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, AGAIN, WE ARE ENTERING IN INTO COLD AND FLU SEASON.
THOSE THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR FLU SHOT BEFORE THEY ENTER INTO THOSE FACILITIES.
THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MONITORING OTHER CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE PLACING THOSE PEOPLE AT RISK.
LIKE NOROVIRUS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE NURSING HOMES TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF NOROVIRUS OUTBREAKS.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A NURSING HOME STRIKE TEAM THAT STANDS READY THEY'VE THEY HAVE INTERVENED IN CASES WHEN WE NEED TO DO SOME INFECTION CONTROL ASSESSMENTS, OR WE MAKE REQUESTS FROM THE STATE TO ASSIST WITH THAT EFFORT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH THAT, UH, THAT, UH, BUSINESS SECTOR.
AND OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM UNIVISION.
IT SAYS WE HAVE BEEN SEEING PARTIES AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS.
ARE THEY GETTING CITED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THESE STUDENTS TO FACE PENALTIES? SO, AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID EARLIER, UH, WE HAVE A GROUP WORKING ON ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THAT GROUP INCLUDES, UH, AUSTIN CODE, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, WE'RE WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
UH, GENERALLY, IF, IF THERE'S ISSUES ON CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY
[00:25:01]
OF TEXAS WILL HANDLE, UH, IF IT'S AN ISSUE OFF CAMPUS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL HANDLE IT.UH, YOU KNOW, WE RELY ON, ON PEOPLE REPORTING TO THREE, ONE, ONE, UH, TO NOTIFY US OF, OF PARTIES THAT ARE ONGOING OR PARTIES THAT ARE PLANNED SO THAT WE CAN INTERVENE.
UH, WE, AGAIN START BY, UH, DOING AN ASSESSMENT, UH, IF THERE'S A VIOLATION, UH, SOMETIMES THEY'LL GET A WARNING.
IF IT'S A SERIOUS VIOLATION OR REPEATED VIOLATION, THEY'LL GET A FINE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE OUR LAWFUL ORDERS, UH, TO NOT HAVE GATHERINGS LARGER THAN 10.
IT IS A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THAT.
UH, IF THAT VIOLATION LEADS TO SERIOUS INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH, UH, THOSE PENALTIES COULD BE MUCH MORE SERIOUS.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN PURSUING CRIMINAL CHARGES, UH, AGAINST A, UH, ENTITY THAT HOLDS A PARTY, UH, THAT LEADS TO TRANSMISSION DISEASE AND A SERIOUS OUTCOME.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION IS ALSO IN REGARDS TO UT IT'S FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT.
IT SAYS ON SATURDAY, WE SELL FAR FEWER THAN 25,000 FANS OF THE UT FOOTBALL GAME.
AND ABOUT 8% OF THE UT STUDENTS TESTED WERE SENT HOME AFTER TESTING POSITIVE.
THERE ARE FOUR MORE HOME GAMES ON CAMPUS SCHEDULE AFTER SEEING THE PROCESS.
DO YOU FEEL ANY DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY'S PLANS FOR HOME GAMES AND YOU DID LAST WEEK? SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE PLEASED THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, TOOK ADDITIONAL ACTIONS.
THEY SCREENED THE STUDENTS IN ADVANCE, AND WE'VE JUST DESCRIBED THAT THAT STUDENTS ARE AT HIGHER RISK, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK THAN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THEY INSURED PEOPLE HAD MASKS ON ENTRY.
THEY HAD PEOPLE SPACED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME.
HOWEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD SOME TEAMS FROM AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE GAME, AND WHAT THEY OBSERVED IS THAT AS THE GAME PROGRESSED, THE MASS CAME OFF AND PEOPLE STARTED GATHERING CLOSE TO THE FIELD.
UH, THERE WAS A STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE SAW ON THE TV CAMERAS AT THE UT GAME VERSUS WHAT WE SAW AT NFL GAMES OR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING WERE ENFORCED.
UH, SO OUR FEEDBACK, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, TO HAVE PEOPLE ON THE STANDS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO CONTINUE THE ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE GAME TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ACTIVITIES CAN BE DONE SAFELY.
THIS QUESTION IS ALSO PERTAINING TO THE GAME.
I'M GOING TO KIND OF REWORD IT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT, UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE STUDENTS BEING TESTED, DO YOU FEEL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD POTENTIALLY BE TESTED THAT THE ATTENDS THESE GAMES, UM, WHETHER THEY'RE A STUDENT OR NOT JUST ANYBODY THAT HAS A TICKET GOING FORWARD? UH, I WOULD LOVE THAT.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK TOWARDS GAMES IN, IN NOVEMBER IN PARTICULAR, THAT TECHNOLOGY AND CAPABILITY MAY BE THERE.
UH, THE FDA HAS RECENTLY APPROVED A, UH, AN ANTIGEN TEST CALLED ABBOT BY ANNEX NOW, WHICH IS A RAPID TEST.
THERE'S AN ASSOCIATED APP, WHICH WILL SHOW PROOF THAT, THAT YOU'VE TESTED NEGATIVE.
THAT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY LATER IN THE SEASON, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THAT FOLKS SHOWING UP, UH, TO PRESENT TO THE STADIUM ARE NEGATIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WAITING ON TECHNOLOGY TO CATCH UP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE EVENTS, UH, AND, AND DO THEM SAFELY.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, WE'LL SEE PROGRESS IN THAT, UH, IN THAT SPACE.
THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM CBS, AUSTIN.
IT SAYS, ARE WE SEEING AN IMPACT IN THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY REFLECTED IN THE NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES? DO YOU THINK THE UPTAKE IS RELATED MORE TO STUDENTS TESTING POSITIVE? UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE UPTAKE IS, UH, IS FROM STUDENTS THAT TEND TO 29, UH, LEESBURG, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF THAT TREND CONTINUES OR IF WE CAN FLATTEN IT OUT AGAIN.
UH, BUT I'M CONCERNED WHEN HAD AN 83% INCREASE IN CASES THAT WERE TWO WEEK PERIOD.
WE STARTED TO SEE AN INCREASE BEFORE LABOR DAY.
UH, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR MOBILITY DATA FOR TRAVIS COUNTY, WE SAW INCREASING ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF THE HOME PRIOR TO LABOR DAY AS WELL.
UH, SO WE'LL NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND VERY
[00:30:01]
CAUTIOUS NOW.AND AGAIN, UH, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE WOULD HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO EXPAND BUSINESS OPENINGS.
ALRIGHTY, THIS IS FROM COOPERATIVE RIO.
AND THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S A QUOTE FROM MAYOR ADLER.
AND THERE'S, THEY'RE ASKING IF YOU SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
IT SAYS AUSTIN'S POSITIVITY RATES IN CASES ARE INCREASING AMONG STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 10 INFECTIONS AMONG OUR SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATIONS ARE STILL TOO HIGH.
WE NEED TO ACT CAUTIOUSLY WITH THESE EXPANDED OPENINGS FROM THEIR ADLER.
AND THEN IT SAYS, DO YOU SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION? YES.
AGAIN, A WAY YOU WOULDN'T HAVE, HAVE GONE TO 75% RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD HAVE WAITED AT LEAST UNTIL WE WERE IN STAGE TWO, UH, TO REALLY NOT SUPPORT THAT KIND OF, UH, SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RISK.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, OUR ADVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOK AT OUR STAGES.
WE'RE AT STAGE THREE, WE DON'T FEEL WE'RE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO MOVE TO STAGE TWO YET BECAUSE OF THAT INCREASED RISK BECAUSE OF THOSE INCREASING CASES, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING OTHER RISKS RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING OPENING COLLEGES AND IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
SO I WOULDN'T GO OUT TO RESTAURANTS JUST YET, UH, PARTICULARLY CROWDED RESTAURANTS, UH, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A RESTAURANT AND WITH YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR SPOUSE, THAT'S PROBABLY OKAY.
IF YOU'RE IN A LOW RISK CATEGORY IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, IS IT A LOW RISK CATEGORY? IF YOU WANT TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE TIME YET WE SUPPORT, UM, THE MAYOR, UM, ASSESSMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR THROUGHOUT THIS RESPONSE, AND, UM, HE KNOWS THE DATA FOR OUR, UM, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT AGAIN.
UM, I WILL REFERENCE AGAIN, UM, ALL OF GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT OUR RISKS BASED GUIDELINES, BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, OUR PREFERENCES, AS WE HAVE NOTICED THE MOBILITY DATA, UM, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE MOBILITY DATA, AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVING ABOUT MORE IN THE CITY, AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
UM, AS SCHOOLS ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WILL BE THERE, UM, WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, UM, HAVING, UM, CLASS SESSIONS, ET CETERA, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST TAKE, UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURES FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND THIS QUESTION COMES FROM TEXAS TRIBUNE.
IT SAYS, WHY USE A SALESFORCE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF SLASH IN ADDITION TO ANY DSS AND TEXAS HEALTH TRAYS, WHAT DOES APH USE ANY DSS AND HEALTH TRAITS FOR? UM, SO I'LL GO.
SO THE NED'S BASED SOLUTION OR THE NATIONAL ELECTRONIC DISEASE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS OUTBREAK, UH, IS IT'S A LEGACY SYSTEM THAT WAS RUNNING REALLY, REALLY SLOW.
AND IT'S A SYSTEM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDES FOR US BECAUSE OF THE SLOW, UM, THE SLOW SYSTEM.
WE BASICALLY, UH, CREATED OUR OWN SYSTEM, AND THAT WAS THE, UH, SALESFORCE SOLUTION.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE ALSO CREATED TEXAS HEALTH TRAINEES, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER SALESFORCE, UH, SOLUTION AND PLATFORM FOR DATA COLLECTION AND A CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING.
OURS IS A VERY SIMILAR PRODUCT.
UM, WE STARTED OURS BEFORE THEY STARTED THEIRS, UM, KIND OF AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, TRANSITIONING TO THAT SYSTEM AND ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MIGRATE, UH, OUR CURRENT CASE, UH, CASES AND DATA OVER TO THAT SYSTEM.
SO THEY CAN, UM, HAVE IT ON THEIR SYSTEM AS WELL.
BUT, UH, BECAUSE NED'S WAS, UH, ARE KIND OF A LEGACY SYSTEM, IT, IT JUST, UH, WAS NOT PERFORMING, UH, TO, TO MEET THE CASE DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE.
I WILL SAY ONE PORTION OF NED'S THAT WE USED IS THE ELECTRONIC LABORATORY REPORTING SYSTEM.
UH, THOSE, THOSE, UH, LABORATORY RESULTS ARE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE STATE, TO THE, UH, NED'S ELECTRONIC
[00:35:01]
LABORATORY REPORTING SYSTEM, THAT PORTION OF IT.UM, AND SO WE DO USE THAT DAILY AND THAT'S HOW WE GET A LOT OF OUR CASE, UH, AND LAB RESULTS, UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON WAIT, LET ME JUST ADD TO THAT.
UH, AS, AS JANET SAID, UH, WE STARTED CREATING THE, OUR SALESFORCE SYSTEM.
WE ENCOURAGE THE STATE, UH, TO USE THAT SYSTEM, BUT DO IT STATEWIDE SO THAT WE CAN DO CASE INVESTIGATIONS ACROSS JURISDICTIONS.
AND WE'RE PLEASED THAT THEY, THAT THEY SELECTED THAT SOLUTION AND, AND HAVE BUILT THAT WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IS, IS THE NUANCES OF TRANSITIONING TO THE DATA BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. OUR INITIAL HOPE WAS THAT THE STATE WOULD BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE WITH OUR SYSTEM SO THAT THEY WOULD TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL IS FOR US TO TRANSITION FROM OUR SOLUTION TO THEIR SOLUTION.
AND THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT, THAT JANET JUST DESCRIBED.
UH, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO USE AND BE INVOLVED WITH THE STATE SYSTEM.
UH, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME, SOME CANES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SYSTEM AS ADDITIONAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ON BOARD, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OUR DATA, THAT WE CAN PROVIDE DATA TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TO THE PUBLIC IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
ONCE WE HAVE THOSE ASSURANCES, UH, THEN WE WILL, UH, LOOK AT COMPLETING A TRANSITION.
WONDERFUL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THIS QUESTION COMES FROM KFC AAN.
IT SAYS YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THE SEVEN DAY AVERAGE OF NEW HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AS THE METRIC YOU'RE WATCHING FOR REDUCING STAGE LEVELS, RATHER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S FOCUS ON THE PERCENTAGE OF COVID-19 PATIENTS AND THE OVERALL HOSPITAL POPULATION.
EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE WATCHING THAT NUMBER MORE CLOSELY.
UH, SO WORKING WITH OUR MODELERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, IT BECAME CLEAR TO US EARLY ON THAT THAT HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS WAS THE BEST PREDICTOR OF, OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING AND WHERE THE TRENDS ARE GOING.
UH, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF HOSPITAL BEDS BEING UTILIZED, UH, YOU KNOW, IS A USEFUL METRIC TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT QUITE AS, AS TIMELY AS THE NEW ADMISSIONS, UH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
UH, IF WE WAIT UNTIL WE REACHED THE 15% MARK TO TAKE ACTION, THAT ACTION MAY BE TOO LATE.
NOW HAVING SAID THAT THERE ARE OTHER MEASURES THAT WE LOOK AT AND, UH, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE, UH, INCLUDING POSITIVITY, ICU, VENTILATOR CAPACITY AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE OUR, UH, OUR SURGERY IN JUNE AND JULY, THAT HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ISN'T THE RATE LIMITING STEP FOR US OR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS IT'S ICU CAPACITY.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE STATE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE TRIGGERS, AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE A HOSPITAL BASED METRIC FOR MAKING DECISIONS, IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE ICU VERSUS, UH, THE HOSPITAL CAPACITY.
A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THERE.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IS THE LAST QUESTION FROM OUR LOCAL MEDIA THIS MORNING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER THOSE.
WE APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT, HANNAH.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU POOL REPORTER.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR CLOSING REMARKS AND ANYTHING ELSE OUR PANEL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, STEPHANIE, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU PLEASE.
AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT OUR LOCAL MANDATES.
UM, WE, WE ARE VERY PLEASED ABOUT, UM, THE GOVERNOR KEEPING IN PLACE, THE MASK MANDATE.
UM, HOWEVER, WE HAVE OUR LOCAL MANDATES IN PLACE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GATHER, UM, IN GROUPS LARGER THAN 10.
AND, UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE STILL ON THE BOOKS FOR US AS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO WE WANT INDIVIDUALS JUST TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND WE'VE DONE SO WELL, AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UM, OUR GOAL IS, IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE POSITIVITY RATE, UM, TO COME DOWN.
WE'D LIKE TO, UM, GO TO STAGE TWO AND, UM, ULTIMATELY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAYING JUST A REMINDER ABOUT OUR RISE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, THAT FUNDING IS, UM, $2,000 PER HOUSEHOLD.
UM, AND IT IS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, LASTLY, UM, WE HAVE TESTING AVAILABLE.
[00:40:01]
UM, IF YOU, UM, HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR YOU MAY HAVE SYMPTOMS, PLEASE, UM, GIVE US A CALL, UH, AT OUR NURSE LINE OR THREE, ONE, ONE GO ONLINE AND SCHEDULE YOU A TEST.WE HAVE A NEW LOCATION THAT IS GOING TO COME ON BOARD NEXT WEEK IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA AT THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
AND SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU TO USE OUR SITES AS A REMINDER, UM, FACE COVERING HAND HYGIENE AND SIX FEET DISTANCE.
LET ME JUST REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN NEW CASES, DIAGNOSED IN TRAVIS COUNTY, PRIMARILY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE INDIVIDUALS.
AND ALSO IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN IN INVOLVED IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, WE'RE MASKING IN SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE'RE NOT FOLLOWED OR AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WERE MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS SIGN UP AND GET A FREE TEST TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT COVID POSITIVE.
AND IF THEY ARE, WE CAN PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR SCHOOL SETTING AND IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
AND FINALLY, I LIKE TO JUST REMIND PEOPLE THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR COLD AND FLU IS TO GET YOUR FLU VACCINATION, UH, SO THAT YOU STAND READY, UH, FOR NOT DEVELOPING A RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND, UM, ARE BETTER PROTECTED FOR COVID-19.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO APH DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, DR.
MARK S. SCOTT AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, JANET PICHET, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR POOL REPORTER TODAY.