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[COVID-19: Press Q & A]
MORNING.I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I AM THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS ON ATX IN THREE TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.
STEPHANIE HAYDEN WILL SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY CHIEF, EXCUSE ME, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, CHIEF EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET, TO PUSH IT.
MARK S. SCOTT, INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY.
AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA.
I WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME TODAY JUST TO PROVIDE A FEW REMINDERS FOR US BECAUSE SAFETY IS FIRST.
OUR GOAL IS AS A CITY WE'VE DONE VERY WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY COMMEND AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENTS BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IT'S BASED UPON THE BEHAVIOR THAT YOU HAVE DISPLAYED.
EDUCATION IS OUR ONE OF OUR MAIN PRIORITIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EDUCATED AND OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GET THEIR EDUCATION AS WELL.
BUT WE KNOW AS WE START TO REOPEN MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WE WILL GET TOO COMFORTABLE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE MOVED IN A POSITIVE WAY.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE, TO WHERE YOUR FACE COVERING, UM, ENSURE YOU HAVE, UM, HAND HYGIENE AND YOU ARE ALSO ALL, WE GO INTO PLACES WHERE IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR YOU TO GO.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S, UM, I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON IS THAT WE HAVE, WE STILL HAVE TESTING AVAILABLE AND WE ARE PROVIDING TESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS FLU SEASON FLU SEASON STARTED OCTOBER 1ST AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING SOME LOCATIONS WHERE WE WILL BE PROVIDING FLU, UM, VACCINES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ENTITIES IN ORDER TO BRING THEM TO OUR ZIP CODES THAT HAVE HIGH POSITIVITY RATE, BUT ALSO AT LOCATIONS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO GET THERE AND TO ACCESS THE FLU VACCINE.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JANET FOR CHEF.
UM, I DO WANNA, UH, REPEAT SOME OF WHAT STEPHANIE, UH, HAS MENTIONED, UM, AND MENTIONED TO PEOPLE THAT AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY ARE IN A GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE HAVE A VERY FLAT CURVE AS, AS FAR AS NEW CASES GO.
UM, AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, UH, IN DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH OTHER EPIDEMIOLOGISTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SOME OF THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA THEY'RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING INCREASE IN CASES.
WHEREAS WE ARE THE ONE CITY THAT HAS HAD A DECLINE OR A FLAT FLATNESS IN OUR CURVE.
UH, SO WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN KEEP THAT CURVE FLAT IS TO CONTINUE TO, UH, USE THOSE PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT WILL PREVENT YOUR RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 THAT INCLUDES WEARING YOUR MASK.
UH, IT INCLUDES, UM, WASHING YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND ALSO, UM, STAYING HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND THAT'S, WHAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED AND YOU'RE QUARANTINING, OR IF YOU ARE SICK, YOU NEED TO STAY HOME AND ISOLATE.
SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING THOSE CONTROL MEASURES, UH, TO REDUCE EXPOSURE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO AS WE ENTER IN COLD AND FLU SEASON IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING VACCINATED FOR FLU, FOR ADDED PROTECTION, UH, TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM FLU AS WELL SINCE, UH, UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO COME INTO THAT BUSY TIME OF YEAR WHEN COLDS AND FLUS AND ALLERGIES ARE ALSO PRESENT.
AND I'LL, UH, I'LL ECHO SOME OF WHAT, UH, WHAT JANET JUST SAID.
UH, WE'RE RELATIVELY FLAT RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL
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AND, AND FLAT IS AN OKAY PLACE TO BE.AND IT'S OKAY BECAUSE OVER THE PAST MONTH, TWO MONTHS, WE'VE INCREASED OUR RISK A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME REOPENED SCHOOLS STARTING, UH, AFTER LABOR DAY AT 25% AND THEN 50% THIS WEEK, WE'VE HAD AISD OPEN INITIALLY AT 25% FOLLOWED BY 50% IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT, THAT FLATNESS OF THE CURVE, WHICH MEANS FOLKS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION.
SOME FOLKS ASK ME, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS WEEK, DR.
WELL, THE ANSWER IS THE SECOND WAVE COMES.
WHEN WE DECIDE IT'S GOING TO COME.
WHEN OUR COMMUNITY DECIDES THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THEM ASKING AND DISTANCING AND PROTECTIVE ACTIONS, THIS IS, THIS VIRUS IS NOT A SUPERNATURAL FORCE.
IT RESPONDS TO WHAT WE DO AS A COMMUNITY.
IF WE REDUCE THOSE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS, IF WE DECIDE TO STOP MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND WE START TO GATHER TOGETHER AGAIN IN LARGE GROUPS, THAT'S WHEN THE SECOND WAVE IS GOING TO COME.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PREDICTION ON THAT.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH LISTENING TO EXPERT AND DEVICE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS VIRUS AT BAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN AVOID ADDING TO THE CASE TOTALS, THE FATALITY TOTALS THAT ARE UNMISTAKABLE IN THE IMPACT THEY'VE HAD ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
WHAT'S THAT? I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS.
NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR POOL REPORTER REPRESENTING KX A N TOM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TALKING WITH US THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO START WITH A MIKE QUESTION, WHICH IS, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE LEVEL OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES HAPPENING AT SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA, THE ENTIRE STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL TEAMS IN ROUND ROCK OR IN QUARANTINE AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE? I GUESS I WANT TO KNOW IS ALLOWING THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND UNNECESSARY RISK.
WELL, I'LL START BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAD CONCERNED ABOUT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FROM THE BEGINNING.
UH, THIS IS WHY WE, WE DIDN'T ALLOW FOOTBALL TEAMS TO, TO PRACTICE OVER THE SUMMERTIME.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE ECHOED THAT CONCERN OUR, OUR DIRECTION TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES WHERE MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE NOT POSSIBLE OR PRACTICAL THAT THEY NOTIFY THE FAMILIES OF THOSE STUDENTS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY IS THERE INCREASED RISK OF TRANSMISSION TO THAT STUDENT, BUT ALSO TO THE HOUSEHOLD FURTHER, WE'VE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT IF STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES, WHICH WE KNOW ARE GOING TO INCREASE THEIR RISK OF TRANSMISSION, THAT THEY MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE AT HOME TO AVOID SPREAD TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TGA HAS, HAS MADE THE DECISION THAT, THAT SPORTING ACTIVITIES AND OTHER, UH, UH, EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS ARE UP TO THE BOARDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UH, SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A, A ISSUE THAT DISTRICTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WEIGH IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE RISK.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM CBS AUSTIN.
THE GOVERNOR HAS HINTED THAT HE MAY REOPEN BARS TODAY OR SOON.
DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO REOPEN BAR SAFELY CONSIDERING WHAT YOU'VE SAID ABOUT THE RISK IN THE PAST? IT COULD ANY CHANGES AT BAR OPERATIONS BE ENOUGH TO MITIGATE THAT RISK.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, UH, AS WELL AS BAR OWNERS TO EXAMINE SOME GUIDELINES THAT THAT MAY HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION.
IF THE GOVERNOR MAKES THE DECISION TO OPEN BARS, I WILL SAY THAT THAT THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE REGARDING, UH, METHODS OF TRANSMISSION IN OUR COMMUNITY, STRONGLY POINTS TO SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
SO THESE ARE GATHERINGS OUTSIDE OF ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE BARS.
UH, THEY MAY BE OTHER GATHERINGS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THINGS LIKE FOOTBALL GAMES, BUT IT'S UNMISTAKABLE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER
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FACE TO FACE WITHOUT MASKS ON FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES, THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO INCREASE.UH, SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE WAY OF OUR FUNCTIONS THAT WERE TO MAKE IT SAFE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS, OFTENTIMES YOU ARE GATHERING WITH PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, IN A BAR SETTING, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE CONGREGATING WITH.
SO FROM A CONTACT TRACING STANDPOINT, UH, FOLLOWING UP WITH, UH, POSITIVE CASES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL GATHERINGS MAY BE A LITTLE MORE EASIER TO DO, AND WE MAY GET BETTER COMPLIANCE WITH THEN, UH, TRYING TO DO CONTRACT TRACING FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPOSED IN A BAR SITUATION.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ASTONIA DOCTOR, AS SCOTT SAID YESTERDAY, WAS THAT WHILE THERE IS SOME LIMITED SPREAD IN SCHOOL SETTINGS THAT HASN'T EXPLODED.
IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19 ARE SPREADING IT TO THEIR FAMILIES OR OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL SETTING? UM, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN HOUSEHOLDS FROM EITHER THE CHILD TO THE PARENT AND VICE VERSA, THE PARENT TO THE CHILD.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC.
UM, ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN, A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHO IS A POSITIVE CASE, UH, IT INCREASED THE LIKELIHOOD THAT TRANSMISSION WILL OCCUR IN THAT, UM, ONCE IT'S INTRODUCED.
AND AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS WISE ADVICE FOR, FOR STUDENT ATHLETES, AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE, ARE THOSE WHO ARE TAKING MORE RISKS, GOING TO PARTIES WITHOUT MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THEY NEED TO MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSMISSION BETWEEN STUDENTS, UH, BECAUSE THAT MAY LEAD TO FURTHER TRANSMISSION OUTSIDE OF THAT AGE GROUP.
IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TRANSMISSION WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD.
AND IT'S, IT'S UP TO THOSE STUDENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTING OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD WHO ARE GOING TO BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING DEATH.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS, IS, UM, THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE SET UP OUR ISOLATION FACILITY, UM, IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE, UM, INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY BE LIVING IN MULTIGENERATIONAL SETTINGS.
UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR THEM TO, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AT THE ISOLATION FACILITY, THAT FACILITY, UM, CONTINUES TO REMAIN OPEN.
AND, UM, AND WE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO, UM, TO USE THAT ASSET IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM KVU BARS ARE SUSPECTED TO REOPEN SOON, BUT IF YOU GO TO RAINY STREET ON A WEEKEND, THE BARS SEEM TO ALREADY BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS WITH STRICT RESTRICTIONS.
DO YOU SUSPECT ANOTHER SPIKE IN CASES IF GOVERNOR ABBOTT GIVES BAR OWNERS A LOOSER RESTRICTIONS, AND DO YOU SUGGEST THE AUSTINITES STAY AWAY FROM BARS FOR NOW? I THINK THAT THAT BARS ARE GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT HAPPENS.
THEY'RE GENERALLY NOT SOCIAL DISTANCE.
THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
SO YES, I THINK IT WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT RISK.
I THINK CERTAINLY IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS UNDERLYING RISK FACTORS OR A MEMBER OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD HAS UNDERLYING RISK FACTORS FOR SEVERE COMPLICATIONS, THEY ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO A BAR AT THIS STAGE.
WE ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, BARS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS.
UM, WHAT TYPICALLY MAY HAPPEN IN A SETTING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, REALLY, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING IS, IS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING
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ON SOME, SOME GUIDANCE AND WITH ANY OTHER AREA THAT HAS REOPENED, UM, WE ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CURRENTLY FOR THOSE FACILITIES THAT ARE OPEN, UM, JUST ACROSS THE CITY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF HAVE BEEN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WE HAVE ALSO, UM, PROVIDED SOME, SOME WARNINGS, UM, TO THEM AS WELL, DUE TO NONCOMPLIANCE.SO WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS.
NEXT QUESTION FROM K O P RADIO WITH THE OVER POLITICIZATION OF POTENTIAL VACCINES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO LEARN THE TRUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND MEDICAL VIABILITY TO GUIDE THE PUBLIC, TO THE CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO MAKE IT'S A UNIVERSAL USE EFFECTIVE? WELL, WE DO WHAT WE DO, UH, WITH ANY TYPE OF VACCINE OR, OR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND AS REVIEWED THE LITERATURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN HAVE SEEN SO FAR RELATED TO VACCINES HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, PUBLISHED IN PEER REVIEW LITERATURE.
AND I THINK AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND PHYSICIANS ACROSS OUR JURISDICTION, WE'LL TURN TO THAT, THAT SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THAT VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY BE ADMINISTERED.
NEXT QUESTION FROM UNIVISION, AS STATED BEFORE STUDENTS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO COVA DURING SOCIAL GATHERINGS, MORE RECENTLY, A PARTY WHERE 50 PLUS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BEING QUARANTINED.
CAN WE KNOW THE NAME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE ALLOWING THEIR KIDS TO SOCIALIZE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WITH FRIENDS? SO I'LL, I'LL START BY SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RELEASE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL BECAUSE IT IS AN ONGOING, UH, EPIDEMIOLOGY INVESTIGATION.
BUT CERTAINLY IF WE FIND EVIDENCE THAT A LAW WAS BROKEN BY HOSTING THAT GATHERING, THEN WE WILL REFER THOSE FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ADVICE TO PARENTS IS BE REASONABLE, UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DISEASE HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THAT THERE ARE RISKS.
THE RISKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SMALL, BUT THEY'RE LARGER THAN ZERO.
AND CERTAINLY IF AN INDIVIDUAL SUFFERS A SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH, THEN I DO THINK THAT THAT MORE SERIOUS CHARGES SHOULD BE REFERRED.
WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR, WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND THE ADVICE THAT I GIVE TO MY CHILDREN NOW ARE THAT THEY DON'T GO TO THOSE GATHERINGS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT OTHER PARENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US HELP PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR SCHOOLS AND MAINTAIN THEIR OPENINGS THROUGHOUT THIS SEMESTER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT, UM, AS A PARENT, AND EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A PARENT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU'RE AN AUNT OR, YOU KNOW, UM, AN UNCLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO THE ADULTS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT THEY CAN MAKE, UM, FOR, FOR THE, FOR THEIR STUDENTS IN THEIR CHILDREN.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY, AS I STATED EARLIER, UM, WE, WE CAN GET AT A POINT WHERE WE GET TOO COMFORTABLE.
AND SO ONCE WE START TO GET TOO COMFORTABLE, THAT IS WHEN WE CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN THE POSITIVITY RATE.
UM, AND WE, WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE.
AS WE KNOW FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY, IT MAY BE A MINIMUM IMPACT TO THEM, BUT AS DR S SCOTT STATED, UM, ONCE THEY RETURN HOME AND THAT ABILITY TO, TO SPREAD KOBE THROUGH THEIR HOUSEHOLD, UM, IS REALLY GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.
AND OUR TRENDS THAT HAVE SHOWN US THAT OUR CONTACT TRACING AND CASE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE SHOWN US THAT THAT TRANSMISSION IS HAPPENING FROM FAMILY MEMBER TO FAMILY MEMBER.
THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT.
FAMILIES ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE PLANS FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN HALLOWEEN AND POTENTIALLY FOR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, INCLUDING THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
WHAT ADVICE OR CAUTIONS DO YOU HAVE AS PEOPLE CONSIDER TRAVEL AND FAMILY OR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? I THINK THAT, THAT, YEAH,
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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.I THINK WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AGAIN, THIS DISEASE HAS NOT, NOT GONE AWAY AND LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN STORY AFTER STORY, AFTER STORY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, UH, FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED BY COVID-19 BECAUSE THEY HAD A GATHERING.
MAYBE IT'S A BIRTHDAY PARTY, MAYBE IT'S A CELEBRATION FOR A HOLIDAY.
MAYBE IT'S A BABY SHOWER THAT HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS, HOSPITALIZED AND MULTIPLE FAMILIES DYING FROM COVID-19.
I THINK TO SHOW LOVE FOR OUR FAMILY THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO DO DISTANCING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE DISTANCE CELEBRATIONS.
OUR CELEBRATIONS RIGHT NOW SHOULD INVOLVE MEMBERS OF OUR HOUSEHOLD.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM FOXES SEVEN.
PLEASE GIVE US A HISTORY OF THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN OUR AREA FROM MARCH TO NOW HAVE OUR ACTIONS WE'VE TAKEN WORKED, AND HOW MUCH LONGER WILL WE HAVE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS? I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN STILL SEE ME OR NOT, BUT HAVE, UH, HAVE A FROZEN SCREEN.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DISEASE HAS, HAS HAD, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, A SUBSTANTIAL COURSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE, THE EARLY CAUTION, THE LOCKDOWN, UH, THAT BOTTLE'S TIME, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ASKING NOW, WHY, WHY DO WE LOCK DOWN, UH, BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL? AND THEN THE ANSWER IS WE DIDN'T HAVE PPE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT INVENTORY OF, OF, UH, OF VENTILATORS.
SO WE HAD TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS AT THAT STAGE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE DISEASE ITSELF BECAUSE IT WAS BRAND NEW.
WE KNOW THAT MASKING IS, IS VERY EFFECTIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE AND, AND THINK ABOUT THE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS AND HOW LONG WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THE MASKING AND DISTANCING, IT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE, WHICH IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AND BEEN UTILIZED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT THAT SIX TO NINE MONTHS IS GOING TO BE THE MINIMUM FOR THAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, TO ADD, UM, TO WHAT DR.
ESCADA SAID AND SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, THIS ACADEMIC RESPONSE, UM, WE HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT COVID-19.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS APPLAUDING, UM, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO APPLAUD OUR, UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO PUT, UM, MANDATES IN PLACE THAT WILL KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UM, A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO POINT TO IS, IS THAT WITH OUR, UM, INTERNAL OPERATIONS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, WE HAVE CLOSED PARKS AROUND, UM, UH, MEMORIAL DAY, 4TH OF JULY.
UM, AND WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IS AS A RESULT OF, OF, UM, PUTTING THOSE MEASURES IN PLACE, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY GET TO THIS PLACE TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND AS WE GRADUALLY, UM, RECOMMEND AND WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS ABOUT OPENING UP A LITTLE MORE, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME, SOME GUIDANCE, UM, AS WELL AS WORKING VERY COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR PARTNERS.
AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO REOPEN MORE THINGS UP, UH, AND WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS TO PUT, UM, STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AUSTIN.
TRAVIS COUNTY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
OKAY, THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM K U T IS APH WORKING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY OR ARE THERE PLANS TO DO SO TO HELP WHOLE WORKERS AND POLLING LOCATIONS STAY AS SAFE AS CAN BE EXPECTED DURING EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE PLANS? UH, SO I, UM, I, UH, PARTICIPATED IN, IN CREATING A VIDEO FOR POLL WORKERS A MONTH OR TWO AGO NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF, OF POLLING LOCATIONS AND THE, THE TRAVIS COUNTY CLERK HAS DONE A
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GREAT JOB OF, UH, SECURE EQUIPMENT PPE FOR POLE WORKERS AND DESIGNING A FLOW THROUGH THE POLLING PLACES TO KEEP THE POLL WORKERS AND VOTERS SAFE.UH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE DONE JUST A FANTASTIC JOB OF ENSURING THAT, THAT REGARDLESS OF, OF TRANSMISSION ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER, THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN A SAFE WAY.
UH, AND I, AGAIN, I WANT TO, TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK OF LA THE COUNTY CLERK IN THAT EFFORT, AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY REASSURE FOLKS, PARTICULARLY POLL WORKERS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND, UH, AND CHANGE ANY ADVICE, IMPROVE ANY MEASURES THAT WE NEED TO BASED UPON THE DISEASE, UH, ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FROM US AT KSAN.
WHAT IMPACT HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS SINCE HIS COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS HAD ON PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING AND THE FIGHT AGAINST THE VIRUS? DO YOU WORRY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN WILL LET THEIR GUARD DOWN BECAUSE OF IT? LET ME JUST SAY, I THINK AS, AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO CHOOSE OUR WORDS CAREFULLY.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE MESSAGE THAT IS COMING OUT IS THE MESSAGE THAT WE INTEND.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT WE'RE GETTING SOME CONFLICTING MESSAGING FROM SOME LEADERS.
I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE UNIFIED IN THE FACT THAT THIS DISEASE IS REAL, IT'S KILLED MORE THAN 200,000 AMERICANS IT'S INFECTED MILLIONS.
AND THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THIS.
WE SHOULD NOT MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THIS DISEASE.
WE SHOULDN'T EQUATE IT TO THINGS WHICH ARE NOT IT'S EQUAL.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT'S EQUAL IN QUITE SOME TIME, AND WE NEED TO RESPECT IT.
I WILL SAY THAT, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO LIVE IN FEAR.
WE DO NEED TO LIVE IN RESPECT OF THIS DISEASE BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN FEAR AND LIVING IN, IN, IN RESPECT IS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT THERE ARE MANY LEADERS WHO HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF ENSURING THAT THE MESSAGES CLEAR AND CONSISTENT, UH, OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
I RECOGNIZE GROUPS LIKE THE NFL WHO HAVE COME OUT VERY STRONGLY, UH, REGARDING MASKING FINDING COACHES AND STAFF WHO ARE SEEN WITHOUT MASS.
SO, UM, I THINK AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO SET AN EXAMPLE AND CERTAINLY WE EXPECT THAT TO, FROM OUR, OUR LEADERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH DR.
SCOTT, YOU KNOW, AS A LEADER, UM, YOU ARE A CALL TO THINK ABOUT NOT JUST YOURSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
YOU'RE A CALL TO THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOUR INFLUENCE CAN REALLY EITHER ADD TO A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE.
AND SO, AS YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, UM, WE AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, ACROSS THE CITY WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR MAYOR ADLER AND OUR COUNTY JUDGE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE KEPT IN DARKNESS, SCOTT, UM, AND THE REST OF OUR TEAM, WE HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT.
UM, YOU CAN GO BACK MONTHS BACK FROM NOW AND LOOK BACK AT THE MESSAGES THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED.
AND WE HAVE REMAINED, UM, CON WE HAVE REALLY MADE CONSISTENT IN PROVIDING THE SAME MESSAGES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COVID IS HERE.
UH, IT IS GOING TO REMAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN AFTER WE HAVE A VACCINE AND A CURE.
UM, IT IS A NOTIFIABLE CONDITION.
AND SO IT WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE REPORTED ON BY WHETHER IT'S THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, OR, UM, A PHYSICIAN.
AND SO AS LEADERS, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A STANCE AND IT CANNOT BE ABOUT ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
I HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE OVERALL COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT I LEAD.
NEXT QUESTION FROM CBS AUSTIN, YOU SAID APH HAS WORKING WITH BARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE REOPENING SAFER, OR WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE? UH, SO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW ARE RELATED TO, UH, PEOPLE BEING SEATED AT TABLES RATHER THAN MILLING AROUND IN A BAR, UH, ABOUT ORDERING
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AT A BAR SAFELY NOW, RATHER THAN PEOPLE CROWDING IT AT, UH, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE BAR TRYING TO ORDER THEIR DRINKS.UH, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SOME THINGS THAT OTHER STATES AND JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE TO TRY AND MITIGATE THAT RISK OF, OF, UH, TRANSMISSION IN A BAR.
UH, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THAT WITH SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS THAT BARS MAY BE ABLE TO OPERATE.
UM, AND WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THOSE MODIFICATIONS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT OUR BUSINESS, UH, COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN CHAMBER HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF BEING A SOUNDING BOARD FOR THOSE IDEAS.
WE FIRST SAW IT WITH, WITH GROCERY STORES AND HARDWARE STORES, AND THEN WE SAW IT SPREAD TO, UH, TO RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS AS THEY OPENED.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF MITIGATING RISK.
AND IF WE CAN IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT RISK IN BARS, UH, THEN WE CAN HELP TO DECREASE THE TRANSMISSION AND MAKE IT MORE PLAUSIBLE THAT WE COULD OPEN THEM AND SAFELY, OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ESTONIA.
ACTUALLY, LET ME SKIP THAT, THAT QUESTION'S NOT IN, LET'S GO TO KEY VIEW.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU SAID IT'S SAFE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS, BUT TEACHERS AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TELLING US THEY'RE SEEING MANY COVID-19 SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST TEACHERS DO IF THEY CONTINUE TO SEE THESE HEALTH RISKS? SO TEACHERS, UH, EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT TO REPORT, UH, CONCERNS OR VIOLATIONS OF THE SAFETY PLAN.
UH, THIS IS TRUE FOR COVERT AS WELL AS, AS OTHER SAFETY ITEMS. UH, AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT TEACHER'S VOICE THOSE CONCERNS TO, UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THEIR ADMINISTRATORS, ULTIMATELY THE SCHOOL PLANS ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS, UH, AT THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO, FOR TEACHERS TO SHARE THOSE CONCERNS WITH THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE DECISIONS REGARDING THE SAFETY MEASURES, AS WELL AS THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ENHANCE THOSE MEASURES.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K O P RADIO, AND THE VIRUS REMAINS WITH US AND INTO THIS FORESEEABLE FUTURE, HOW DO WE THEN CONTINUE TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY? IF THE ORDERS THAT HAVE GOTTEN US AND KEEP US SAFE, ARE RELAXED BY THE STATE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY GONNA BE IMPORTANT.
UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE PUT OUR, UM, OUR RISK SCALE TOGETHER AND OUR GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE PUT ON THE WEBSITE, EACH INDIVIDUAL, UM, PER HOUSEHOLD IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE TO ESTABLISH, UM, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEHAVIOR THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE WITHIN THIS HOUSEHOLD.
SO EVEN THOUGH THINGS MAY OPEN UP, UM, THERE MIGHT BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, TO GO TO ADDITIONAL PLACES, UM, TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER OUTINGS, UH, EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS TO MAKE THAT BEST CHOICE.
AND WE CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST EMPHASIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE GOING INTO, UM, IF THEY'RE GOING OUT TO EAT TO A RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THEY, YOU KNOW, COVER THE, TAKE THEIR FACE COVERINGS WITH THEM, ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, SOCIALLY, UM, DISTANCE, UM, WHEN THEY'RE NOT EATING, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE FACE COVERING ON, MAKE SURE THEY ARE WASHING THEIR HANDS.
AND SO THOSE THINGS HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT.
AND SO AS A FAMILY AND A HOUSEHOLD IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE.
UM, THOSE EFFORTS THERE MAY BE, UM, DEATHS BECAUSE THINGS ARE OPENING UP, UM, THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BEST, MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF RISKS, UM, YOUR FAMILY MAY HAVE FROM, UH, ANY UNDERLYING MEDICAL.
AND LET ME JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, W W WE HAVE A LOT OF POINTS OF DIVISION IN OUR COUNTRY.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE POLITICIZED.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS ONE NOT BE, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLIER IN, IN JUNE WHEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAME OUT STRONGLY TO SUPPORT MASKING, WE SAW AN IMPACT IN, IN A, IN A DECREASE IN THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION WHEN THE GOVERNOR UNIFIED THAT MESSAGE THROUGH HIS MANDATE, THE TRANSMISSION FELL OFF A CLIFF AND DROPPED
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VERY, VERY RAPIDLY.I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ILLNESS THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY.
THIS COUNTRY NEEDS A UNIFIED MESSAGE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DELIBERATE DECISION TO NOT FIGHT ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN BE IMPACTFUL AND WE CAN BUY OURSELVES MORE TIME UNTIL WE CAN GET A VACCINE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
IT'S NEXT QUESTION IS OUR LAST QUESTION, AND IT COMES FROM UNIVISION AS THE AVERAGE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE GOING DOWN.
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO MOVE TO STAGE TWO, AGAIN, THE, THE, THE DECREASE IN STAGES UP TO ALL OF US.
AND IF WE CONTINUE THOSE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS, WE CONTINUE THE MASKING AND DISTANCING THE PERSONAL HYGIENE AND, AND STAYING HOME WHEN WE'RE SICK, IT COULD BE SOON, BUT WE ARE NOT FAR AWAY.
WE'VE HIT 12 ON THAT SEVEN DAY, MOVING AVERAGE THREE TIMES AND THREE TIMES WE'VE BOUNCED OFF OF IT TO GO HIGHER AGAIN.
SO WE'VE HAD THIS OSCILLATION FOR, UH, FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
NOW, IF WE STAY COMMITTED, AND IF WE MANAGE OUR RISK, IF WE AVOID THOSE SOCIAL GATHERINGS, WE CAN PUSH THROUGH THAT BARRIER, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO DO IT.
NOW WE WILL GO INTO OUR FINAL REMARKS.
THEY WILL START WITH STEPHANIE, JUST AS A REMINDER, EDUCATION IS OUR PRIORITY.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED AND ARE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WASH OUR HANDS, UM, STAY AT HOME.
IF YOU'RE SICK, USE YOUR, UM, FAITH COVERINGS.
AND THE MAIN THING IS, IS THAT THERE ARE SOME, UM, WHETHER THEY'RE FAMILY GATHERINGS AND PARTIES THAT YOU MAY BE ATTENDING, THOSE ARE NOT ESSENTIAL.
WE REALLY NEED TO, TO THINK ABOUT NEW TRADITIONS THAT YOU CAN HAVE WITHIN YOUR FAMILY.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE DONE EARLIER THIS YEAR TO CELEBRATE YOUR, HOW TODAY'S, UM, AND MILESTONES.
WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE THOSE TRADITIONS THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED THIS YEAR.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UM, KNOW THAT IT'S FLU SEASON, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET THEIR FLU VACCINE.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO ENSURE WE HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THEIR FLU VACCINE.
SO WE CAN BE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
WE DO NOT WANT THE, THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THE HOSPITALS, UM, OVERRUN BY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THE FLU WHEN THIS CAN BE AVOIDED BY GETTING A FLU VACCINE, JANET.
AND I'LL JUST ADD ONTO WHAT STEPHANIE HAD TO SAY IN THAT IS, AGAIN, WE ARE SEEING DECLINES IN THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE'RE RECEIVING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY INVESTIGATING.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, REMEMBER, UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE STATE AND HAVING THAT DECREASED NUMBER OF CASES AND THE FLATTENING OF OUR CURVE, UH, AND TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT NUMBER DOWN, UH, AND NOT SEE A SECOND WAVE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE A SECOND WAY, BUT THE WAYS WE'RE GOING TO GET AROUND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE PREVENTION MESH MESSAGE, THEIR PREVENTION MEASURES THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, UH, SINCE EARLY JANUARY AND THINGS THAT WE SAY EVERY FLU SEASON AS WELL, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, COVER YOUR FACE, COVER YOUR COSTS AND COLD, STAY HOME.
IF YOU'RE SICK, UH, WE'RE IN THIS CASE WHERE YOUR MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE, UH, IF YOU ARE IN QUARANTINE, YOU NEED TO STAY IN QUARANTINE UNTIL YOU, UH, UH, FINISHED THAT 14 DAY PERIOD.
UM, IF YOU ARE IN ISOLATION, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ARE STAYING IN ISOLATION FOR A 10 DAY PERIOD, OR UNTIL YOUR SYMPTOMS RESOLVE, UH, AND THAT YOUR FEVER FREE FOR ONE DAY, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO DO THESE THINGS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AGAIN, I CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FLU VACCINE, UH, AND GETTING, UH, THOSE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, UH, VACCINATED FOR FLU.
[00:40:01]
AGAIN.AS, AS JANET SAID, OUR DISEASE TRENDS RIGHT NOW ARE FLAT AND FLAT IS OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE INCREASING RISK.
UH, WHEN IT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SECOND WAY, WE, AGAIN, HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE SECOND WAVE COMES WHEN THIS COMMUNITY GETS TIRED OF THE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS, WE CAN AVOID A SECOND WAVE.
IF WE STAY COMMITTED TO THE MASTERING, THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE PERSONAL HYGIENE, INCLUDING WASHING YOUR HANDS AND AVOIDING TOUCHING YOUR FACE, UH, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL OF THEM IS STAYING HOME.
IF YOU'RE SICK, UH, AS WE ENTER COLD AND FLU SEASON, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER REASONS TO HAVE A RUNNY NOSE OR SORE THROAT OR OTHER SYMPTOMS. WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THOSE SYMPTOMS ARE FROM COVID-19 AND STAY HOME AND SCHEDULE A TEST SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO APH DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, DR.
MARK ASCOT, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, JANET PICHET PULL REPORTER REPRESENTING KX HAN TOM MILLER.