local lab. If it’s city or state labs that are saying that
its presumptive positive it
cannot be considered confirmed
until it goes to the CDC
in Atlanta.
in Atlanta. >> looks like we are getting
some activity there at City
Hall Houston mayor
Sylvester Turner, walking up to
the podium along with Harris
County Judge Lina Hidalgo let’s
listen in.
>> Let me say good afternoon to get good afternoon. And I’m
standing with a. County judge
Lina Hidalgo.
Lina Hidalgo. Doctor Shah was also from the
county.
county. Doctor the city of Houston
chief medical
chief medical chief Pena chief Acevedo member
of the public can Susan
Christian of especially bench.
And then a number of our City Council members freshman for 10
month krstic Tatum customer of
the cake has cost the
Tiffany Thomas comes from a big
bank has been mad at the Cayman
Monday around the sound and
Councilman Mike Allen. Evan
show
show and then I think I mentioned
Joe from the Houston livestock
show it a A representative from congresswoman Sheila Jackson
Lee. And
let me just say the reason why we’re here today is of course
is
is the coronavirus and to kind of
bring people up to date as to
where we are set today. And
up until All
of it cases that have been
confirmed in in Fort BN Harris
County city of Houston.
All of those cases had been a
related to
related to international travel. And all
of them with the exception of
one that traveled to Italy
came back. directly tied to the
Egyptian crew
Egyptian crew and that was up until yesterday
and then of course
own yesterday. We have the
case that was confirmed and
Montgomery That question not.
2 international And appeared to be a a situation
that was took place but then
our region County account that
within our region, Fort bend
and Harris County Houston.
And that change things.
And as a result of that we said that we would monitor the
situation very
situation very very carefully. And then we
would to make the necessary
adjustments as we went along to
make sure that we’re doing
everything that we needed to do
to keep people Of based upon
the facts
the facts the science and the medical
advice that we were being given
and so yesterday
change things
change things because and yesterday with the
case in Montgomery County that
was evidence of some community
spread and as a result that
takes us to what do we do next.
I would tell you but uh uh by
the end of I will
be signing. An emergency health
for the city
of Houston. And out also that
Judge judge job adegoke
to speak to what the county
will be doing between both on
the same page. And so at the
end of
end of the day. I will be signing an
emergency health declaration.
And which was remain
in place for 7 days as we
continue to assess
the situation and then
depending on where we are at
the end of that 7 than City
Council would
Council would have to a vote to
that emergency health
declaration, but that will take
effect as at the end of the day
today.
today. What does that mean that means
as relates for to the Houston
Livestock show and Rodeo.
That we a deeply love.
They are
They are And directly about their by
that cision and the changing of
the event. And I would tell
your side of the sea that was
that us. Come to But
after conferring. And talking
with the stakeholders
and I have the we all have the
utmost respect and love for the
Houston Livestock show and
Rodeo. We’re all in agreement.
It is a decision that has been made in the best interests of
the health and safety of people
with then but then
our region. And so as of
starting tonight the
concerts will well come to an
end as they will face down.
And it would also impact the
remaining.
remaining. A concert and event at the
Houston livestock show and
and let me just say that is not
the only event that will
be impacted as you all know
this coming is the tour de
Houston.
And the tour de Houston will also be reschedule.
That we can have a schedule
that it will be canceled for
this year and a Susan Christian
of especially then and I know
that teams. Have been working
very
very very hard.
very hard. that event it will also be
either reschedule or cancel and
for the in the month
of thought as it relates to the
city of Houston and those
events that are produced
co-sponsored
co-sponsored and committed those will
be impacted as well for the
duration for the month of
March. And that would include
for example of the capital
improvement program town hall
meetings. As
meetings. As of tonight. Scheduled for
tonight scheduled for tomorrow
those meetings will be
rescheduled for the months of
April and and so all of the
events for us
produce co sponsored and permit
for the month of March.
Going to be either reschedule
or cancel. Enemy tell Again
changes circumstances and I’ve
said from the very very beginning that when we are
confronted with the facts.
A medical it of ice
counseling the science that we
would not hesitate
to act. And and I would tell
you for those of us who won.
Texas 2 in Texas through and
through and from our area from
our region. You know that’s how much and
how much we
the Houston Livestock show
rodeo. So you know, that’s
this decision has not
come easily. But the health and
safety of the people in in our
region
region is paramount. And it is
important for people
to know that based upon the
facts presented will make the
necessary to keep everyone
safe. And that’s what we that’s
what we will
do it. And so we will carefully
monitor the situation. I am
sand for the month
of March, what city of Houston
and then the county and judge
and I’m going to huddle bit
later on today.
and we will sit down and
responses and steps that we
need to take as as we as we
forward I want to thank the
county judge. For her
cooperation and partnership of
the county has just been inning
credible partner
credible partner and I want I want her to know
him now said publicly
appreciate the support and
>> WITH RESPECT TO MY TEAM,
DR. PES, STEVEN WILLIAMS AND
HIS, DR. MCNIECE, THE ENTIRE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I CERTAINLY
WANT TO THANK YOUG
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE ENTIRE
TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR
COOPERATION.
COOPERATION. LET ME PAUSE AND BRING
DR. PURSE.
DR. PURSE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND THANK
YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, JUDGE
FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WHY
WE’RE DOING THIS.
THIS VIRUS IS NEW TO THE HUMAN
POPULATION.
POPULATION. NONE OF US HAVE IMMUNITY TO IT.
WE DON’T KNOW HOW WIDE IT IS
GOING TO SPREAD.
WE ARE WATCHING WIDE ACROSS THE
GLOBE AND WATCHING MANY NATIONS
COMING UP WITH MANY, MANY CASES
AND SPREAD OCCURRING RAPIDLY.
80% OF FOLKS HAVE MINIMAL OR
MILD SYMPTOMS.
MILD SYMPTOMS. TO SOME DEGREE THAT’S A BIT OF A
PROBLEM, BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS ARE
PROBABLY THE ONES SPREADING IT
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. THERE’S A SUBSET, 15% OF THE
POPULATION REQUIRES
POPULATION REQUIRES HOSPITALIZATION.
HOSPITALIZATION. THERE’S ALSO PERCENT OF THE
POPULATION REQUIRING CARE, IN
CRITICAL CONDITION AND WE’RE
SEEING THE WAIVERS, ABOUT A 2%
DEATH RATE FROM THIS, SO THE
DEATH RATE APPEARS TO BE
PREDOMINANTLY IN PEOPLE OVER THE
AGE OF 50, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE, DEPENDING
WHICH DECADE OF LIFE, 50 TO 60,
60 TO 70, 70 TO 80, ABOVE, IT’S
AS MUCH AS FIVE, 10, 15%.
WE’RE DOING THIS IN ORDER TO
SAVE LIVES.
SAVE LIVES. THIS IS A VERY BIG STEP THAT THE
MAYOR AND JUDGE ARE TAKING BUT
IT IS TO SAVE LIVES.
IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH NOT
ONLY THE THINGS THAT THIS
COMMUNITY CAN DO, WHAT
GOVERNMENT CAN DO, BUT WHAT YOU
CAN DO IN TERMS OF SOCIAL
DISTANCING, WASHING YOUR HANDS,
COVERING YOUR COUGH, NOT GOING
TO WORK WHEN ILL, THOSE THINGS,
WHEN WE DO THOSE TOGETHER, WEB
SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT
UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS WHAT DID
NOT HAPPEN IN WUHAN.
IT EXPLODED IN WUHAN.
THEY DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS COMING.
THEY HAD NO WARNING, THEY HAD NO
TIME TO PREPARE OR ABILITY TO
SLOW IT DOWN.
IT OVERWHELMED THEM TO THE POINT
WHEN SOMEONE NEEDED A HOSPITAL
BED THERE WAS NONE AVAILABLE.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS VERY
AGGRESSIVE AND PAINFUL DECISIONS
IS TO SLOW DOWN THE VIRUS
BECAUSE WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO
EXPECT THAT AT THIS POINT,
HOPEFULLY I’M WRONG, WE HAVE
EVERY REASON TO EXPECT IT CAN
SPREAD TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY WITH 80% OF THE
FOLKS HAVING MINIMAL OR MILD
ILLNESS.
ILLNESS. IF THAT HAPPENS OVER A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME, WE’LL BE ABLE TO
HANDLE THAT.
HANDLE THAT. FOR THE PERCENT OF FOLKS WHO
NEED A HOSPITAL BED, THEY NEED A
HOSPITAL BED AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IF EVERYBODY GETS SICK AT THE
SAME TIME WE WON’T HAVE A
HOSPITAL BED AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE A GRAPH, A CHART YOU CAN
LOOK UP, SHOWS THAT IN A GRAPHIC
FORM.
FORM. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT
EVERYBODY UP HERE UNDERSTANDS
HOW DIFFICULT THESE DECISIONS
ARE, HOW PAINFUL IT’S GOING TO
BE TO SOME FOLKS, WE ARE DOING
IT TO SAVE LIVES, REAL LIVES OF
REAL PEOPLE.
REAL PEOPLE. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL
LOOK BACK ON THIS AND SAY IT
TURNED OUT TO BE NOT SUCH A BAD
DEAL.
DEAL. IF THAT’S THE CASE AND WE’RE
SEEING WHAT’S HAPPENING IN
ITALY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WILL BE
BECAUSE OF ALL THESE THINGS WE
HAVE DONE.
HAVE DONE. IT WON’T BE BECAUSE THOSE THINGS
WERE UNNECESSARY, IT’S BECAUSE
OF THE STEPS WE’RE TAKING LIKE
THE STEPS WE’RE TAKING TODAY.
THE OPTION IS TO NOT DO THESE
THINGS IN WHICH WE WOULD EXPECT
TO HAVE A WUHAN SITUATION AND
THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
WE’RE DOING THIS IN ORDER TO
SAVE LIVES.
SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SO MUCH,
DR. PURSE.
DR. PURSE. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND
DEMOCRATIC HEADS, EVERYONE FOR
YOUR COLLABORATION.
YOUR COLLABORATION. IT TRULY IS A REGIONAL EFFORT.
I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HANDLE
GARY COUNTY JUST BEFORE THIS.
WE’VE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH
FORT BEND COUNTY AND WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS VIRUS DOES
NOT RESPECT POLITICAL BOUNDARIES
SO WE ARE WORKING VERY, VERY
CLOTHESLY TOGETHER.
CLOTHESLY TOGETHER. I KNOW THAT THE ANXIETY IN THE
COMMUNITY JUST CONTINUES TO GROW
AS WE HEAR THE NEWS OF SPREAD IN
OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY,
AREAS OF THE WORLD AND NEWS THAT
THE RODEO HAS BEEN CANCELED WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WE ALL FEEL GIVEN THE FACT THAT
WE’RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THIS VIRUS AND THAT ULTIMATELY
IT’S A HEALTH ISSUE, AND SO
FIRST, OF COURSE, THE RODEO WILL
BE CANCELED.
BE CANCELED. THEY’LL BEGIN WINDING DOWN
STARTING TODAY, AND AS THE MAYOR
MENTIONED, WE WILL BE WORKING
TOGETHER TO ASSESS WHAT OTHER
STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN.
I WILL ALSO BE ISSUING LATER
TODAY A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR
HARRIS COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY. YESTERDAY AT COMMISSIONER’S
COURT, I DIRECTED AND WE
DIRECTED ALL OUR DEMOCRATIC TO
SAY PRIORITIZE CORONAVIRUS
PREPAREDNESS OVER AND ABOVE
ANYTHING THAT IS NOT AN
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION, AND WE ARE
WORKING VERY HARD WITH ALL OF
THE HOSPITALS, WITH BUSINESSES,
WITH SCHOOLS, AS WE BELIEVE TO
ENSURE THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE
PLANS BUT THAT WE’VE EXERCISED
THOSE PLANS THAT WE’VE
IDENTIFIED WEAK INSISTS AND THAT
WE’RE PREPARING FOR WHATEVER
WILL HAPPEN OR MAY HAPPEN WITH
THE VIRUS.
THE VIRUS. I DO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR FOR
SOMETIME AND ESPECIALLY THIS
WEEKEND, IT BECAME VERY EVIDENT
THAT WE ARE FACING LIMITATIONS
AS TO OUR TESTING CAPABILITY,
AND I’VE MENTIONED THIS
SOMEWHAT.
SOMEWHAT. THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WE HAD TO
WAIT FOR STATE APPROVAL ON FOR
THAT TEST TO BE ABLE TO BE SENT
TO THE CITY LAB OR TO THE LAB IN
ATLANTA, AND SO THERE ARE MANY
MORE FOLKS WE COULD HAVE TESTED,
BUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TESTS
WE’VE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE’VE HAD VERY
LIMITED CAPABILITIES.
LIMITED CAPABILITIES. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS,
IT’S BECOME CLEAR THAT THAT MAY
HAVE GIVE US IN A SENSE AN
UNDERCOUNT, IF WE WANT TO PUT IT
THAT WAY OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY
SPREAD MAY HAVE BEEN, SO WE WERE
ALREADY WORKING TOWARD THE STEP
WE WERE TAKING TODAY WITH THE
RODEO AND WORKING TOWARD FURTHER
STEPS.
STEPS. THE POSITIVE CASE WAS IDENTIFIED
IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BUT WE
KNOW THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY
HAVE HAD CONTACTS THROUGHOUT
HARRIS COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE
AND VERY LIKELY THAT THERE ARE
OTHER CASES LIKE THAT GOING ON
IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE’LL
BE WORKING HARD TO CONTINUE TO
BE PROACTIVE, UNDERSTANDING THAT
IF WE HAD THE CAPABILITY TO TEST
MORE PEOPLE, WE SURELY WOULD BE
HAVING MORE POSITIVE AND PERHAPS
MORE EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION, AND SO AT THE
COUNTY, WE’LL ALSO BE EVALUATING
OUR COUNTY SPONSORED EVENTS BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY HAND-IN-HAND
WITH THE MAYOR AND OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, WHAT OTHER STEPS
WE NEED TO TAKE RIGHT NOW.
VERY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO
RECOGNIZE, WE ARE NOT
HERMETICALLY SEALED COMMUNITY.
WE CAN’T DO THAT.
WE ARE NOT AN ISLAND NATION.
WE CAN’T CLOSE OUR BORDERS.
WE CAN’T DO WHAT SOME OF THE
SMALL COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO DO JUST HERE AS A COUNTY OR
AS A CITY OR AS A REGION, SO WE
HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S
POSSIBLE THAT DESPITE OUR
CONTAINMENT EFFORTS, IT’S
POSSIBLE IF NOT LIKELY THAT WE
WILL BE WIDER SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS.
VIRUS. THAT’S WHERE WHAT DR. PURSE SAID
IS VERY IMPORTANT, THIS DISEASE,
80% OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET IT
HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS, LIKE A MILD
FLU.
FLU. THAT 20% ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO
ACCESS OUR HOSPITAL, THE 20%
THAT SEE THEMSELVES MORE
AFFECTED, THE SMALL PERCENTAGE
THAT MAY BE AT RISK OF DYING
FROM THIS DISEASE, AND SO WE ALL
HAVE TO BEGIN PUTTING INTO
PERSPECTIVE RIGHT NOW WHAT THOSE
STATISTICS ARE, BECAUSE AS MUCH
AS WE’RE WORKING WITH THE
HOSPITALS TO ENSURE THAT THEY
HAVE THE AREAS CORDONED OFF,
THAT WE HAVE THE HOT LINES FOR
FOLKS TO CALL WHO DON’T OF
HEALTH INSURANCE, THE HOT LINE
FOLKS CAN CALL WHO ARE
UNDOCUMENTED, ULTIMATELY WE ARE
ALL GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
PLAY OUR PART NOT ONLY ON SOCIAL
DISTANCING, NOT ONLY ON STAYING
HOME IF WE’RE SICK, WASHING OUR
HANDS AND NOT COUGHING INTO OUR
HANDS, BUT ENSURING THAT WE ARE
NOT FLOODING THE HOSPITALS OR
THE DOCTORS UNNECESSARILY, THOSE
OF US WHO KNOW WE ARE AT LOW
RISK OF BEING AFFECTED
SIGNIFICANTLY BY THIS VIRUS.
AND SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
FOLKS KNOW WE ARE WORKING IN
COORDINATION, THE RODEO IS BEING
CANCELED, WE ARE DISCUSSING ANY
OTHER OPTIONS, ANY OTHER STEPS
WE NEED TO TAKE RIGHT NOW BUT
CONTAINMENT WITH HIM NOT BE
FOOLPROOF.
FOOLPROOF. IT CAN’T BE, GIVEN THE NATURE OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE DOING AND WILL CONTINUE
TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THAT,
BUT WE ARE ALSO VERY MUCH
FOCUSED ON WHAT OUR ROLE IS AND
WILL BE IN THE EVENT THAT THIS
BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD, NOT
JUST US, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS HAD PLANS
FOR THE RODEO, PERHAPS FOR THE
TOUR, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF
THESE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE AFFECTED, BUT WE ALL NEED TO
DO OUR PART.
WE NEED TO STAY INFORMED, STAY
CALM AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS
A COMMUNITY WIDE RESPONSE THAT
WE CAN’T JUST DO AS GOVERNMENT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]Romeo poured
in nature that could never use [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]Romeo poured
in nature that could never use is sick kid it will still owes
the stall it for the continuous you on that a company can see
in this study does not address
to that is enough to
>> YOU ARE LISTENING TO HARRIS
COUNTY JUDGE ALONG WITH OTHER
OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT THE
RODEO BEING CANCELED AMID
CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.
CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS. WE HEARD THAT THE JUDGE ASSIGNED
A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR
HARRIS COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY. CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS FROM
THIS POINT FORWARD WILL BE TOP
PRIORITY, THE COUNTY WORKING
WITH HOSPITALS.
WITH HOSPITALS. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THE LACK OF
TESTS AND THERE’S CONCERN WITH
THE LACK OF TEST KITS, BECAUSE
SHE BELIEVES THERE MAY BE AN
UNDERCOUNT OF EXACTLY WHAT’S
TAKING PLACE OUT THERE WITH THE
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. >> HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS
SIGNING AND EMERGENCY HEALTH
DECLARATION FOR THE CITY OF
HOUSTON THAT WILL REMAIN IN
EFFECT FOR SEVEN DAYS.
REALLY THE BIG NEWS IS THAT WE
KNOW NOW FOR SURE THAT THE
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO
IS CANCELED AND AS OF
4:00 TODAY, THE RODEO TWEETING
OUT THAT AS OF 4:00 TODAY, THE
GROUNDS WILL BE CLEARED AND
EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP AND DONE.
AMID THIS NEWS OF THE SPREAD OF
THE CORONAVIRUS AND REALLY THE
MOVE CAME ONCE WE LEARNED ABOUT
THE PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASE
OUT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY THAT
WAS CONTRACTED WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. >> ALL 13 OTHER OCCASIONS UP TO
THIS POINT IN AND AROUND OUR
AREA WHEN SHE CONTRACTED FROM
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OR IN
CONNECTION TO A PASSENGER FROM
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. THAT BECAME THE GAME CHANGER AND
WHY WE ARE SEEING MOVES BE
IMPLEMENTED IN OUR COUNTY.
>> THAT CASE YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT, THERE IS NO TRAVEL
HISTORY OUTSIDE THE STATE OF
TEXAS, SO OFFICIALS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
COMMUNITY SPREAD.
COMMUNITY SPREAD. MAYOR TURNER TAKING THINGS A
STEP FURTHER DURING HIS
STATEMENTS SAYING THAT ALL CITY
PRODUCED AND COMPANY SPONSORED
EVENTS WILL BE RESCHEDULED OR
CANCELED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH,
THAT INCLUDES THE TOUR DE
HOUSTON, A VERY POPULAR RIDE FOR
THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, FOLKS WHO
LIKE TO GET OUT ON THEIR
BICYCLES AND TAKE A TOUR OF THE
CITY OF HOUSTON, AN EMPTY
STREAKY POPULAR EVENT.
THAT WILL BE EITHER RESCHEDULED
OR CANCELED.
OR CANCELED. >> RIGHT NOW BASICALLY SAYING
THROUGH THE MONTH OF MARCH, NONE
OF THESE EVENTS WILL BE
HAPPENING AS THEY TRY TO HEED
THE WARNINGS OF HEALTH OFFICIALS
AS THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN.
CORONAVIRUS AS WE HEARD FROM
HALEY HERNANDEZ DOES NOT HAVE A
VACCINE, THAT IS THE PRIMARY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLU, THE
MEASLES AND THE CORONAVIRUS IS
THAT THERE ARE VACCINES
AVAILABLE FOR THE OTHER TWO BUT
THE CORONAVIRUS IS I WILL IN ITS
IN FANCY AS IT CONTINUES TO
SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE AND
THAT’S WHY WE ARE SEEING CITY
AND COUNTY OFFICIALS MAKE THE
DRASTIC MOVES THEY ARE MAKING.
THE BIG NEWS WE ARE FOCUSING ON
IS THE CANCELLATION OF THE
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW.
PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE SAYING HEY,
THEY STOPPED THE RIDES WITHOUT
EXPLANATION.
EXPLANATION. WE ARE GETTING ACKNOWLEDGES AS
TO HOW THIS IS GOING TO LOOK AND
BY THE END OF THIS AFTERNOON, NO
OTHER EVENTS ARE HAPPENING.
THE CONCERTS ARE CANCELED,
BASICALLY AS FAR AS WE KNOW,
NOTHING IS GOING TO BE GOING ON
OVER AT NRG.
>> WE HEARD FROM DR. PURSE THIS
AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT THE 2%
DEATH RATE AMONG ELDERLY ADULTS
WITH CORONAVIRUS.
WITH CORONAVIRUS. BASICALLY THESE DECISIONS ARE
EXTREMELY TOUGH, THAT WAS ECHOED
BY JUDGE HIDALGO AS WELL AS THE
MAYOR, BUT WE ARE DOING THIS TO
SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS, BECAUSE THE VIRUS SPREADS
SO RAPIDLY AND CAN SPREAD SO
RAPIDLY THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS
IS THE BEST WAY TO SLOW DOWN THE
SPREAD THAT HAVE VIRUS.
>> DR. DAVID PURSE SAID WE DON’T
HAVE ANY IMMUNITY TO THIS, NO
VACCINES, SO REALLY, IF YOU ARE
NOT TO CONTRACT THIS AND YOU ARE
HEALTHY, YOU’RE LIKELY GOING TO
BE FINE.
BE FINE. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’VE
HEARD FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS.
IT’S JUST THOSE WITH UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS OR THE ELDERLY IF
THEY WERE TO CONTRACT THIS, THAT
THAT CAN BE A MORE CONCERNING
SITUATION AND IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY NOW AS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE
WASHING YOUR HANDS AND TO TRY TO
HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS.
VIRUS. AGAIN WE’RE GOING TO LISTEN TO
CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS.
>> I’M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
COUNTY HEALTH.
COUNTY HEALTH. I WANTED TOP ADD TO WHAT THE
MAYOR AND JUDGE HAVE SAID AS
WELL AS DR. PURSE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS FROM THE A
STANDPOINT OF BOTH MONITORING
AND RESPONSE FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF IF TO WHEN TO NOW, AND I
THINK THAT IS THE IMPORTANT
PIECE OF THIS THAT IS REALLY
ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. DR. PURSE HAS LAID OUT ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT
THE TWO HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON, DR. PURSE AND
I, STEVEN WILLIAMS HAVE BEEN
CONNECTED AND IT’S NOT JUST TWO
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BEING
CONNECTED, BUT OUR REGIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS HAVE BEEN
CONNECTED OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAS BEEN HAPPENING GLOBALLY,
HAPPENING NOW DOMESTICALLY AND
NOW WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE
LOCALLY.
LOCALLY. SO WE KNOW THAT THESE DECISIONS
AND ACTIVITIES THAT EVERYBODY
HAS PLANNED FOR ARE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS FOR US TO MAKE, BUT
ALSO FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
TO PARTAKE IN CHANGE IN PLANS
AND MAKING ALL THOSE OTHER
ASPECTS OF WHAT POTENTIALLY
COULD DISRUPT WHAT THEIR
ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR
OR SCHEDULED FOR, BUT WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE AT THE END OF THE DAY
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR ALL
OF US IS TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY, THE HEALTH AND WELL
BEING, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY
OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT’S WHY
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS
STEP.
STEP. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT IS THAT
CHANGE WITH THE MONTGOMERY
COUNTY SITUATION, THAT THAT HAS
REALLY BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE.
CHANGE. WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF
EVOLVING INFORMATION HERE, AND
WE ALSO KNOW THAT ON A GLOBAL
STANDPOINT, THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION, WHO JUST WITHIN
THE HOUR HAS NOW DECLARED
COVID-19 A PANDEMIC.
THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW
SERIOUSLY ENTITIES, DECISION
MAKERS, AND RESPONDERS ARE
TAKING COVID-19 ACROSS THE
GLOBE.
GLOBE. I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE WHAT
WE’VE BEEN EMPHASIZING
THROUGHOUT, WHICH IS ONE, THAT
WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ALL THE
PRECAUTIONS THAT THEY CAN,
ESPECIALLY AS THE MAYOR
MENTIONED, THOSE WHO ARE
ELDERLY, THOSE WITH CHRONIC
HEALTH CONDITIONS.
HEALTH CONDITIONS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU LIMIT
YOUR INTERACTION WITH THOSE WHO
MAY BE SICK OR THOSE WHO YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
CONCERNED ABOUT. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IF YOU ARE SICK, THAT YOU DON’T
GO INTO SETTINGS, WHETHER IT’S
AT WORK OR SENDING YOUR CHILD TO
SCHOOL, THAT YOU DO NOT GET
OTHERS SICK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY, JUDGE
HIDALGO AND MAYOR TURNER ARE
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, IT IS NOT
JUST HOUSTON, HAR WHERE IS
COUNTY, IT IS OUR COMMUNITY AT
LARGE, OUR ENTIRE REGION.
WE KNOW PEOPLE MOVE AROUND.
WE KNOW PEOPLE WORK IN ONE PLACE
AND LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE
TAKING ALL THE PRECAUTION NOT
JUST FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR
FAMILY BUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS,
FOR YOUR ELDERS NEARBY, FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY MOST AT
RISK, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE ALL
THE PRECAUTIONS TO HELP THEM
STAY HEALTHY, SAFE AND
PROTECTED.
PROTECTED. FINALLY, WE’RE ALSO SAYING MAKE
SURE YOU REMEMBER ALSO PERSONAL
HYGIENE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
EVERYTHING FROM THE ASSURANCE OF
HAND WASHING AND CERTAINLY
USINGS HAND SANITIZER WHEN NOT
ABLE TO USE SOAP AND WATER,
WHICH, AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, IS
THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO FIGHT
AGAINST A VARIETY OF RESPIRATORY
CONDITIONS AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CONDITIONS IS NOT HAND
SANITIZER, IT’S ACTUALLY SOAP
AND WATER.
AND WATER. SO I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
CONCERNS OUT THERE ABOUT THE
HAND SANITIZER, BUT SOAP AND
WATER.
WATER. THEN THE OTHER PIECES CERTAINLY
COVER YOUR COUGH AND VARIETY OF
INFORMATION THAT WE’VE BEEN
GIVING OUT THERE, AND I THINK
IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
REMEMBER THAT IT’S NOT IF AND
WHEN, IT’S NOW.
THE FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY IS
THAT BOTH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
HAVE SET UP HOT LINES FOR
INFORMATION.
INFORMATION. THERE’S INFORMATION THAT’S
AVAILABLE AT HARRIS COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH, INFORMATION AT
THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE’VE ALSO STOOD UP AN
INFORMATION LINE WITH OUR HARRIS
HEALTH PARTNER THAT’S ALSO
INFORMATION FOR CLINICAL
QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE COMING UP
FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO BETWEEN THOSE OR AMONGST
THOSE THREE LOCAL RESOURCES,
WE’RE ALSO PUSHING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO ASSURE THAT INFORMATION
IS OUT THERE THROUGH OUR
WEBSITES.
WEBSITES. YOU CAN GO TO READY HARRIS.ORG
AS WELL AS THE WEBSITES FOR THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS
OBVIOUSLY THE STATE AND OTHER
FEDERAL PARTNERS.
FEDERAL PARTNERS. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT
WE GIVE OURSELVES ALL OF THE
INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE GOOD
DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES AND OUR
FAMILY.
FAMILY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO
THANK YOU THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM
OVER THE PAST WEEK.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
DR. KELLY LARKIN, ONE OF OUR
VOLUNTEER VICE PRESIDENTS FOR
HER EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE WE
TOOK EVERY POSSIBLE PRECAUTION
ON THE GROUND DURING THE FIRST
WEEK OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK
SHOW AND RODEO.
WE HAVE IN CONSTANTLY
COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY AND
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OPERATING
UNDER THEIR GUIDANCE.
WITH THE EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITY
SPREAD, OBVIOUSLY THINGS HAVE
CHANGED AND WE WILL RESPECTFULLY
AND DUTIFULLY COMPLY WITH THE
ORDER TO CEASE OUR OPERATIONS.
AS HEARTBREAKING AS THIS IS FOR
OUR FANS, OUR 35,000 VOLUNTEERS,
OUR STAFF, EXHIBITORS AND
CONTESTANTS, IT IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO IN THE INTEREST OF
THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED PROCEDURES
TO DO AN ORDERLY WIND DOWN OF
OPERATIONS.
OPERATIONS. THERE WILL BE NO RODEO OR
CONCERT THIS EVENING NOR FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE SHOW.
WE HAVE LIVESTOCK AND HORSE
SHOWS GOING ON AND WE WILL WIND
THOSE DOWN TODAY, AS WELL.
WITH REGARD TO THOSE ON OUR
GROUNDS PRESENTLY, WE ARE
REQUIRING THAT THEY DEPART THE
GROUNDS BY 4:00, AND FOR THOSE
HOLDING PREPURCHASED ITEMS,
WHETHER THOSE BE TICKETS, OR
WHETHER THOSE BE CARNIVAL PACKS,
WE WILL BE POSTING REFUND
INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, SO
PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE
GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT
I’VE RECEIVED IS DOES THIS MEAN
WE WILL NOT BE GIVING
SCHOLARSHIPS.
SCHOLARSHIPS. I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT DUE
TO THE FORSYTHE OF OUR EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE IN A POSITION
TO FULFILL OUR ANNUAL
CONTRIBUTION AND COMMITMENT TO
YOUTH AND EDUCATION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO WE THANK YOU THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN
THIS.
THIS. AS HARD AS THIS IS TO DO, IT IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WE
DEFINITELY THANK YOU THE
COMMUNITY FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND
RODEO, AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
I DO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE JAY,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
LET ME JUST SAY IN CLOSING, THE
HOUSTON LIVE LOCK SHOW AND RODEO
HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN
INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE PARTNER
AND ASSET TO OUR REGION.
IT GOES FAR BEYOND HOUSTON
HARRIS COUNTY, MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, YOU NAME IT, AN
INCREDIBLE ASSET, RESOURCE AND
SO LET ME AGAIN THANK YOU THE
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO
AND THEY TOOK JUST ADDITIONAL
STEPS TO PREPARE TO KEEP
EVERYONE SAFE AND SO THAT’S VERY
MUCH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
LET ME ALSO SAY WHAT DOES AN
EMERGENCY HEALTH DECLARATION
MEANS, WHEN IT COMES TO, IT WILL
GIVE US GREATER ABILITIES TO
MANAGE OUR RESOURCES,
FLEXIBILITY WITH THE PROCUREMENT
PROCESS, IN ACQUIRING ASSETS AND
HOPEFULLY IN GETTING FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE, AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY REASONS
FOR THE EMERGENCY HOLT
DECLARATION.
DECLARATION. I WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR.
I DON’T WANT EVERYBODY TO THINK
WE NEED TO GET IN A PANIC
SITUATION.
SITUATION. LET ME TELL YOU WHY WE ARE DOING
IT.
IT. FROM A CONTRACTUAL POINT OF
VIEW, PROCUREMENT POINT OF VIEW,
GETTING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE,
THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND
SO THAT’S THE PURPOSE, THAT’S
THE REASON WHY WE ARE PUTTING
FORT THIS EMERGENCY HEALTH
DECLARE REACTION, BUT THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY BY THE END OF THE
DAY.
DAY. ANOTHER THING I WANT TO BEAR IN
MIND IS THAT WE ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY AND SO THE MONTH
OF MARCH, LET ME SPEAK FOR THE
MONTH OF MARCH.
WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OH ARE
ALREADY OUT ON SPRING BREAK LIKE
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE BIG SCHOOL DISTRICTS
LIKE HOUSTON SCHOOL DISTRICTS
OUT ON SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK,
AND YOU HAVE UNIVERSITY OF
HOUSTON, I BELIEVE THAT’S OUT
RIGHT NOW, RICE IS OUT THIS
WEEK, AS WELL AS NEXT WEEK, SO
THEY ARE OUT RIGHT NOW.
SO BY CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING
A LOT OF THESE ACTIVITIES RIGHT
NOW IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, IT
KIND OF HELP TO SAY CONTAIN AND
MITIGATE.
MITIGATE. NOW WITH THE RODEO NOT TAKING
PLACE, WITH TOUR OF HOUSTON NOT
TAKING PLACE, WITH THE CITY
RESCHEDULING AND CANCELING
EVENTS RIGHT HERE IN THE MONTH
OF MARCH, THE GOAL IS TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN WITHIN
REASON TO CONTAIN AND MITIGATE.
THAT’S THE GOAL RIGHT HERE IN
THE MONTH OF MARCH.
SO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ONLY
TWO CASES WITHIN THE CITY OF
HOUSTON, WE ARE REGIONAL AND
PEOPLE TRAVEL FROM ONE AREA TO
ANOTHER.
ANOTHER. PEOPLE GO BACK AND FORTH.
THE GOAL IS IF WE CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW THINGS DOWN,
AND FOR PEOPLE TO, WHILE WE
ASSESS WHAT’S OUT THERE, BECAUSE
WE REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S OUT
THERE BUT IT DOES PROVIDE FOR
PEOPLE TRAVELING
PEOPLE TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY, IF THEY ARE
COMING BACK, 14 DAYS OF
QUARANTINE.
QUARANTINE. WE ARE SAYING PEOPLE STAY AWAY
IF YOU TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY
FROM SENIOR NURSING HOMES.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELDERLY WITH
UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS,
STAY AWAY FROM LARGE CROWDS.
THOSE MESSAGES WE CONTINUES TO.
AGAIN, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR PEOPLE TO
PANIC.
PANIC. OK?
OK? OR BE FEARFUL, YOU KNOW.
YES, YOU CAN GO TO THE STORE AND
BUY THE SOAP AND SANITIZER.
QUITE FRANKLY, AS I SAID BEFORE,
I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.
YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT MICHIGANING
THE TOILET PAPER, I DON’T GET
THAT ONE.
THAT ONE. THAT ONE I DON’T GET.
SO LET ME JUST SAY WE WILL MAKE
DECISIONS BASED ON THE FACTS,
THE SCIENCE AND THE MEDICAL
ADVICE.
ADVICE. NO MEDICAL PHYSICIAN, DOCTOR,
ANYONE HAS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT
FOR EXAMPLE THE TOILET PAPER
Gate so I just want I want to FOR EXAMPLE THE TOILET PAPER
Gate so I just want I want to say that I want to say that and
then I want people to
understand the decisions that
we
we THE DECISIONS WE HAVE MADE TO
CLOSE THE RODEO WAS NOT MADE IN
A VACUUM BY THAT THE COUNTY
JUDGE OR THE CITY.
WE HAVE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER,
WITH ALMOST ALL THE CEO’S, THE
HOSPITALS IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL
CENTER AND I CAN RIGHTFULLY SAY
TO YOU WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME
PAGE BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE
CONCERN IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR
REGION.
REGION. WE SAID WE WOULD WATCH THE
SITUATION VERY, VERY CAREFULLY,
AND AS THE FACTS CHANGE, OUR
STRATEGIES WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE
TO CORRESPOND TO THOSE FACTS.
THE GOAL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON
AND COUNTY AND SURROUNDING
REGION IS TO RECOGNIZE WHEN
CONDITIONS CHANGE AND THEN TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE
PROACTIVE TO CONTAIN AND TO
MITIGATE.
MITIGATE. IF WE DO THAT COLLECTIVELY,
THROWN WE WILL COME OUT OF THE
SITUATION AND WE’LL MOVE
FORWARD.
FORWARD. OK?
OK? SO CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES, I
STILL EXPECT FOR YOU TO SHOW UP
TOMORROW AND I STILL EXPECT FOR
YOU TO WORK THE ENTIRE DAY.
IN FACT I EXPECT YOU TO WORK THE
ENTIRE DAY TODAY.
OK?
OK? WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, WE’RE JUST
GOING TO DO IT IN A VERY SMART
WAY.
WAY. HAVING SAID THAT, WE’LL TAKE MY
QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE
But first we want to take that. QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE
>> THE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN IS BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY SPREAD, WE
ALL MOVE ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.
THIS INDIVIDUAL BECAME INFECTED.
WE DON’T KNOW HOW, WHICH MEANS
THERE IS LIKELY ANOTHER PERSON
IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WE
SUSPECT THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW,
POTENTIALLY THE TIP OF AN
ICEBERG AND THERE MAY BE MANY
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY
THAT ARE AFFECTED.
THAT’S WHY WE ARE TAKING THE
STEPS AT THIS POINT.
REALLY THIS IS AN ISSUE OF LARGE
GATHERINGS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT,
SO THE BIKE TOUR AND OTHER LARGE
GATHERING, OTHER THINGS THAT THE
CITY AS HE POINTED OUT WERE
SPONSORED, PERMITTED, THOSE ARE
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS
IS NO LONGER WHEN IT WAS RELATED
TO THAT EGYPTEN CRUISE, WE FELT
WE HAD IT CONTAINED AT THAT
POINT.
POINT. NOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE
COMMUNITY SPREAD, THIS IS ABOUT
LARGE GATHERINGS AND PROTECTING
THE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY. >> THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT
HE WAS AT THE BARBECUE COOKOFF.
HE WAS AT THE BARBECUE COOKOFF
AND WE ARE TRACING SPECIFICALLY
TO FIND OUT WHERE HE WAS, OK,
BUT NOT AT THE CONCERT, HE
DIDN’T ATTEND ANY OF THE
CONCERTS OR ANYTHING OF THAT
NATURE BUT THERE IS INFORMATION
HE WORKED, WAS AT THE BARBECUE
COOKOFF AND THEN WE ARE TRYING
TO TRACE BACK.
THAT I’M TRYING TO GET
INFORMATION ON.
INFORMATION ON. >> ONE THING TO ADD AND
APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION IS
OBVIOUSLY THE TEAMS, THE TEAMS
HAVE TO GO DO THEIR
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. THEY ARE STILL HONING IN ON
EXACTLY THE CONTACTS OF THIS
INDIVIDUAL.
INDIVIDUAL. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE’S RECOLLECTION
IS MURKY.
IS MURKY. IF WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE DID
A WEEK AGO, IT’S HARD, SO
THEY’RE TRYING TO TRACE THIS
GENTLEMAN’S STEPS AND BASED ON
THAT WE’LL PUT OUT ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE IF WE GET SOMETHING
CONCRETE.
CONCRETE. OUR BEST UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW
IS HE WAS AT THE BARBECUE
COOKOFF ON THE 28th.
THEY’RE STILL TRYING TO SUSOUT
WHETHER HE HAD SYMPTOMS THEN OR
DIDN’T HAVE SYMPTOMS, WHICH
WOULDN’T HAVE MADE IT AS BIG AN
ISSUE.
ISSUE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ASKING
EVERYBODY IF YOU’RE FEELING
SICK, WITH SYMPTOMS THAT COULD
BE RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS,
PLEASE DON’T GO TO WORK.
DON’T GO TO SCHOOL.
IF ANYONE HAS UNEXPLAINED, YOU
KNOW, SYMPTOMS AND HAVE A SENSE
THAT THEY MAY HAVE THIS, THEY
CAN CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER.
PROVIDER. DON’T SHOW UP, BECAUSE IF YOU DO
HAVE IT, YOU’RE GOING TO END UP
PASSING IT ON TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
CALL.
CALL. CALL YOUR DOCTOR.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DOCTOR, CALL
OUR HEALTH LINES, THE CITY HAS
YOU ONE, THE COUNTY HAS ONE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE TO
TRY THE SAME NUMBER.
THEY ARE NOT THERE YET.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR
SEPARATE LINES BUT WE’RE CROSS
REFERENCING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
NO MATTER IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE
OR UNDOCUMENTED, YOU CAN CALL
OUR LINE IF YOU THINK YOU MAY
HAVE THIS.
HAVE THIS. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE
DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE OF
COMMUNITY SPREAD AND IT’S
ALREADY SOMETHING THAT WE WERE
THINKING ABOUT, GIVEN THE UNDER
COUNT OR LACK OF TESTING
CAPABILITY.
CAPABILITY. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> YOU ARE LISTENING TO HARRIS
COUNTY JUDGE HIDALGO, HOUSTON
MAYOR TURNER AND LOCAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS UPDATING US ON THE
SITUATION, THE CORONAVIRUS AND
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING OUT
OF THIS, THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK
SHOW AND RODEO IS SHUTTING DOWN,
BECAUSE THERE IS NOW EVIDENCE OF
COMMUNITY SPREAD OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. WE’VE ALSO LEARNED ACCORDING TO
THE MAYOR, THERE IS EVIDENCE AND
INFORMATION THAT THE 40-YEAR-OLD
MAN FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHO
IS PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE FOR THE
CORONAVIRUS ATTENDED THE
BARBECUE COOKOFF ON FEBRUARY 28,
AND THEY’RE NOW IN THE PROCESS
OF TRYING TO TRACE BACK WHERE
ELSE HE’D BEEN.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING IS THERE’S
NO EVIDENCE THAT HE HAD TRAVELED
OUTSIDE THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> THAT IS WHAT THE MAYOR WAS
SAYING IS THE GAME CHANGER IN
ITS ANNOUNCEMENT.
ITS ANNOUNCEMENT. WE WERE ASKING WHY NOW, WHY IS
THE LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO
BEING CANCELED MORE THAN A WEEK
IN.
IN. THAT WAS THE GAME CHANGER IS
THAT BEFORE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT
THIS PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASE
OUT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY WITH
THIS 40-YEAR-OLD MAN, HE HAD NOT
TRAVELED OUT OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS RECENTLY.
TEXAS RECENTLY. ALL THE OTHER POSITIVE CASES IN
OUR AREA, THE 13 OTHERS WERE
CONTRACTED FROM INTERNATIONAL
TRAVEL OR A CONNECTION TO THAT.
>> LET’S LISTEN BACK IN.
>> THAT I CANNOT SPEAK TO.
I CAN’T SPEAK TO THAT AT THIS
TIME.
TIME. WHAT I WILL INDICATE TO YOU BY
THE CITY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH,
WE ARE CANCELING THOSE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
ALL THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE CITY.
THE CITY. >> AT THIS POINT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO ASSESS OUR
SITUATION.
SITUATION. WHAT I CAN DEFINITE LIZ TELL YOU
WITH RESPECT TO CITY SPONSORED
PERMITTED AND CONTROLLED EVENTS,
THOSE EVENTS ARE RESCHEDULED OR
CANCELED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
OTHER PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
IN THE CITY.
>> WE’LL CERTAINLY LEAVE IT UP
TO THEM.
TO THEM. IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WEEK,
I THINK THAT WOULD BE
CONSISTENT.
CONSISTENT. >> IF I MIGHT, WITH ALL OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE
COMMUNICATION HAS VERY MUCH BEEN
AND WE’RE TALKING TO ALL OF
THEM, IF YOU SEE A CHILD WHO IS
SICK, MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE NOT
THERE, SO THAT’S BEEN A
CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION.
CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION. WE’VE BEEN ASKING THEM TO PLAN
FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WOULD
LOOK LIKE TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS
OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS
BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD.
WITNESS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, WE
WILL BE TALKING MORE LATER
TODAY, GIVEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY I WAS AT
COMMISSIONER’S COURT ALL DAY
YESTERDAY, MAYOR WAS AT COUNCIL
ALL MORNING.
ALL MORNING. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EVERY
OTHER STEPS WE CAN TAKE AND
SHOULD TAKE AND MAKING
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS BASED
ON THAT.
ON THAT. RIGHT NOW WE JUST GOT NEWS OF
THIS COMMUNITY SPREAD, WE’VE
JUST NOW SEEN OUR TESTING
CAPABILITY LIMITATIONS, AND WE
ARE TAKING THE STEPS AS QUICKLY
AS WE CAN.
WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GET THIS
OUT TODAY SO THE RODEO COULD
SHUT DOWN TODAY AND WE DON’T
HAVE ANYMORE EVENTS LATER
TONIGHT AND WE ARE HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND WILL BE MAKING
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AS
APPROPRIATE, BUT LET US HAVE
TODAY TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER.
>> SO WE RELEASED FLIGHT INFORMATION FOR A BOTTOM WHO
TRAVELED FROM ITALY THAT WE
RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION THAT
THE POSITIVE CASE YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SHE HAD
SYMPTOMS ON THE PLANE, AND EVEN
THOUGH WE HAVEN’T RECEIVED THE
FLIGHT MANIFEST FROM THE CDC, WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND INFORMLE
COMMUNITY JUST AS WE DID WITH
THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH. WITH THE OTHER FLIGHTS, THE
HEALTH AUTHORITIES ALL SPOKE AND
AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, THE CITY, OR THE COUNTY,
EVERYBODY’S IN AGREEMENT THAT
THERE WERE NOT SYMPTOMS AT THAT
POINT, AND SO THAT’S THE
DECISION THAT THE HEALTH
AUTHORITIES HAVE MADE.
WE ARE OF COURSE CHECKING ON ALL
OF THE KNOWN CONTACTS THAT THOSE
FOLKS HAVE HAD AND SO FAR HAVE
HIS NOT RECEIVED ANY POSITIVE.
I’LL INVITE DR. SHAW TO SHARE
HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND THANKS
FOR THAT QUESTION.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION,
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE AS WE GET
INFORMATION OUT THERE, WHAT
PEOPLE NATURALLY START TO DO IS
SAY I WAS ON A FLIGHT, I WAS ON
ANY FLIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU START TO ADD IN INFORMATION.
SO AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, ONE,
THERE WERE SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE
FLIGHT OR DURING THE FLIGHT, I
SHOULD SAY, BUT IN ADDITION TO
THAT, WE WERE BEING TOLD THAT IT
WAS GOING TO BE SOME TIME BEFORE
WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE
THE MANIFEST.
THE MANIFEST. THAT DELAY IN BEING ABLE TO GET
THE MANIFEST MADE US TRIGGER TO
AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED TO THE
NEXT LEVEL, WHICH IS THE BEST
WAY TO THIS THIS INFORMATION
OUT.
OUT. REMEMBER THIS BE INDIVIDUAL
FIRST OR BUSINESS CLASS ON TWO
FLIGHTS, FRANKFURT TO HOUSTON ON
MARCH 3, WE THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO GET THAT
INFORMATION OUT, OUT OF REALLY
THE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN IN THOSE CLASSES.
NOW, IT’S VERY POSSIBLE WE’RE
GOING TO GET THAT MANIFEST
TODAY, TOMORROW, BUT WE WERE
TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE
SEVERAL DAYS AND WE DID NOT WANT
TO WAIT TO BE ABLE TO IN FORM
THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC. I THINK THAT’S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
IMPORTANT THING. AS FAR AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT
OTHER FLIGHTS, IT’S ABSOLUTELY
WHAT THE JUDGE SAID, SYMPTOMS
BUT ALSO A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER
ACTIVITIES THAT OUR
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE INVOLVED IN.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE A FOCUSED WAY
TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS.
BOTH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS,
REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE
GOOD AT DOING, THEY DO IT MUCH
BETTER THAN THE PHYSICIANS, THEY
ARE VERY STRONG AT THIS.
HOWEVER, WHEN THEY DETERMINE
THAT THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY, THEN
THAT’S THE POINT WHEN WE MAY GO
FURTHER WITH A MESSAGE TO THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. >> LET ME JUST ANSWER, I HAVE NO
REGRETS.
REGRETS. WE ARE BASING DECISIONS BASED ON
THE SCIENCE AND THE MEDICAL
ADVICE AND THE FACTS THAT ARE
PRESENTED.
PRESENTED. LET’S BEAR IN MIND, THIS IS A
NEW PHENOMENON.
NEW PHENOMENON. WE’RE IN NEW TERRITORY, AND
EVERYONE IS MAKE I CAN THE BEST
JUDGMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE TO
TRY TO DO, TAKE THE NECESSARY
STEPS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, TO
PROTECT EVERYONE, AND THEN AT
THE SAME TIME, RECOGNIZING THAT
PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO WORK, THEY
STILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR
FAMILIES AND KIDS AND STILL HAVE
TO PAY THE MORTGAGE AND THE RENT
AND THE ELECTRICITY BILLS.
UP TO THE POINT OF YESTERDAY,
ALL WHICH THE CONFIRMED CASES IN
FORT BEND, HARRIS COUNTY AND
HOUSTON WERE DIRECTLY TIED TO
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GOT
ILI EXAMPLE, THEY WERE ALL
CONNECT WOULD DIRECTLY TO THE
EGYPTIAN CRUISE LINER.
PLEASE BEAR IN MIND IN RELATION
TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THERE
ARE ONLY TWO CONFIRMED CASES IN
THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I CANNOT SAY THAT ENOUGH.
THAT’S NOT TO SAY THERE’S NOT
COMMUNITY SPREAD AND WE’RE
TAKING STEPS REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER COMMUNITY SPREAD WAS
DETECTED IN HAWN OR HARRIS
COUNTY OR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WE
ARE TAKING STEPS TO CONTAIN AND
MITIGATE.
MITIGATE. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING.
IN RESPECT TO ATTRACTING PEOPLE
FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, THAT
EVENT WAS CANCELED.
THERE ARE OTHER CONFERENCES
ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR LATER IN
THE YEAR.
THE YEAR. THE DEFINITIVE STEPS HAVE
ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE SCHOOLS, THE
VULNERABLE POPULATION ARE
SENIORS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. FOR WHATEVER REASON, KIDS SEEM
TO BE DEALING WITH THIS MUCH,
MUCH MUCH, MUCH BETTER.
THE VULNERABLE POPULATION ARE
SENIORS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. LET’S BEAR IN MIND WE ARE IN NEW
TERRITORY ACROSS THE GLOBE,
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE
ALL TAKING THE REASONABLE
NECESSARY STEPS BASED ON THE
SCIENCE, BASED ON MEDICAL ADVICE
THAT’S BEING PRESENTED TO US.
>> I’LL START FIRST BECAUSE I WAS CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
I WAS HOPING THE DOCTOR WOULD
ANSWER THIS.
ANSWER THIS. DR. PURSE AND I, I CANNOT THANK
YOU HIM ENOUGH FOR HIS
COLLEGIALITY AND PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE WORKED ACROSS THE CLOCK
TOGETHER, CITY OF HOUSTON,
HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALL OF
OUR MEMBERS, REGIONAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS ARE JUST FORTUNATE
IN THIS REGION TO HAVE STRONG
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. I SHOULD REALLY SAY THAT.
WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE
HAVE EQUALLY RECOGNIZED THAT
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE’RE
WORKING WITH OUR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE
SYSTEMS.
SYSTEMS. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING MESSAGES
OUT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT ARE
HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
OPERATES THE REGIONAL HAND TO
HEALTH ALERT NETWORK.
WE HAVE SENT OVER A DOZEN
MESSAGES OUT TO HEALTH CARE
INSTITUTIONS, ENTITIES AND
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO GET
UPDATED GUIDANCE TO THEM.
THE CHALLENGE WE’VE HAD AND THIS
HAS REALLY BEEN A GLOBAL
CHALLENGE, THAT THIS REALLY GOES
IN PHASES, AND WE ARE HOPING
THAT WE CAN DELAY OR PEND THE
CURVE TO THE SURGE THROUGHOUT
OUR REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE
STATE AND BEYOND, SO WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN DOING IS WORKING WITH
THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO SAY FIRST,
PLAN FOR SURGE, PLAN FOR ALL THE
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE
GOING TO BE REQUIRED POTENTIALLY
IF WE GOT TO THE POINT OF HAVING
ADDITIONAL NEEDS.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT A
LOCAL PHENOMENON, THIS IS A
NATIONAL PHENOMENON, THAT WE
SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
CAPACITY IF WE WERE TO SEE A
LARGE SURGE, AGAIN, IF WE WERE
TO SEE A LARGE SURGE THAT
HAPPENS ALL AT ONE TIME.
NOT OVER TIME, BUT ALL AT ONE
TIME.
TIME. IT’S CRITICAL FOR TO US REALLY
WORK WITH THOSE HEALTH CARE
ENTITIES.
ENTITIES. ALTERNATE CARE SITE STRATEGIES,
HOW ARE THEY PROTECTING THEIR
HEALTH CARE WORKERS, PERSONAL
HEALTH SQUARE EQUIPMENT, HOW DO
THEY ASSURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN,
ALL THE DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE
MESSAGES TO THEIR OWN TEAM AND
BEYOND AND TESTING ALL THE
ACTIVITIES THAT REALLY GO ALONG
WITH IT.
WITH IT. WE RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE
STRENGTH OF OUR HEALTH CARE
PARTNERS AND WE’RE CERTAINLY
WORKING WITH THEM.
DR. PURSE THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU, DR. SHAW.
THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
IT GOES TO THE CRUX OF WHAT I
WORRY ABOUT.
WORRY ABOUT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE HEALTH SYSTEMS, BILL
MCKEAN HAS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS,
THE MAYOR HAS BASICALLY CHAIRED
ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WITH US.
WE’VE BEEN TALKING WITH ALL THE
BIG HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND SOME OF
THE INDEPENDENT HOSPITALS, THEY
ARE LARGE HOSPITALS AND WE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT SURGE
CAPACITY FOR PATIENTS WHO
REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION, SURGE
CAPACITY FOR THE EMERGENCY
DEMOCRATIC AND FOR LABORATORY
TESTING.
TESTING. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THIS
IS HOUSTON AND UNFORTUNATELY WE
HAVE WEATHER EVENTS THAT STRESS
OUR COMMUNITY, NOT THE LEAST OF
WHICH IS THE HEALTH CARE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. I WOULD REMIND YOU OF 2001 WITH
TROPICAL STORM ALLISON, WE LOST
FIVE HOSPITALS WITHIN THREE
HOURS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
I FOR ONE WILL NEVER FORGET
THAT.
THAT. FOUR OF THOSE HOSPITALS WERE THE
LARGEST IN THE CITY AND THEY
WERE OFF LINE FOR MONTHS BEFORE
THEY CAME BACK ON LINE AND WE
WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND
SURGE AT THAT POINT.
NOW TROPICAL STORM ALLISON, WE
HAD NO WARNING AND WE WERE ABLE
TO DO IT.
TO DO IT. WE HAVE WARNING, COORDINATING
WITH THE HOSPITALS, PLANS ARE IN
PLACE, AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY
WE WON’T HAVE TO GO THERE,
DIRECT YOU TO OUR CHART AS
DR. SHAW POINT OUT, OUR WHOLE
GOAL WITH SHE’S STRATEGYION IS
TO SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY,
MINIMIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE BECOME
INFECTED.
INFECTED. IF WE FAIL ALLOT THAT, IF WE CAN
SPREAD IT OVER A LONGER PERIOD
OF TIME, THE HEALTH CARE
COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE
CARE OF PATIENTS.
THERE WILL BE A REGULAR HOSPITAL
BED TO THOSE WHO NEED IT AND
TESTING AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO
NEED IT.
NEED IT. WITH TESTING, WE ARE INCREASING
OUR ABILITY TO TEST.
WE’RE WORKING WITH THE
HOSPITALS, WITH THE COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRY LABORATORY TESTING
INDUSTRY AND THAT CAPACITY IS
GROWING.
GROWING. AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND IS IF YOU ARE NOT
HAVING SYMPTOMS, YOU DO NOT NEED
TO BE TESTED AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.
IF SOMEBODY, WHEN YOU GET
INFECTED WITH A VIRUS, YOU KNOW,
THE VIRUS COMES INTO YOUR BODY
AND STARTS REPLICATING ITSELF
AND THE AMOUNT OF VIRUS STARTS
TO GROW UNTIL THE POINT WHERE
YOU START HAVING SYMPTOMS.
THEN DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, ALL
DEPENDENCY ON HOW HEALTH I YOU
ARE, UNDERLYING MEDICAL
PROBLEMS, ABLE, DETERMINES
REALLY ABOUT HOW SICK YOU WILL
GET.
GET. IF YOU’RE FEELING WELL, EVEN IF
YOU HAVE THE VIRUS IN YOU, IF
YOU’RE FEELING WELL AND WE TEST
YOU, THAT TEST IS LIKELY GOING
TO COME BACK NEGATIVE.
ALL WE’VE DONE AT THAT POINT IS
WASTE A TEST.
THE TEST IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
WITHOUT SYMPTOMS BUT SCARED.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE CAN BE
SCARED BUT IF YOU’RE NOT HAVING
SYMPTOMS, THE TEST DOES YOU NO
GOOD.
GOOD. IF YOU WERE TO GET TESTED AND
WE’RE ADVOCATING PEOPLE WITHOUT
SYMPTOMS DO NOT GET TESTED.
IF YOU DID GET TESTED AND IT
CAME BACK AND WAS NEGATIVE, THAT
MAKE THAT NOT BE ACCURATE.
YOU MAY HAVE TESTED TWO DAYS
EARLY.
EARLY. TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER, YOU
START HAVING FEVER AND
DIFFICULTY BREATHING, IT WILL BE
POSITIVE.
POSITIVE. GETTING TESTED BEFORE YOU YOU
HAVE SYMPTOMS SHOULD NOT GIVE
YOU REASSURANCE.
YOU REASSURANCE. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT ASK FOR THAT.
WHEN YOU GET SYMPTOMS, CONTACT
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
HERE’S ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS AND YOU
THINK YOU’RE INFECTED, PLEASE
CALL AHEAD, BECAUSE OUR HEALTH
CARE WORKERS ARE A VITAL ASSET
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SEEN IN HOSPITALS HOW
HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAD TO BE
QUARANTINED.
QUARANTINED. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE DOCTORS
AND NURSES TO QUARANTINE WHEN
HAD SOMEBODY CALLED AHEAD THEY
COULD HAVE MET YOU AT THE DOOR
AND ESCORTED YOU AND TAKEN CARE
OF YOU.
OF YOU. EVERY TIME SOMEBODY JUST SHOWS
UP AND THINKS I YOU HAVE IT,
WHEN IT TURNS OUT THEY DID,
THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE
EXPOSED AND THEN THEY’VE GOT TO
GO HOME FROM WORK.
WE CAN’T AFFORD THAT.
WORK WITH US.
WE’VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE,
WHEN THE COMMUNITY DOES THEIR
PART AND GOVERNMENT DOES ITS
PART, WE’VE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS
BEFORE AND WE’LL DO IT AGAIN.
>> COLLABORATIVELY ON THAT NOTE,
THE CITY AND HEALTH CARE
COMMUNITY, WE’VE BEEN WORKING
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. >> AND THE COUNTY!
>> AND THE COUNTY.
>> WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE
IS THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
OUR HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY IS
PPE’S, PERSONAL PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT, AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE
NEEDING FROM THE CDC IS PERSONAL
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT, PLEASE.
THIS WEEKEND FOR EXAMPLE WHEN
THE CALL CAME IN TO ME FROM THE
MEDICAL CENTER ABOUT WHEN WE
WERE GETTING READY TO STAND UP,
FOR EXAMPLE TURN THE TESTING
SITES, THE NEED OFF PPE’S, WE
DID AN INVENTORY OF OUR OWN
EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE, AND ON
SATURDAY AT 3:00, WE SENT OVER
TO THE MEDICAL CENTER 10,000N95
MASKS TO THE MEDICAL CENTER, SO
WE ARE ALL WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY, THE COUNTY IS
INVENTORYING ASSETS AND SHARING
ASETS, AS WELL.
ALL THE DIFFERENT UNITS WORKING
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. LET ME THANK YOU JUDGE, THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE, DR. SHARP,
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY,
JOEL, THANK YOU, DOCTOR, THANK
YOU, FROM THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK
AND RODEO, COUNTY MEMBERS AND
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND WE’RE GOING
TO KEEP WORKING AND THIS, TOO,