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Channel 2. >> This is Houston newsmakers
with khambrel Marshall.
>> A lot has happened in the
one week since we last did this
program the number of
coronavirus cases in the United
States has grown rapidly that
includes those being discovered
in the
in the Houston region. Prompting an
emergency help declaration by
Houston mayor Turner the
shutdown of the Houston
Livestock show and Rodeo the
suspension of the
NBA. Plans to play the NC
double a games with no fans and
more as involving as we speak
the question. Now it’s now what
especially as it concerns the
health of that
community and where and how to
get treatment doctor the on
when is the chief medical
officer at legacy community
health. Thank you for being
here you walk on first of all
for those who may not know what
legacy does what is Legacy’s
mission and what is the
clientele you
clientele you typically served.
typically served. >> Legacy is a federally help
qualified We our mission is to
serve all of our patients who
are underserved
are underserved and underprivileged we have
more than 15 clinics across a
90 mile radius over 20
school-based health clinics
as well.
as well. >> So with the covid a 19
coronavirus concerns what are
you doing now as a community
health agency prepare and
what can you prepare
for right.
for right. >> We’re mainly concerned about
educating our patients right
there so much in the South.
So media that’s causing a lot
of fear and we are really
focused on communication with
our staff and providers to make
sure that we have consistent
messaging and education to our
patients, I’m glad you
mentioned that because the fear
thing is real even when you’re
giving just basic information
people
people just get. Animated about that
it’s already flu season allergy
season is around us with the
oak trees and all that kind
of stuff.
of stuff. >> How do you tell whether or
not you are having symptoms and
may be related to coronavirus
what do
what do you do.
you do. >> We have to be really focused
right now on patient’s travel
history as we know that’s
changing as well so that’s more
of a reason why we have to keep
our patients up to date on the
travel history section
of it and a lot of the symptoms
to overlap but the travel
history is what’s going to
prompt us to do
the testing.
the testing. >> So with somebody I’ve heard
people talk about if you
have a car for persistent
conference upper respiratory is
what I’m told what kind of
symptoms of
symptoms of people get.
people get. >> Exactly fever up
arrest recent and if it gets
more severe it could have lead
to more difficulty, breathing
or than the mild symptoms.
>> So how does it go from
something that is considered
mild to needing hospitalization
what’s that it with this so
much we don’t know.
>> Exactly but currently it
seems at that the patient
population most affected
are older population as well as
those who have chronic
comorbidities.
comorbidities. >> Is this evolved into
something that is related to
like pneumonia type things that
I’m just to use an open in
terms of how it gets to that
point where you need
respiratory help.
respiratory help. >> Well if they have underlying
email compromise state then
this could lead to more severe
pneumonia like symptoms whether
requiring ice you
>> because this is a virus that
has no
has no known cure. From what we know
is a silver lining in this
whole thing if there is one the
fact that
fact that what we’re told right now is
that quote 80% who get this
will have maybe miles symptoms
or there are no silver linings
in this ad I’m just trying to
find that. So that the panic
part can kind of be lessened
when I think that’s a good
point right now
patients that are really truly
effective a severe symptoms are
immunocompromised you know
older patients and so we have
to keep that in mind and use
that as a way to a calm because
that is what
we know.
we know. >> You be do I invite trade as
well so what kind of advice are
you giving to your patients who
are Kerry who are
pregnant right.
pregnant right. >> I will pace of patients are
pregnant are known to be
immuno-compromised and so the
most a cover conditions have
just shown the
similar precautions. That’s
also changing every day and I
called actually has something
today or tomorrow that may
change those recommendations.
>> So right now we’re told you
know the wash your hands do
those
those things that that are kind of
keep us uh away from the virus
if I think part of what I understand
understand is that if you’re not in the
same room with somebody that’s
not enough to expose you, but
if you’re touching something
that they have touched the neck
could be the process so
are we doing everything we can
to do you think in this
community to be prepare to
what more would you suggest I
think that definitely have to
keep with the basic
recommendations on me
hand washing.
hand washing. >> And social distancing the of
these are all things that seem
common sense, but they’re not
as an efficient says it’s not
common practice. So the very
minimum we need to be focused
on that and I think just of
some of the cancellations of
the larger group gatherings as
importance that we can contain
the spread me.
>> Because this is your
business your feel you’ve seen
things in
things in the med.
the med. >> The arena before are you
optimistic that everything that
should be done and the medical
experts who are making the
advice are doing everything
they can do to mitigate what’s
going on now.
>> I think we are I think that
public appreciates the constant
communication.
communication. I think the references and
learning from the other
countries and what they’ve been
through in the last few months
is really important to stops
interest in
interest in the community.
the community. >> Why thank you for coming in
and helping us to establish
trust and what we do here on
Houston newsmakers where no
panic zone here I would like to
get the best information and I
can’t thank you for what you’re