We've been watching with
this situation globally.
I think there's 92,000
cases and 70 countries.
You know, in the United States now,
I think it's about 60 cases.
The number keeps changing, but are,
you know there are those that weren't
on those chartered flights and
another 42 or something that were on
the chartered flights at this time.
We do not have any confirmed
COVID-19 cases in Dallas County,
but we take this situation
very seriously and we are.
Preparing for any possible
response that may be needed,
and how are you preparing so?
We've actually been doing right now.
We've been in a containment sort of phase,
so we've been monitoring any persons
that have been coming from China,
where we follow up with them,
monitor them for any fever or
development of symptoms until
their past the incubation period,
we follow up where others that might
be working with health care providers,
where we disseminating the latest
recommendations for testing,
making sure those are implemented.
Properly were disseminating CDC's
recommendations for those we're working with.
Schools, businesses,
other settings to make sure right now,
again, we're in the containment phase,
but we want people to be thinking OK if
we move to that other mitigation phase,
you know what are the plans,
what plans you have in place?
You know? Look at them again.
Update them if needed so you know
if we did have to close schools,
how would you handle that with?
Sort of learning distance
learning type of things.
Which sort of Tele working
things are in place?
What sort of leave policy's do you have so
that people can stay home if they're sick,
but the other messages, you know,
the general message is the best prevention
that we can still do it, you know,
is what's the same prevention for the flu.
Wash your hands,
don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
So if if you're sick,
stay home and then you know regularly clean
the surfaces that are touched frequently.
You know in prior episode with the Ebola,
Dallas was at the forefront.
Was the first city for this one.
It's there's more activity
on the West Coast going on,
so we're watching them.
We're learning from them.
That's what we were learning from some of
these other countries seeing what's going on,
but we don't have any cases right now,
but we need to prepare for whatever
possible response may be needed.
It's not a time to panic,
it is a time to prepare.
We just today had the capacity to be able
to test for the COVID-19 locali in our lab.
So prior to this,
we've been having to send all
of the specimens to CDC.
You know,
we still have limited capacity at
this point we are adding to that.
We actually just went through an
emergency purpose purchase for some
additional laboratory equipment
that can automate some of that
so we can increase our capacity.
As we're moving forward,
so I think even we were
the first to have it in Texas.
That capacity, although others are
getting on line, also well, you know,
it depends a turn around from you
know these specimens had to be fed
exed over there. They run him.
There were some initially a backlog.
They the CDC was getting faster on that.
Now we will be able to turn him
around in a day within a day to
get some of those specimens down.
But again, we have limited capacity,
so we're still implementing
CDC recommendations.
At this point,
in terms of who's getting tested,
so there's the personal protection
and prevention measures,
but then also to be looking and
thinking through what are you going
to do if the school is closed?
How are you going to take care
of your child care?
Some of those issues the schools are
looking at that we've been meeting
with some of the superintendents
and other school staff,
and we have ongoing work with the
schools with businesses where trying
to get people to look at their
continuity of operations plans.
Other leave policy's, you know,
to make sure that if people are ill,
they're not discouraged from staying home.
We want people who are able to
be able to stay home and other
environmental cleanup processes.
What's their process for cleaning the
surface is that are frequently touched?
All of these are just part of the
preparations that people need to
really look at and think through.
If this happens, you know what we do?
You know,
one of the things has been the masks,
and the surgeon general just
came out with a statement.
I think in the last couple of days.
Just really clarifying,
you don't need to be walking
around if you have no.
If you don't.
If you have infection,
you don't need be walking
around with these masks.
It really hasn't been shown to protect you.
It's more if now someone is ill or
has COVID-19 then putting the mask
on that kind of person will prevent
their spread when they cough or
sneeze droplets prevent that spread.
Also,
if someone is caring for someone who is ill,
then in that situation the mask and help.
That's why you know also in
hospital settings they use these.
Protections,
but just walking around in the community
that has not been shown to be helpful.
It's not a time to panic,
but it is time to be prepared and to really,
seriously look and think through.
If these you know some of the
again schools were closed.
If you needed to Tele work,
or if they you know what the realities
of implementing that the other thing.
It's not a time to go and buy everything
off the store shelves, you know.
I mean, you made when you go shopping,
buy a few extra things you want
to be able to be.
You know,
so that you can minimize having
to go to the store.
You know over a couple of weeks,
but you don't have to buy
everything off the shelf.
That's not going to help,
but yeah, that we you know.
Like in daily conference calls
with the state, the CDC.
That's a point really want to
emphasize there was tremendous.
Please check our website.
The DCHS website.
Also, the state health Department
and CDC has fantastic resources
on their website with specific
guidance for various settings.
Business settings as schools.
You know, there's just so much
helpful information on that.