Mayor Turner makes announcement regarding Houston Rodeo and coronavirus

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