Note: A software package called Otter.ai is used to transcribe this from the audio/video files. It’s not perfect and I try to correct errors as I see them and in comparing them back to the video. Use this as a guide and reference only.
Good afternoon Marion County. I want to give you a little update on some, some information that’s come in the last few days.
Maybe some statewide statistics today 2,877 confirmed cases of corona virus have been reported in the state of Texas resulting 38 deaths. I’d like to ask you to pray for their families. At this time, locally Smith county reports 32. Upshur, two, which is up one. Harrison one; Morris, one; Cass County hasto the two confirmed cases but are now past infectious state. So that’s good news Marin County as of 10 minutes after three today is zero confirmed cases of the COVID-19.
A couple of things I want to go over like to remind folks. Governor Abbott Executive orders called for many restaurants, closed to in house, dining.
They are for takeout and delivery services only along with alcohol.
So please remember that a few other things I’d like to go over with you is please adhere to the CDC guidance. Number one, stay at home. Number two, wash your hands. Practice social distancing; sanitize surfaces often and cover your coughs.
Some testing results in the state of Texas are taking anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days to get the results back delays and relatively low numbers of tests, being conducted throughout the state means we really don’t have the entire picture of what the coronas virus means the state of Texas. The state of Texas has ramped up testing. As I said yesterday, testing is up from the first test they given to yesterday of 1,000. That’s good numbers, that’s a great, great path forward. But just remember things are still lagging a little bit, so I don’t want anybody to think that this isn’t a serious situation.
I wouldn’t be getting on here every day and talking to you about it if it wasn’t. If you think it’s, you know, whatever the case may be that this isn’t serious. I can promise you that is extremely serious and I want everybody to be taking it that way. I want you to understand individuals are ultimately responsible for our own safety, and healthy well being. Texans are fiercely independent. There’s no form of government rules or regulations that can make this thing go away. So what I want to say is, in order for us to flatten the curve, we’ve got to listen to recommendations. We’ve got to wash our hands and stay at home, and social distance.
Those things are the most important thing now that Texas is in its infancy, with the coronavirus. If you get on line and you look up the state of New York, or Florida, or even our neighbors Louisiana. That’s not infancy. That’s just flat out just rapid spread. Right now we are in the cusp of being able to deter this thing as much as we possibly can. The first reason being, we don’t want to overwhelm our healthcare system where we don’t have enough doctors or nurses or hospital beds to tend to the people that need to be tended to.
Another thing I want to go over with you is if you’re having symptoms fever, shortness of breath, cough. Please call your primary physician, your primary care doctor before you go into their office and let them know that you’re experiencing symptoms, so that they can prepare for that. If you don’t have a primary physician or a doctor. The CHRISTUS COVID-19 hotline is -800-458-4559. Remember you can you can call that number and they can talk those things over with you see if you need to come in, or not.
Not everybody that catches the coronavirus needs to be hospitalized. At this point in time right now, less than 2% of the cases in the state of Texas require hospitalization.
So if you can lock yourself in your room and tend to your symptoms yourself that’s great. If not, make sure you call ahead before you seek medical attention from either the emergency room or a doctor’s private office.
I’m gonna post information up. If you have any questions or concerns. You can call me at the office here, or by cell phone number you can text or call me anytime. And my email address, shoot me an email and I’ll get back with you soon as soon as and again. Stay safe, wash your hands. And please remember to pray for healthcare providers first responders, and our nation.