Today the Governor stopped elective surgeries in hospitals in @DallasCountyTx and this will increase hospital capacity, as less people will need beds to recuperate from elective surgery.
This move was necessary due to the wave of new #COVID19 cases we're seeing that are beginning to fill up the hospitals. Additionally, I am encouraging our surrounding counties to institute a requirement on businesses to ensure the wearing of face masks...
...and am calling on the Governor to make the face mask ordinance statewide. I’m also calling on the Governor to make the recommendations in the Open Texas documents into requirements, if not statewide, then at least for the counties & regions like DFW & the Harris Co. area.
In May, when the Governor took over the #COVID19 response from the local leaders, he restricted our ability to either keep the ordinances in place that we had or work with business and healthcare to create new ones.
At this point with the speed of the spread, it would be most beneficial if the Governor would act on a regional or statewide basis to quickly follow the advice of the top doctors on infectious disease, epidemiology, and public health in Harris, Dallas, Bexar and Travis Counties.
Barring that, restoring the traditional powers of local leaders to deal with emergencies would allow us more tools to try to reverse this disturbing trend.
I strongly recommend that you do not go to places where 100% masking cannot be accomplished. Places like bars, that are not necessities but are desires and where masking cannot occur 100% of the time, should be avoided.
Avoid unnecessary crowds, maintain six foot distancing, wear a mask when outside your home and around others, and use good hand hygiene. The best way to reverse the trend and #FlattenTheCurve is to #WearAMask and #StayHomeSaveLives.
