As Fort Worth area COVID cases spike, residents are urged to do these 3 things
As coroanvirus cases continue to rise, health care and elected officials asked urged Tarrant County residents Tuesday to stay home, wear masks and practice social distancing.
“Staying at home is still the best strategy, “ Public Health Director Vinny Taneja told county commissioners during their weekly meeting. “We understand if you have to go out and make a living.
“Social distancing is the best tool. The least you can do is put on a mask and keep your distance.”
Three members of the commissioners court — Judge Glen Whitley and Commissioners Devan Allen and Roy Brooks — attended the meeting in person. Commissioners Gary Fickes and J.D. Johnson appeared on video.
Tarrant County has recroded 9,386 positive cases, including 211 deaths.
For several weeks, it appeared as though the number of cases were flattening out.
Taneja told reporters after the meeting that the rise in cases came after businesses began to reopen and people started going to stores and restaurants. He also cited Mother’s Day and Memorial Day gathering, the protests, and graduation ceremonies and parties.
In recent weeks, the number of cases grew, as did the number of hospital beds being used for coronavirus patients.
The number of hospitalized COVID patients in Tarrant County has increased from 180 to 318 since late May.
Robert Earley, president and CEO of the JPS Health Network, told commissioners that JPS saw its lowest number of patients in months — about 35 — about three weeks ago. The number hit 81, and was at 59 on Tuesday.
“It is challenging,” Earley said.
There are 1,837 hospital beds and 422 ventilators available in Tarrant County.
Masks
Everyone attending Tuesday’s meeting wore masks, although some temporarily removed them at times, such as when they spoke.
On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recommended that all Texans wear masks when out in public. He declined to require them, but said local officials can put mask requirements in place if they want.
But in Tarrant County, elected officials have said they don’t plan on doing that for now.
“Everywhere I talk with folks, I encourage them to wear a mask,” Whitley said after the meeting. “I don’t know if it’s the Texan in us or what, we just don’t like to be told what to do. I think we like to be convinced that it’s in the best interest of the public.”
Whitley said people certainly have a right not to wear a mask.
“That doesn’t make it right,” he added.
So he and others on Tuesday urged residents to do their part to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
“Just wear the mask. Create social distancing,” Earley said. “Don’t let your guard down.
“We can’t will COVID-19 away.”
Risk factors
Taneja presented a risk factor graphic, showing that the highest risk of spreading coronavirus happens at bars and large music concerts, followed by buffets, sports stadiums, gyms, amusement parks and churches.
The lowest risk of spreading the novel virus comes from activities such as playing tennis and getting takeout food from a restaurant.
Commissioner Allen noted that those between 18 and 39 have been pinpointed as key people spreading the virus.
“It’s frustrating that, even though we are impacted less from the severity (of coronavirus), ... our actions, our activities are spreading the virus,” she said, adding that she falls in that age group.
She challenged all residents Tuesday, particularly those in her age group, to wear a mask.
It’s “not just to protect ourselves, but to protect others, to protect the most vulnerable,” Allen said, adding that she is “totally exasperated at how politics has played into this as we are trying to protect human life.”
Stay home
Those who are over 65 are most at risk.
But a number of those who aren’t surviving the disease have underlying health conditions ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes.
“There are ways to continue to work and be productive and stay isolated,” Taneja said. “If you’re over 65, you’re at high risk. If you have underlying health conditions, you’re at high risk.”
Commissioner Brooks said he may soon take the advice to stay at home.
“I feel like I’ve been playing Russian roulette with my health, being over 65 and having underlying health conditions, to come down here to sit with my four best friends and make public policy,” he said. “I may well be joining my colleagues at home soon.
“The thing about Russian roulette is that the law of averages will ultimately catch up with you.”
