Coppell: COVID-19 Update- Statement From Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins

Press release from City of Coppell:

"As we approach the New Year's holiday, I ask all Dallas County residents to please reconsider their plans if they involve spending time with individuals outside their household. While this is traditionally a joyous time when we gather with our friends and families to celebrate and usher in the New Year, we are in a very dangerous situation with COVID-19 in our county and region.

This past week has brought record high hospitalizations across Dallas County and the region. We have limited ICU bed availability for a county of 2.7 million residents, and these beds are not solely for COVID patients, but other acute illness, traumas, and acute surgery recovery. UT Southwestern projects a 20 percent increase in hospitalizations by January 5 and our hospital and public health officials are extremely concerned about additional increases following the holidays. Hospitals are our last line of defense and they are being stretched. Our healthcare heroes need your help.

Please take personal responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following public health guidance and avoiding indoor New Year's Eve celebrations such as at bars, clubs or restaurants. These are particularly high-risk settings. The safest way to celebrate is at home with your household. You may not feel your personal risk from COVID-19 is high, but given the high possibility of exposure in a bar or party setting, including house parties with people you don't live with, you pose a risk to those around you if you can't properly quarantine following potential exposure. Your actions could have potentially fatal implications if you contribute to the spread of COVID.

Below is additional information on the risk of COVID-19 in a restaurant or bar setting from the Public Health Committee and you can find the full list of recommendations from local public health experts at https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ by downloading Dallas County COVID-19 Health Guidance for the Public."

This press release was produced by City of Coppell. The views expressed here are the author’s own.