>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO OUR VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TODAY.
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I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYERS AND IN MANY CASES PROBABLY EACH OTHER AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE COVID 19 CRISIS AND THE CHALLENGE WE ALL FACE.WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER LAST, NEARLY A THOUSAND OF YOU JOINED US FOR THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL IN MAY.
I APPRECIATE SO MAN TURNED OUT TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR INTEREST BUT YOUR FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT AND QUESTIONS AND JUST INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE LAST CONVERSATION THAT YOU YOU LACKED THE FORMAT AS WE TURN TO CAMPUS AND THE PROGRESS TOWARD BECOMING ONE COLLEGE.
BOTH EVENTS ARE COMING IN INCREASINGLY CLOSE.
IF YOU CAN'T TELL TODAY, I'M BACK BACK IN MY OFFICE AS ARE ARE SOME OF US AS WE AS WE WE SEE THE THING MY CAMERA IS OFF HERE.
AS WE SOMETIMES THERE'S CHALLENGES, BUT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND SOMETIMES WITH THE USER.
THIS CASE IT WAS THE LATTER WITH THAT.
I APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF YOU, YOU PROBABLY RATHER HEAR MY VOICE THAN MY FACE ANYWAY.
WE WE ARE WITH ARE AS WE MOVE NOW, YOU COULD SEE THAT I'M BACK IN MY OFFICE AS ARE MANY OF US TODAY.
AS WE START LOOKING AT HOW WE CONTINUED ON OUR JOURNEY CONTINUING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
WE HAVE AS IN THE PAST A NUMBER OF FOLKS JOINING US TODAY, OUR EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR IS GOING TO HELP GUIDE THE CONVERSATION.
DR. IRIS FREEMAN, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS LEADING THE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.
SHERRY ENRIGHT, OUR CHIEF OFFICER.
WE HAVE SOME OF OUR WORK AROUND AND RETURN TO CAMPUS PLANNING.
WE'LL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INSIDE DURING TODAY'S MEETING.
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE TWO DISTINGUISHED GUESTS JOINING US TODAY.
I AM SURE WHO YOU TUNED IN TO HEAR.
DR. WONG, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER HE SERVED AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WORKED FOR THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL AS WELL.
HE'S ALSO A PROUD ALUM OF LIKE HYLANDS HIGHLIGHT.
AND ALSO JOINING US IS DR. SIRESE WHO HAS SERVED AT PARKLAND SINCE 2014 AND SHE SERVED FOR YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STATE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AND SERVED AS THE SECRETARY FOR THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS.
I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WITH THAT WE GOT A PACKED MEETING, JUSTIN.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TUNING IN.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.
JUSTIN, I'LL HAND IT OFF TO YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU DR. MAY, FIRST DR. MAY WE WATCHED AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW
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IF THE PRODUCTION TEAM IS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, BUT JOIN US WHEN YOU CAN.I ALSO KNOW DR. WONG WILL JOIN US HERE IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT WITH THAT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING TIME TO TUNE IN AGAIN.
>> GREAT, I'M NOT SURE, OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY WOULD PREFER NOT TO SEE ME, SO.
>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN THE HALL, I HAVE MASKS HANDY AND READY.
WITH THAT, WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY JOINING.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
AND I'LL START WITH YOU DR. MAY, IT IS JUNE AS YOU SAID, WE WE'RE NOW ENTERING OUR THIRD MONTH OF COVID 19 AND WE WE HAVE LARGELY BEEN REMOTE AND WORKING IN THAT MODE AS WE NOW ARE FOCUSED ON OUR RETURN TO CAMPUS.
DR. MAY IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THAT, WE KNOW THERE'S ALSO TREMENDOUS UNREST AND UNEASE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON LARGER ISSUES, COMPOUNDED PERHAPS BY COVID 19.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT?
AND CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE REALLY THINKING TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS, RETURNING TO WORK AND LOOKING AT TO SOME DEGREE SOME NORMALCY.
WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE ALSO DEALING BOTH IN REAL TERMS AS WELL AS AS AS PSYCHOLOGICALLY WITH THE MORE RISK EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE ACROSS OUR NATION.
I I REFERENCED THIS LAST NIGHT AND APPRECIATE CHAIR FLORES TAKING A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REMEMBER THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.
I MENTIONED BRIANA TAYLOR AND AHMAD AND GEORGE FLOYD AND BUT REALLY ALL THAT CAME BEFORE THEM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THEIR MEMORIES AND THE THE THE OTHER LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST FOR FOR IN IN DURING AND JUST A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND WHAT OUR COUNTRY HAS STOOD FOR.
LET'S TAKE MOMENT OF SILENCE, IF YOU WOULD.
YOU KNOW, IT IS IT IS HARD TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED.
ON ONE HAND, WE HAVE HAD THE ACTION OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT JUST EXACERBATED THE FEELINGS OF ANGER, FRUSTRATION, HOPELESSNESS THAT HAVE BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITIES TO A BOILING POINT.
YET, I'M HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE FINE OFFICERS THAT INCLUDING THE ONES WE HAVE IN THE DALLAS DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE ALSO APPALLED AND FRUSTRATED AND ANGERED BY WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
AND WHO WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
THE THE YET, THE ACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE AND PARTICULARLY AS WE THINK TODAY ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD ARE INEXCUSABLE.
SO MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR, THESE TRAGEDIES ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR AND REALLY REMINDING US OF THE SYSTEMATIC RACIAL INJUSTICE THAT EXISTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, THE THE FOR OTHERS, IT CERTAINLY WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THIS IN MANY CASES EVERY DAY.
IT IS THESE TRAGEDIES SERVE AS A JARRING REALIZATION AS A NATION THAT WE SIMPLY FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THE CONSTITUTION IN OUR PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION.
I TALK ABOUT SERVING ALL WITH RESPECT AND EQUALITY AND COMPASSION.
THESE WORDS HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEANING AND AND REALLY ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION THAT THAT IT PRECEDES ME WHICH IS FOCUSED ON TRANSFORMING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.
IT IS EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WE HAVE A UNIQUE LENS IN WHICH WE VIEW THE CHALLENGES.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE REALLY NOT ONLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE LASTING CHANGES BUT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FACILITATE THESE CHANGES AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY DESERVE.
WE TAKE OUR ROLE IN SERVING COMMUNITIES SERIOUSLY.
WE CONSIDER THE RACIAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR COLLEGE TO BE ONE OF OUR
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GREATEST STRENGTHS.AS THE HOPE AND STRENGTH WE SEER IN OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES EVERY DAY IS WHY WE MUST MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEEPER LOVE AND AS I SAID LAST NIGHT A DEEPER RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.
ALSO, WE HAVE TO HAVE INCREASED EQUITY IN ACTION, NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT DOING IT.
LEARNING AND GROWING FROM THIS TRULY DEVASTATING SITUATION SO WE CAN EMERGE STRONGER AND HELP MAKE TOMORROW A BETTER DALLAS NOT ONLY FOR TODAY'S CITIZENS BUT FUTURE CITIZENS AS WELL.
OUR QUESTION IS HOW DO WE HARNESS THE ENERGY TO CREATE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE.
HONESTLY, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR ALL OF IT.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF US EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE OUR VOICES AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, WHETHER IT MEANS ASKING OURSELVES ABOUT OUR OWN BELIEFS AND BIASES.
AFTER MY COMMENTS AT THE BOARD MEETING SENT ME NOTES OF APPRECIATION BUT ALSO HOW THEY WERE FEELING AND DEALING WITH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
IT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND THE CLARITY, THE LENS FROM WHICH YOU EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT ARE DEALING WITH THESE CHALLENGES.
TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THAT YOU MAY BE HAVING.
AND NOT ONLY WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY BUT BUT PARTICULARLY WITH CO WORKERS, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE CLERGY COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CAPACITY TO LEARN DURING THIS TIME AND BECOME BETTER VERSIONS OF OURSELVES BUT ALSO A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
YOU KNOW, AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL IN THE DISTRICT, WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AS AS HOW TO ADDRESS THESE BEST AND THE IMPLICATIONS THEY MEAN FOR ALL OF US.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT SOME WINDOW THAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WILL WE INSURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN PERPETUITY SO THESE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.
HOW DO WE INSURE THAT OUR CURRICULUM IS UNBIASSED FOR ALL.
OUR CLASSES JUST JUST TEACHING A DIFFERENT VERSION OF HISTORY.
ARE WE REALLY TEACHING THE HISTORY THAT IS IS MORE ACCURATE REFLECTION OF OUR COUNTRY AND AND WHAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE EXPERIENCED? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR STUDENT SERVICES ARE FAIR AND EQUITABLE.
IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE QUESTIONS.
I REALIZE THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF OUR ONGOING RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
I KNOW WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER AND THAT TOGETHER WE CAN OVERCOME OUR CHALLENGES AND CREATE A SAFER MORE JUST, EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL OF US.
YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR RESPONSES, I CHALLENGE YOU AGAIN.
SHARE YOUR IDEA ON HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR DISTRICT BETTER.
LET OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP KNOW.
I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND GET YOUR THOUGHTS.
JUSTIN, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE ON THESE ISSUES AND COMMITTING THAT THESE WILL BE CONTINUED CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL HAVE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
AND YOU KNOW PART OF THE REASON WE DO THESE TOWN HALL FORUMS IS SO WE CAN ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER AND HAVE DIALOGUE AND CLEARLY MUCH HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON COVID 19 GIVEN THE SITUATION THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
SO AS DR. MAY SAID, KEEP ENGAGING AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES WHICH LEADS ME TO YOU, SHERRY, AT THE END OF EACH TOWN HALL MEETING, WE ASKED PARTICIPANTS FOR PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY, TO COME SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, SO CAN YOU SHARE INSIGHTS FROM OUR LAST TOWN HALL.
THIS LAST SURVEY ACTUALLY DID FOCUS ON EMPLOYEES ENGAGEMENT AND HOW CONNECTED OUR EMPLOYEES FELT TO THE DISTRICT DURING THE ISOLATION OF THIS.
WE HAD OVER A 61 PERCENT RESPONSE RATE AND SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK.
WE DETERMINE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
OVER 94 PERCENT OF YOU FELT CONNECTED TO YOUR WORK AND YOUR WORK GROUP WHICH IS HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE GIVEN THAT WE ARE ALL IN A WORK GROUP SITTING IN OUR OWN LIVING ROOMS IF THE MOST PART, ALTHOUGH WE WILL BEGIN TO OUR OWN LOCATION.
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90 PERCENT FELT CONNECTED TO YOUR MANAGER WHICH IS WONDERFUL WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS IN THE TIME OF THIS PANDEMIC AND NOW DR. MAY REFERENCE WHAT IS IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.SOME OF YOU SAY YOUR WORK LIFE HAS STABILIZED IN THE NEW NORMAL.
ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF OUR WORKFORCE HAS STATED THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT EFFECTED THEIR ENGAGEMENT AT WORK IN THEIR ROLES.
THESE RESULTS REALLY DO DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT OUR EMPLOYEES COMMITMENT TO THE COMMISSION.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND AS DR. MAY AND DR. LONNEN HAS SAID, THERE WILL BE A SURVEY AFTER THE TOWN HALL.
SOME OF YOU HAD TROUBLE ASSESSING THAT.
THE QUESTIONS FOR THIS SURVEY WILL FOCUS ON RETURNING TO OUR LOCATIONS AND BACK TO OUR CAMPUSES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO GIVE US THAT FEEDBACK AND PROVIDE US THAT VALUABLE INFORMATION.
THANKS IF LETTING ME REPORT ON THAT.
DR. MAY YOU REFERENCED THE PLAN AS HERY DID AS WELL AND SO WE BRIEFED THE BOARD ON THAT AT THE BOARD MEETING AND SHERRY AND ROB AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THAT TEAM.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT, THE GENESIS OF THE PLAN AND HOW IT WAS CRAFTED?
TRULY THE THE THE PLAN WAS STARTED.
WHILE WE CERTAINLY BEEN OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE CRISIS, WHEN WE MOVE VERY QUICKLY REMOTELY WITHOUT QUITE HONESTLY THE THE ABILITY IT PLAN MUCH.
WE JUST KIND OF READY, FIRE, AIM AT AT TO GET THIS DONE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE COME BACK IT REALLY THINK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE WE KNEW THE DAY WOULD BE WOULD BE WOULD COME.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE SOONER OR LATER, BUT WHEN WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO THE INTO OUR FACILITIES TO BETTER MEET THE NEED OF OUR STUDENTS.
CERTAINLY IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH SOME STUDENTS THAN OTHERS AND PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CLASSES THAT REQUIRES HANDS ON ENGAGEMENT AND MANY HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS AND MANY TECHNICAL PROMISE.
SO WE DID PUT TOGETHER INTERNAL COMMITTEE MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO CREATE THIS PLAN.
THEY SPENT LITERALLY, HAD BEEN A THOUSAND HOURS OR MORE COLLECTIVELY WORKING ON THIS, THINKING THROUGH THE THROUGH THE DETAILS AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE GROUP AT THE THIS THE THAT THEY PUT INTO IT.
I WILL SAY THIS, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AS WE GET BACK AND MAKE THAT TRANSITION, WE'RE GOING TO BE HIT BY THINGS WE HADN'T THOUGHT OF AND THEREFORE THE THE TEAM SHERRY IS ALWAYS CAREFUL TO SAY THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AS WE DESIGNED IT.
SO WE HAVE GIVEN IT A LOT OF THOUGHT.
THE NUMBER ONE GOAL, OBVIOUSLY, IS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEED OF STUDENTS WITH KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ERRING ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE THROUGHOUT THE RETURN PROCESS.
REALLY THAT'S THAT'S AS MUCH AS ANYTHING THAT WE BEGIN WITH THE SYSTEMS, TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WHAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND EVEN AS WE BEGIN TO BRING A FEW MORE BACK NEXT WEEK, LEADERSHIP AND OTHERS, WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AGILE, FLUID.
WE WON'T HESITATE TO TO PULL BACK IF WE RUN INTO SNAGS IN THE PROCESS OR THINGS THAT WE HADN'T ANTICIPATED.
AND ANOTHER REQUEST FROM YOU IS TO TO PROVIDE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO US THROUGH THE QUESTIONS, THROUGH THAT THROUGH THAT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU THAT SHARED YOUR CONCERNS, THAT HELPS US FRAME WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY THINKING OF YOUR SAFETY BUT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE THAT THAT THAT YOU CAN TRUST US TO TO TO TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD.
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>> THANK YOU DR. MAY, YOU REFERENCED SOME CONCERNS THIS CAME FROM EMPLOYEES, ONCE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT OUR RETURN TO WORK PLAN, LET ME TURN TO YOU ROB, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS AND THEY GET INTO ISSUES DEEPER, WE HAD QUESTIONS FROM EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND TESTING AND SANITIZING AND LOGISTICS.
COULD YOU OFFER SOME INSIGHT FOR US?
AND DR. MAY AND SHERRY INDICATED THAT WE HAD A RETURN TO CAMPUS TEAM THAT WAS WORKING ON THESE ISSUES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
IT REALLY WAS A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE A PART OF THAT TEAM.
I THINK THERE WAS ABOUT 28 OF US THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THIS ACTIVITY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
WE DR. MAY INDICATED WE'RE TAKING A VERY DELIBERATE PHASED APPROACH TO RETURNING TO PEOPLE TO OUR CAMPUS.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS INSTITUTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
WE TAKE THAT OBLIGATION VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE ALSO, WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED.
WE TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY AS A TEAM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY HOURS, THE REFERENCED HOURS.
I AGREE WITH HIS ESTIMATION, THERE WAS AT LEAST A THOUSAND HOURS OF TIME INVESTED IN THIS.
WE HAD DEEP DISCUSSIONS BOTH AT A LARGE TEAM LEVEL ABOUT THE VERY ISSUES WE NEED IT ADDRESS.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST, WE DISCUSSED AND THOUGHT ABOUT MAN THINGS.
THERE MAY BE MORE THINGS THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES AS WE RETURN IN A PHASED AND MEASURED PROVE.
WE WERE GUIDED BY GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT.
THOSE WERE TRUST AND WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS WE RETURN TO OUR CAMPUS AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
WE WANT TO USE ALL REASONABLE MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AS THEY RETURN.
WE RELIED ON BEST PRACTICES FROM FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS OTHER SOURCES TO TO TO TO MELD INTO OUR PLANNING THOSE BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE BEST DESIGNED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE SAFETY AND HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE EMPLOYEES.
WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO BE AGILE.
THIS IS A CONSTANTLY CHANGING SITUATION.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY, OUR GUESTS CAN TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL REALITIES THAN THE LAWYER CAN.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND.
WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE WORK ON THIS AND WE THANK EVERYBODY TO RETURN FOR BRINGING THEIR ISSUES TO US.
WE'RE TAKING A PHASED APPROACH BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A MATTER OF NUMBERS.
WE WANT TO TEST OUR PROTOCOLS WITH SMALLER NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES AS THEY RETURN TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND SERVING THE NEED OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF IT AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DELIBERATE APPROACH AS WE RETURN TO OUR LOCATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO OUR HEALTH EXPERTS IN A MINUTE BUT BEFORE, SHERRY, LET ME GO BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS OF EMPLOYEES THAT MAY HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICT'S PLAN IS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND MORE OF OUR WORKFORCE IS IDENTIFIED TO RETURN THERE WILL BE A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF INABILITY TO WORK THAT WILL COME DIRECTLY TO HR.
IT IS NOT A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE SHARED.
IT IS FOR US TO ASSIST EMPLOYEES IN DETERMINING WHO CAN REMAIN HOME AND WHO SHOULD IN FACT REMAIN HOME.
AND AGAIN THAT AGILITY THAT ROB MENTIONED, THE FLEXIBILITY, WE WANT TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE AS WE WORK WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES RETURNING BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AND THE SAFETY.
THERE WILL BE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT AND WE WILL BE AS FLEXIBLE AS REASONABLE.
WELL NOW, I WANT TO TURN TO WHAT MOST FOLKS TUNED IN TODAY.
WE'LL HEAR FROM REAL DOCTORS, FOR THE US PRETEND DOCTORS.
WITH THE RETURN TO WORK PLAN, I KNOW RUNNING A SYSTEM LIKE PARKLAND, YOU HAD TO HAVE SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS AND YOU KNOW, HAVE HEARD SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT MAY BE COMING UP FROM OUR EMPLOYEES AND SO COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT
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OF HOW YOU GUYS HAVE APPROACHED THAT FROM THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME UP AND HOW YOU ADDRESSED THEM? YOU'RE ON MUTE.YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE REAL DOCTORS BUT BUT NOW A COUPLE OF [INDISCERNIBLE].
WE CAN ARGUE THAT WE WE WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS NOW FOR A FEW MONTHS.
IN OUR SETTING WE HAD TO COME TO WORK.
SO WE'VE YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY GOOD NEWS OUT THERE, IT IS WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN OUTBREAKS AMONG OUR STAFF AT THE HOSPITAL, THAT INCLUDES THE CLINICAL PEOPLE PLUS THE NECESSARY SUPPORT.
WE GOT PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME AS WELL.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT AND TO ADDRESS IT.
THE THINGS THAT WE FOCUSED ON AND OUR REFERENCE, THERE'S A GREAT ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORKER BY ATUL.
HE'S ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED MINDS IN HEALTHCARE TODAY AND HE WRITES VERY PLAINLY AND CLEARLY.
I WOULD GIVE YOU THAT REFERENCE TO LOOK AT.
THEY TALKS ABOUT THE FOUR PILLARS OF REENTRY AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS GOING BACK IN AND THE THANKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HYGIENE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW THIS IS SPREAD AND I HEARD OTHER REFERENCE, WE HAVE TO ASSESS AND REASSESS AND MODIFY AS WE GO.
THAT'S CERTAINLY THE TRUTH HERE AS WELL.
AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOMETHING WE SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A NEW RULE BECAUSE WE LEARNED MORE.
WE'RE LEARNING AS THIS THINGS GOES.
WASHING HANDS, WASHING HANDS FIVE TIMES A DAY WILL REDUCE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.
DISTANCING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SPREAD THROUGH RESPIRATORY DROPLETS.
THE SIX FOOT THING IS A REAL THING.
THAT'S BASED ON HOW DROPLETS PROJECT WHEN PEOPLE TALK.
SO DISTANCING, SCREENING PEOPLE, UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE ARE INFECTIOUS BEFORE THEY SHOW SYMPTOMS. AT LEAST, HAVE YOU HAD A COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, LOSS OF TASTE AND SMELL.
WE DON'T THINK OF THOSE AS MUCH.
TEMPERATURE, YOU COULD YOU COULD DO IT OR NOT DO IT.
IT IS NOT A REAL SENSITIVE INDICATOR EARLY ON BUT A LOT OF PLACES WILL DO THAT.
SCREENING IS AN IMPORTANT THING IN PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING SYMPTOMS, CERTAINLY DAY STAYING AWAY AND WEARING MASKS.
WHEN I GO IN THE HALL I WEAR A MASK.
IT IS PROTECTING OTHERS FROM THE DROPLETS I'M GOING TO PROJECT WHEN I'M TALKING AND INTERACTING.
SO THOSE FOUR PILLARS ARE IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
AS I SAID AS WE PAY ATTENTION IN OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE NOT SEEING OUTBREAKS.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
YOU'VE BEEN A LEADING VOICE AND BEEN ON OUR TV SCREENS.
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNTY BRIEFINGS.
WE CAN'T SEE YOU ON THE VIDEO.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS TURNED OFF OR NOT, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THESE BRIEFINGS WITH THE COUNTY.
I WANT TO TURN TO THAT FOR A MINUTE IF I COULD.
CAN YOU GIVE US A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF OF THE LATEST NUMBERS AND NEWS REGARDING COVID 19 IN DALLAS COUNTY?
AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. SIRESE IN PARKLAND AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER CLOSELY TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE REPORT DAILY THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES THAT WE GET REPORTED TO US AND IT IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THOSE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED FROM ALL THE POSITIONS AND LABS AND THINGS.
WE REPORT THEM AS WE GET THEM.
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SOMETIMES THERE'S A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE TESTS WERE COLLECTED AND THEY GET REPORTED DEPENDING ON THE PROCESSING FOR THAT.YESTERDAY WE REPORTED 257 NEW CASES THAT WERE REPORTED THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL CASE DOWN TO 10,719 AND WE REPORTED 16 NEW DEATHS YESTERDAY BRINGING OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS IN DALLAS COUNTY TO 245.
THAT HAS THAT SAME CAVEAT WE REPORT THE DEATHS WHEN THEY COME TO US, SOMETIMES THERE'S A DELAY WHETHER IT GOES THROUGH THE EXAMINER'S OFFICE.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST SINGLE DAY REPORT THAT WE HAD.
WE LOOK AT THIS DATA AND MONITORING IT IF WEEKS AND MONTHS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE MODELERS ACROSS THE COUNTY SOME DIFFERENT ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS, THE HOSPITALS, PARKLAND, CERTAINLY.
THE PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN WE WOULD BE PEAKING AROUND THE END OF APRIL BEGINNING OF MAY.
WE'VE BEEN SEEING SOME OF THAT, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IS IT PLATEAUED.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT GOING UP CONSIDERABLY.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT GOING DOWN PROGRESSIVELY FOR 14 DAYS.
DR. SIRESE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC HE WILL COMMUNITY THAT JENKINS HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER.
I HOPE EVERYONE SEEN THAT COLOR CODED RISK ASSESSMENT AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO REALLY MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON ON WHERE WE ARE, WHERE THE EXPERTS SEE THAT WE ARE.
YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY ON THAT BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD.
AS DR. SIRESE MENTIONED, THUS FAR IT HAS PLATEAUED.
WE'RE TRYING TO SEE, IT TAKES A DELAY TO SEE SOME OF THE IMPACT ON THE INDICATORS AND NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL.
NEW ICU ADMISSIONS, THOSE THINGS.
WE'RE MONITORING THAT AND NOW TRYING TO ASSESS AS THINGS OPEN UP WHEN WE MAYBE CAN MOVE TO ORANGE.
WE WANTED TO SEE 14 DAYS OF DECLINE BUT WE'RE PUTTING THAT IN CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING.
WE'RE EVALUATING AND GIVEN THE RECENT ACTIVITIES AT PROTESTS AND THE CROWD AND WHAT EFFECTS THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT THIS AND TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDATION.
APPRECIATE YOUR REFERENCING THE LAG TIME AND THE COLOR CODING SYSTEM.
WE HAD QUESTIONS AROUND THOSE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT ON THAT.
SO DR. MAY, LET ME TURN BACK TO YOU.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THERE MAY BE INCREASED CASES AND THAT WE MAY POTENTIAL MY POTENTIALLY WE MAY HAVE MORE CASES AS FOLKS RETURN TO CAMPUS.
COULD YOU TELL US HOW TO HANDLE THOSE WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY?
I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT DR. SIRESE SAID A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
THAT'S FOLLOWING THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS, NOT ONLY THAT WE LAID OUT BUT THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE COUNTY AND COMING OUT OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND OTHERS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THE WASHING OF HANDS AND WEARING OF FACE MASKS AND WITH RESPECT TO THAT EVEN I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE ISOLATED IN OUR OFFICES RIGHT NOW, OTHERWISE I WOULD I WOULD HAVE MY MASK ON AS WE DO WHEN WE'RE WHEN WE'RE GOING IN IN THE BUILDING HERE.
BUT SHOULD A CASE OCCUR, WE HAVE A A DISTRICT OF SELF REPORTING TOOL THAT IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE ASK THAT WHETHER AN EMPLOYEE OR STUDENT FILL OUT THAT FORM.
IT GOES INTO OUR CAMPUSES, THE NURSES SPECIFICALLY ARE EVALUATING THESE AND IF IT IS DETERMINED TO BE CREDIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AS THE INDIVIDUAL.
WE'RE IN THE GOING TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE, WE CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO HELP
[00:35:03]
GET YOU TO A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD GET ASSISTANCE IF THAT IS NECESSARY.WE WILL ALERT OUR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AROUND THE CRITICAL FACTS WHILE RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL'S PRIVACY.
WE DO WANT TO NOTIFY ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT.
WE'LL ALSO REPORT THE INCIDENT THROUGH THROUGH THROUGH WEB BETTER THAT WILL INDICATE ANYTHING THAT IS GOING ON SO YOU'LL BE AWARE OF IT THAT IT IS OUT THERE.
OUR GOAL IS NOT TO OVERREACT BUT CERTAINLY WE WANT TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY.
AS WE SAID OUR GOAL IS TO BE A TRUSTED SOURCE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE COULD ONLY DO THAT BY RELYING ON YOU, IN THIS CASE AS EMPLOYEES TO HELP US KNOW IF IN FACT THAT YOU MAY BE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS. WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO CHECK THEIR OWN TEMPERATURE.
STAY AT HOME IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL.
THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.
I KNOW FOLKS ARE EAGER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS BUT BUT THE BEST WAY WE CAN DO THAT IN MANY CASES IS FOR YOU TO WORK FROM HOME IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL AND TO TO AND WHILE WE EVALUATE WHERE YOU ARE.
ONE THAT ONE IN EACH CIRCUMSTANCE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND ANSWER ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
YOU REFERENCED A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT YOU KNOW, THE THE LOCAL FIELD HAS KIND OF BEEN LEARNING AS WE GO AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT COVID 19.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AROUND THAT.
FOLKS ARE CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU COULD SHARE AND DR. WONG YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL.
YOU'RE ON MUTE AGAIN DR. SIRESE.
SO IN TERMS OF HAD YOU THE VIRUS IS SPREAD, WE YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS HAS CLEARLY SHIFTED TOWARDS A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE RESPIRATORY DROPLETS.
WE STILL KNOW IT COULD BE COMMUNICATED BY TOUCH, PARTICULARLY, IT COULD LIVE ON HARD SURFACES.
WE STILL ARE EMPHASIZING WIPING DOWN OF OF PARTICULARLY SHARED SPACE, KIND OF HIGH TOUCH AREAS AND DOORKNOBS AND KEY BOARDS AND PARTICULARLY SHARED SPACES, HAND HYGIENE AND NOT TOUCHING YOUR FACE, WHICH IS A HARD THING TO DO.
THAT TURNS OUT TO BE TO BE A A SMALL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SPREAD.
SO AGAIN, THE MASKING, THAT'S WHY THE MASKING IS SO IMPORTANT AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
IN TERMS OF TREATMENT YOU KNOW WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS HERE AT PARKLAND.
WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE TREATED WITH THE ANTI VIRAL DRUG.
THAT DRUG WAS JUST PUBLISHED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL A WEEK OR SO AGO THAT RESULTS IN THE EFFECTS OF ONE OF THE FIRST TRIALS HERE SHOWED IT DOES HAVE BENEFIT ON REDUCING TIME OF HOSPITALIZATION.
THERE WAS A TREND TO IMPROVE MORTALITY.
IT WASN'T STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
FOR MODERATELY SEVERE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL THAT REDUCED THE STAY BY A FEW DAYS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING TO SAY WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS, BUT IT LOOKS BENEFICIAL.
WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN A FEW OTHER TRIALS BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S A CURE FOR THIS BY ANY MEANS.
WE'RE WAITING IF YOU KNOW, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN VACCINE TRIALS BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
LET ME ALSO ASK DR. SIRESE WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I KNOW DR. WONG HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS QUESTION TOO.
WE HAVE PEOPLE SAYING THAT AS THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED AND PEOPLE FEEL SOME DEGREE OF NORMAL RETURNING, THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED ARE, HAVE WE LEARNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE VIRUS TO RESUME EVERY DAY ACTIVITIES.
>> THE COURSE THAT WE'VE SEEN IS YOU READ, YOU SEE THE NICE CURVES.
[00:40:01]
YOU KNOW, THE PEAK TIME AND AS PHIL SAID, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE OUR PEAK TO BE EARLIER IN MAY AND THE DISSENT.WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN DALLAS.
WE'VE SEEN A STEADY PLATEAU MAY BE TRENDING UP A BIT.
YOU UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANTING TO GO BACK TO THEIR ROUTINE.
SOME IS DICTATED BY THE GOVERNOR WHO LOOSENED THE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T SEEN A BIG UPTICK BECAUSE OF THAT.
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION, HAND HYGIENE, DON'T GO OUT WITH SYMPTOMS AND KEEPING A DISTANCE AND WEARING MASKS.
WE PREDICTED, FOR SUCCESS IT WASN'T SO BAD AFTER ALL.
IT WAS REALLY BECAUSE OF SO MANY PEOPLE IMPLEMENTING THOSE AND THE ORDERS AND ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW SHELTERING IN PLACE.
IT TRULY FLATTENED THE CURVE AND MADE THIS IMPACT.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT ARE THAT ARE STILL TELEWORKING AND DOING AND DOING PHYSICAL DISTANCING THAT ARE WEARING THE MASKS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE 100 PERCENT.
WE HAVE TO KNOW AS MUCH COMPLIANCE WITH THAT AS WE CAN.
THAT ALL SLOWS DOWN THE SPREAD.
SO BUT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VIGILANT.
IN TERMS OF GOING BACK TO NORMAL THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW NORMAL.
UNTIL THERE'S A VACCINE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW NORMAL.
IS THE NEW NORMAL THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE WEARING MASKS ALL THE TIME, IT CERTAINLY COULD BE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT'S SOMETHING OUT THIS.
EVERYONE PRACTICING THESE MEASURES WILL BE IMPORTANT UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A VACCINE OR OUT THERE.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ABOUT MASKS.
AND THE FABRIC OR MATERIAL THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND IF THERE'S LONG TERM EFFECTS FROM WEARING A MASK.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO USE THE HOSPITAL GRADE MASK BUT WHAT CHANGED THINGS IS THAT INCREASED RECOGNITION OF HOW ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD, PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS COULD BE TRANSMITTING THIS.
SO IF EVERYONE IT IS NOT NECESSARILY PROTECTS THE WEARER BUT PREVENT SOMEONE IF THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC AND THEY WILL SPREAD IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE'S SOME RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE FILTRATION EFFECT AND THE DIFFERENT MASKS AND THE PARTICLE SIZES.
AGAIN, I COULD THERE'S MORE TECHNICAL DATA ON THE PARTICLE SIZES AND SEEING.
I THINK SOME OF IT, THESE STUDIES BEING GENERALLY AVAILABLE AND HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS THAT CAN HAVE AN 89 46 FILTRATION RATE.
IF YOU CAN GET, THERE'S DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT THAT THAT CAN DECREASE THAT DROPLET SPREAD BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE USING CERTAINLY SOME OF THE TIGHTER WOVEN MATERIALS WOULD HAVE BETTER PROTECTION OF THAT DROPLET SPREAD.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT ANY OF THAT CAN REALLY HELP DECREASE FURTHER SPREAD PARTICULARLY FROM THE ASYMPTOMATIC PERSON SPREADING IT TO OTHERS.
>> PHIL, WHAT DO YOU SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT AND PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING, IF IT IS SURGICAL MASK, THAT'S FINE, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER BUT IF IT IS A CLOTH MASK, THAT'S THAT WILL DECREASE A LOT OF THE SPREAD AS WELL.
SO, THE IMPORTANT THING IS BEING CONSISTENT IN HAVING SOMETHING ON AND IF WE'RE ALL CONSISTENT AND IF WE HAVE A LARGE PENETRATION OF THAT BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMUNITY, WE REALLY WILL KEEP THIS THING DOWN.
THAT'S AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS IS HEY, WE'RE NOT SEEING THINGS OPENING
[00:45:05]
UP.WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP MORE SAFELY IF EVERYONE ADOPTS IT.
>> DR. MAY HEARING ALL OF THAT AND YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE RETURN TO CAMPUS PLAN, CAN YOU ENVISION A TIME WHERE WHERE EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS MIGHT ALL RETURN TO CAMPUS AND WHAT WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE?
IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND I DON'T KNOW THE TIMELINE AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO BE FIGURED OUT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST CAMERAS AGAIN HERE.
HOPEFULLY THAT YOU KNOW, I'M IT IS SOMETHING, I'M I'M ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH BOTH BY JOHN BARRY AND YOU MAY KNOW HIM, DR. SIRESE AND CALLED INFLUENZA AND ONE TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS THE SCIENCE WORK THAT IS GOING ON AND THE RESEARCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW, I'M CONVINCED WILL HELP US FIGURE OUT THE VACCINE AND TO DEAL WITH THIS GOING FORWARD.
PART OF THAT IS WAITING A BIT ON THE TESTING AND VACCINE.
AND THINGS FOR HOSPITALS LIKE PARKLAND AND OTHERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING, HOPEFULLY THE TRIALS WILL COME SOON.
ALONG THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS TO BE RESPECTFUL AND LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND CONCERNS AND ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE THAT THAT WE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, DON'T ASK ME THE TIMELINE, I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE WAITING ON A LOT OF PEOPLE SMARTER THAN ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW HOW HOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS COMPLETELY SAFELY BUT I'M CONVINCED IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> DOCTOR, LET ME TURN TO YOU.
WE KNOW COURSE DELIVERY WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THIS FALL LARGELY AND AS WE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE PRIMARILY WE WERE PRIMARILY GOING TO BE ONLINE IN THE FALL.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW COURSES THAT MEET IN PERSON CAN DO SO SAFELY AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE?
>> WE HAVE STUDENTS COMING BACK TO THE CAMPUS NEXT WEEK IN FACT TO FUNNISH UP INCOMPLETES FROM THE SPRING.
THE STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS TASK FORCE HAS BEEN THE RETURN TO CAMPUS TASK FORCE TO TAKEN PROTOCOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CDC GUIDELINES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR FACILITY STAFF TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT CAN BE PRESENT IN EACH CLASSROOM OR LAB SPACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CDC GUIDELINES AND PROGRAM FACULTY IN EACH AREA HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF DELIVERING THIS IN PERSON INSTRUCTION.
>> THE CTE FACULTY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF DELIVERING THIS IN PERSON INSTRUCTION.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE USED TO INSURE THAT STUDENTS STAY SIX FEET APART AND THEY CAN STILL SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WHEN THE FACULTY MEMBERS DOING DEMONSTRATIONS ON EQUIPMENT.
SO ALL OF THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO FINISH UP OUR SPRING INCOMPLETE WILL INFORM WHAT WE DO IN THE SUMMER AND FALL AS WELL.
WE'RE WORKING TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE OTHER THIS MAY BE OTHER COURSES BESIDES THOSE IN CTE PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRES IN PERSON INSTRUCTION TIME ON CAMPUS.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT NOW TOO.
DR. FREEMAN, LET ME TURN TO YOU.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM AND FOCUSING ON ON ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.
SO SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT IF YOU WILL, HEARING ALL OF THAT AS PEOPLE THINK ABOUT COMING BACK AND RETURNING, EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE WE GOING TO BE PROVIDING CERTAINLY TO STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AS WELL?
>> YOU KNOW, AS I THINK ABOUT IT AND I HEAR SOME OF THE E MAILS SEND TO THE CHANCELLORS AND HAVING CONSTANT COMMUNICATION HAS REALLY BEEN [INDISCERNIBLE] TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.
HAVING KNOWLEDGE TO EASE THEIR MIND, BECAUSE AS WE RETURN TO THE BUILDINGS, THE
[00:50:02]
REALITY IS, OUR WORK ROUTINE AND SCHOOL ROUTINE HAS AND WILL CHANGE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION WHICH IS UNEASING TO PEOPLE.THEY'RE FEARFUL, THEY HAVE ANXIETY.
SO WE TRY TO TURN RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A RESOURCE PAGE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES.
IT IS ON SHARE POINT AND IT PROVIDES DIRECT LINKS TO INFORMATION FOR OUR BENEFITS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES FITNESS PROGRAM AND THERE'S ALSO THERE'S SELF HELP MODULES FOR EMPLOYEES TO UTILIZE EDUCATION.
WE'LL ATTEND A MEETING WITH U.C.
SOUTHWESTERN AND HOW DO WE ROLL ALL THE VITAL SIGNS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
ALONG WITH THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SHARE ON OUR RESOURCE PAGE FOR EMPLOYEES THEY CAN GO AND CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS THAT WILL BE YOU'LL HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THEM.
THEY'RE THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
ON JUNE 10TH AND JUNE 18TH, THERE'S A WEBINAR CALLED FINDING VALUE IN YOUR ROLE.
IT IS TO HELP EMPLOYEES AS THEY RETURN TO WORK AND RETURN TO THEIR BUILDINGS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THOSE ARE THE RESOURCES WE'RE PROVIDING FOR EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORTING THEM.
WITH OUR STUDENTS WE HAVE SIMILAR SUPPORT FOR THEM.
OUR COUNSELORS AND CARE TEAMS ARE OFFERING TELEHEALTH MODALITY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS SO THEY COULD HAVE THE ONE ON ONE INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT ALONG WITH GROUP SESSIONS AVAILABLE FOR THEM AS WELL.
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I WANT TO GET A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS STUDENTS HAVING FORMS, MENTAL HEALTH FORMS AVAILABLE TO THEM AND OUR CARE TEAM AND COUNSELORS ARE WORKING IN A DIFFERENT WAY WITH OUR STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPECIALIZING IN OUR IN MEETING OUR STUDENTS' NEED CULTURALLY AND BEING SENSITIVE TO THOSE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.
WITH THE TIME WE'RE IN AND SLOW BURNING STRESS AND THE CRISIS WE SEEM IT EXPERIENCE ON DAILY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING RELATIVE SUPPORT AS WE LEAD TO MENTAL HE WILL SUPPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF HAVE TO GO INTO THE LIGHTNING ROUND HERE A BIT.
WE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS COME FROM EMPLOYEES.
DR. WONG, LET ME TURN TO YOU.
ONE QUESTION WAS ABOUT VENTILATION AND AC SYMPTOMS AND HOW LIKELY THE VIRUS WILL SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR INSIDE THE BUILDING VERSUS OUTSIDE WITH FRESH AIR.
>> IT DEFINITELY [INDISCERNIBLE] THAN INDOORS.
THERE'S BEEN STUDIES SHOWING HOW THE VENTILATION CAN EFFECT SPREAD.
I THINK THERE WAS A STUDY IN CHINA IN THE RESTAURANTS WHERE THE VENTILATION SYMPTOMS DID CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPREAD.
YOU KNOW, VENTILATION IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THAT, VOIDING THE CIRCULATION OF AIR.
SOME OF THE THINGS HAVING AIR CLEANING, UV LIGHTS AND DISINFECTION ARE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND FACILITY TYPE OF OF CLEAN UP AND THINGS THAT ARE ARE OUT THERE TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE YOU KNOW THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND THE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS IN SOME OF THESE INDOOR SETTINGS ARE PART OF THAT.
IT IS CERTAINLY ONE ASPECT OF TRANSMISSION, YOU KNOW, THAT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BUT BUT AS THERE ARE YOU KNOW RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THAT EFFECT.
BUT THAT'S REALLY OUTDOORS IS BETTER THAN INDOORS AND CIRCULATION AND VENTILATION IS A SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.
PEOPLE HEAR DIFFERENT MEDICAL TERMS AND ANTI BODIES AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF SOMEONE HAS ANTI BODIES AND FOLKS ASKED ABOUT POTENTIAL FALSE POSITIVES.
SO ANY INSIGHT YOU COULD SHARE ON THOSE TOPICS?
ANTI BODIES, WE DON'T WE CAN TEST FOR ANTI BODIES NOW.
THEY'RE GETTING WORKED OUT IN TERMS OF WHICH ONES ARE RELIABLE.
[00:55:02]
WE HAVE A TEST AT PARKLAND THAT HAS GOOD SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY.THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ANTI BODIES MEAN YET.
WE KNOW IT MEANS YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED BUT ARE THEY PROTECTIVE.
THERE'S SOME VIRUSES IF YOU HAD THEM AS A CHILD, YOU'RE PROTECTED THROUGH LIFE.
WE DON'T USE THAT ANTIBODY TO SAY YOU'RE SAFE.
WE HAVE TESTING BUT WE'RE NOT USING IT TO SCREEN OR LOOK AT THE POPULATION.
IN TERMS OF THE OTHER ONE WAS FALSE POSITIVES.
FALSE POSITIVES, YOU KNOW IT IS BASICALLY YOU KNOW A CHARACTER THE NUMBER OF FALSE POSITIVES IS A FACTOR OF TESTING SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY.
HOW GOOD IS THE TEST PLUS THE PREVALENCE OF DISEASE.
IF THE PREVALENCE IS LOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE FALSE POSITIVES, EVEN WITH A GOOD TEST.
THIS IS WHY WE DON'T SCREEN MASS POPULATIONS WHERE THE PREVALENCE IS LOW.
FOR EXAMPLE IF THE PREVALENCE IS 5 PERCENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE A TEST, HALF OF YOUR POSITIVES ARE GOING TO BE FALSE POSITIVES.
IT IS A FACTOR OF HOW COMMON THE DISEASE IS IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN WITH A GOOD TEST, YOU COULD HAVE A LOT OF FALSE POSITIVES.
THERE'S STRATEGIES TO DOUBLE PASS, IF YOU'RE REALLY CONCERNED AND NEED ACCURATE ANSWER, IN GENERAL IT IS NOT THAT WE'RE MASS SCREENING EVERYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS.
LET ME TURN TO OUR TWO EXPERTS AND I'LL START AGAIN WITH YOU DR. SIRESE WHILE YOUR MIC IS HOT.
JUST SHARE WITH US ANY FINAL THOUGHTS AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND ANY ADVICE AS WE SAFELY RETURN TO THE NEW NORMAL AND THEN THEN SAME QUESTION TO YOU DR. WONG.
>> YOU KNOW, A BIG THING I LEARNED IS IS IS THINGS CHANGE.
SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SOMETHING THAT WE SAY TODAY NEXT MONTH COULD BE DIFFERENT.
ALTHOUGH I THINK WE'RE LEARNING A LOT AND WE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
COMMUNICATING WHAT WE KNOW IN REALTIME IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE TOWN HALLS IS GREAT AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO PEOPLE GET UP TO DATE LATEST INFORMATION.
I DO THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE LIVING WITH FOR A WHILE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN IS IT GOING TO GO AWAY.
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT CERTAINLY BEHAVIOR TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, SHORT OF A VACCINE THAT IS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AND OR A CURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE ADAPTING LIKE YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADJUSTING TO LIVING.
>> MY LESSONS ARE SIMILAR, DEFINITELY THINGS CHANGED.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH WITH A NOVEL VIRUS LIKE THIS, WHERE WE NEVER IT IS NEVER IT IS NEW AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY IMMUNITY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TREATMENT, WE DON'T HAVE A VACCINE AND WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT ABOUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS AND HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED, ALL OF THESE THINGS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS JUST AND APPRECIATE HOW IT ALL IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THE PARTNERSHIP AT PARKLAND HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE BEEN SUCH A GREAT PARTNER.
THE OTHER PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY ASPECTS OF WHAT WE DO, THE TESTING, THE CONTACT TRACING, ALSO REACHING TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.
THERE'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND EACH HAVE THEIR OWN WAYS OF GETTING THESE MESSAGES OUT, GETTING THE BEING CULTURALLY AWARE AND CONFIDENT REGARDING HOW WE GET THE MESSAGES AND AND APPROPRIATELY GETTING PEOPLE TO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND UNDERSTAND WHY THESE THINGS, LIKE FACIAL COVERINGS AND WASHING YOUR HAND AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT AND WHY WE IMPLEMENT AND GET THEM TO PRACTICE THESE PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
AGAIN APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE STATE AND FEDS THAT SUPPORT US AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
DR. NAY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS, WHETHER IT IS NURSING HOMES
[01:00:06]
OR THE JAIL SYSTEM OR THERE'S SO MANY PIECES OF THIS AND EVERYONE HAS TO BE TOGETHER.>> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US IN THIS CONVERSATION.
CERTAINLY OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO ENGAGE WITH BOTH OF YOU.
SO AS WE REACH THE CLOCK HERE, I'LL TURN TO YOU DR. MAY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR TAKING PART.
SORRY WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAMERAS FADING IN AND OUT.
SINCE WE HAVE FACES IF RADIO ANYWAY.
I'LL TURN TO YOU FOR CLOSING REMARKS BUT AS YOU DO THAT, ONE THING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY NEW AND DIFFERENT FOR US THIS YEAR, WE'RE HAVING A VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE COMMENCEMENT ON THE 13TH.
WE FELT LIKE INITIALLY IT WAS REALLY A SUBSTITUTE FOR KIND OF THE REAL THING BUT AS WE GOT INTO IT, I AM REALLY EXCITED, DISCOVERED, THIS IS ACTUALLY MARK CUBAN'S FIRST COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, YOU WOULD THINK WITH THE TELEVISION SHOWS HE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS.
HE IS EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO IT'LL BE GREAT TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR 8,000 GRADUATES THIS YEAR THAT WILL BE PART OF THE COMMENCEMENT.
HOPE YOU JOIN IN AND BE A PART OF IT.
WE REALLY HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR OUR STUDENTS.
DR. WONG AND DR. SIRESE, I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
I GET THE BENEFIT OF TALKING TO BOTH OF YOU ON REGULAR BASIS AND PICKING YOUR BRAINS AND GETTING INSIGHT.
THANKS FOR SHARING IT WITH ALL OF OUR GOOD FRIENDS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 1300 PEOPLE JOIN US TODAY FOR THIS.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, OBVIOUSLY INTEREST IS HIGH.
LIKE AT OUR COVID 19 SITE AND WE KEEP THAT UP TO DATE.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL JOIN US JUNE 25TH AT 10 A.M.
AND ON THAT DATE DR. MICHAEL HANAHOSA AS WELL AS LINDA ELLIS FROM GRAND PRAIRIE AND THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SPACE AND THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE IMPLICATIONING GOING FORWARD ARE.
LOOK AT THE PRESURVEY WHEN YOU SIGN OFF.
THAT'S INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO MAKING SURE WE PUT TOGETHER THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
AGAIN, ALL OF YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND HELP OUR EMPLOYEES AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HAVE A GREAT DAY AND REST OF THE WEEK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.