Labor Day is nearly here, and again, South Texas, we must not let our guard down.
Experts from UT Health San Antonio urge everyone to wear masks, observe 6-foot social distance, wash hands vigorously, and avoid indoor and large gatherings. Stay in your family bubble as much as possible and wear a mask if you go out.
Holidays bring out the desire to celebrate, but COVID-19 can spread even in large family gatherings where members who aren’t part of the safe bubble attend and forego wearing masks.
The rise of the virus in Texas was well documented after Memorial Day.
55,348 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Texas by May 24, the day before the holiday. Just 15 days later, on June 8, the state’s cumulative case total had risen by 20,000, to 75,616.
July the Fourth factored into an even steeper rise. On July 3, the Texas case total stood at 183,532. Fifteen days later, on July 18, the total was 317,730, an increase of more than 134,000.
“Remembering these surges following holidays, and remembering that children are now in school statewide, should be impetus enough for us to take responsibility for our behavior, protect others and our communities, and stay safe this Labor Day,” said Robert Leverence, MD. He is chief medical officer of UT Health Physicians, the clinical practice of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
Source: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/ (Click on COVID-19 Dashboard, Excel link.)
The Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is named for Texas philanthropists Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. The school is the largest educator of physicians in South Texas, many of whom remain in San Antonio and the region to practice medicine. The school teaches more than 900 students and trains 800 residents each year. As a beacon of multicultural sensitivity, the school annually exceeds the national medical school average of Hispanic students enrolled. The school’s clinical practice is the largest multidisciplinary medical group in South Texas with 850 physicians in more than 100 specialties. The school has a highly productive research enterprise where world leaders in Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cancer, aging, heart disease, kidney disease and many other fields are translating molecular discoveries into new therapies. The Long School of Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center known for prolific clinical trials and drug development programs, as well as a world-renowned center for aging and related diseases.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the country’s leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 37,000 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.
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