SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021, COVID UPDATE VIA DESOTO
Dallas County no longer issues COVID related stats on Sundays. We’ve also noticed less regularity of the release of COVID information from the State of Texas on weekend. Since both provide the key data for this update, our Sunday update will be abbreviated.
Dallas County provides an interactive map that provides COVID Data on demand to view as desired. It can be accessed 24/7 at https://covid-analytics-pccinnovation.hub.arcgis.com/
All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ and all guidance documents can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php
On Friday, June 4th, Texas State Representative Carl O. Sherman held a Virtual Community Conversation with Dr. Philip Huang of Dallas County HHS updating constituents on COVID 19 and vaccinations. If you are considering getting vaccinated, please listen to this important discussion! https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=542320936941379&ref=watch_permalink
Office of Governor Greg Abbott: Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Government Entities From Mandating Masks. News Release: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-executive-order-prohibiting-government-entities-from-mandating-masks
Executive Order: https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-36_prohibition_on_mandating_face_coverings_response_to_COVID-19_disaster_IMAGE_05-18-2021.pdf
Statement on Executive Order 36
by Rachel L. Proctor, Mayor of DeSoto, Texas
Issued Tuesday, May 18, 2021
DeSoto has taken COVID-19 very seriously and we thank everyone who has made the choices to put the safety of our community above their own comfort and needs. We ask our employees and residents, especially those who have not yet been fully vaccinated, to consider making the choice to wear a mask while at City facilities even though the practice can no longer be mandated. We are all anxious for the day when COVID is fully behind us and we can continue coming together as a community.
Dallas County recently issued a news release about same day online scheduling that Is now available at Fair Park via their Online Vaccination Scheduler: https://www.ci.desoto.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/19073/4142021-Press-Release---Dallas-County-Health-and-Human-Services-Launches-COVID-19-Vaccination-Scheduler
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has provided over 483,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park mega-vaccine clinic, which started operations on Monday, January 11. Vaccine operations for both first and second doses continue weekly at Fair Park and the full operating schedule can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/vaccine-landing.php
On Thursday, May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. These do not fully apply to persons who have not been fully vaccinated. Read the CDC’s recommendations on their website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
CDC Summary of Recent Changes
Update that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance
Update that fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter
INFOGRAPHIC
If you are fully vaccinated you can start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/pdfs/choosingSaferAct.pdf
Key Points
The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings. For related information for healthcare settings, visit Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.
Fully vaccinated people can:
- Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance
- Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel
- Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
- Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
- Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
- Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible
For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
Please register to be vaccinated, and if you have concerns talk to your doctor and access information from established medical sources such as the CDC and the AMA. If you have not yet done so there are multiple places in this notice that provide information about where you can receive assistance getting registered.
Mayor Rachel Proctor is fully vaccinated vs COVID and wants all of our residents to know that defeating this virus will require all of us to do our part to stop the spread of Coronavirus in our community.
If you are a member of the DeSoto Community and you have not yet been vaccinated, you have many options.
DeSoto Seniors who do not have access to the internet can obtain help with registration over the phone from the DeSoto Senior Activity Center by calling 972-230-5825 during regular business hours.
For other residents who need help with accessing the internet so that they can register online, public computers are available in the DeSoto Public Library. Library staff will not be registering residents but can direct people over the phone or in the library to the Dallas HHS vaccinations page and online form. Contact the Library’s Information Desk at 972-230-9661.
DeSoto Seniors. If you need a free ride to and from Dallas County’s Fair Park Vaccination Mega Center can contact STAR Transit at least 24 hours in advance to make the necessary reservations. The linked press release will explain the full process in greater detail: https://www.ci.desoto.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/18659/STARTransit_FreeRides_1-28-21
Here is a Vaccine Locator Map from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM): https://tdem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3700a84845c5470cb0dc3ddace5c376b
Here is some additional information on vaccinations from the State of Texas: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx
Have general questions about COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine?
Visit the CDC COVID-19 website or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
Individuals over the age of 16 can receive a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday at Parkland Health & Hospital System’s drive-through location at Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St., Dallas, 75232. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Ellis Davis Field House is open to those with an appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday. The location is closed on Sundays.
For additional information about COVID-19, please visit www.parklandhospital.com/covid19vaccines.
COVID vaccinations have been offered at the Crescent Regional Hospital at 2600 W. Pleasant Run Rd., Lancaster, TX 75146. You might want to check availability with them and can do so on their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/crescentregional They point out that 16+ Years Old & Walk-ins are welcome and that registration can be done in their cafeteria.
Dallas County operates its COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Hotline so that residents can register over the phone for COVID-19 vaccinations. Dial 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639) to register between 7 AM and 7 PM, seven days a week. You can also learn more about vaccine registration and requirements at www.dallascountycovid.org,
Listing of Test Sites from Dallas County: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/testing-locations.php
Listing of Test Sites From the State of Texas: https://tdem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1e91fb79fa44417898738e5bff31a3d8/
Dallas County/Parkland Drive-Through Testing Site at the Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St., Dallas, TX 75232, is normally open from Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. or until the testing limit is reached. This facility is closed on Sundays. https://www.parklandhospital.com/news-and-updates/ellis-davis-field-house-covid19-testing--1730
For the latest info about Texas 2-1-1 community resources on COVID-19 dial 2-1-1.
COVID NEWS:
ABC News: Full FDA approval could drive COVID-19 vaccinations, but experts advise against waiting https://abcnews.go.com/Health/full-fda-approval-drive-covid-19-vaccinations-experts/story?id=78048166
CNBC: NIH scientists say they may have found a promising new oral antiviral drug for Covid https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/03/covid-nih-scientists-say-they-may-have-found-a-promising-new-oral-antiviral-drug.html
CNN: In rural Georgia, a door-to-door push to get neighbors vaccinated against Covid-19 https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/health/rural-vaccination-randolph-county-georgia/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+CNN+-+Most+Recent%29
USA Today: How does COVID-19 end in the US? Likely with a death rate Americans are willing to 'accept' https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/06/06/what-will-the-end-of-covid-19-look-like/7456228002/
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