 |
|
Dear Friend, I wanted to provide you with additional information that may be helpful to you as our country moves forward with addressing the challenges associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As your Member of Congress, your safety is my top priority, and I want to make sure you are updated and informed on the latest coronavirus news. Latest Congressional Action: In 2010, Nancy Pelosi famously said “we have to pass the bill to find out what is in it” regarding Obamacare. Just after midnight on Friday, she did it again with the new coronavirus supplemental bill. I voted NO. My constituents elected me to read and understand the bills we vote on, and to allow them to do the same. With the U.S. Senate not back in session until tomorrow evening, the bill by definition could not be signed into law until early this week. There was simply no reason to give Congress, and the American People less than 30 minutes to read and understand this complex, 110 page bill in the middle of the night. I recognize the unprecedented crisis we are facing as a country and a world, and there are certainly many things in this bill, as well as the previous $8.3 billion legislation I voted for, that will help to alleviate it. I also have complete confidence that President Trump and his Administration will spend the resources and use the new authorities in this bill responsibly and effectively. As Congress continues our work on legislation to address the immediate needs and long-term challenges of this pandemic, we must do so with a transparent and open process that the American People deserve. Latest Presidential Action: President Trump displayed great leadership on Friday by declaring a national emergency, which immediately opens up additional funds to be used to respond to the novel coronavirus impacting our nation. The Administration continues to do all in its power to ensure necessary funds and resources are available at the federal, state, and local levels in order to treat, test, and protect American citizens. National Day of Prayer: On Friday, President Trump also declared that today be a National Day of Prayer. Throughout our long history, America has always looked to God for strength during times of trials and tribulations. Please join me in taking a moment today to pray for those who've suffered or been impacted by the novel coronavirus and ask that God continue to guide our great nation in the days ahead. Overall Goal: This week, our country took major action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and begin working to "flatten the curve" (see graph below).
The overall goal of closing events where large crowds tend to gather is to stop the massive spread of COVID-19 and keep our health care system from being incredibly overwhelmed. Social distancing and taking the proper health precautions (listed in the "Prevention" section below) will help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the above curve. According to an article that was recommended to me titled "Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day," if we refuse to do our part in halting the spread of this disease, our health system will not be able to handle the projected numbers of people who will need urgent care. To read the article mentioned above, please click here. Prevention: As you may know, there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. As of now, the best way to not get ill is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and to practice these everyday preventative actions:
To learn more about steps to take before, during, and after any community spread of COVID-19, please click here. Travel: For your safety, travel to certain areas is strongly discouraged. The Department of State currently lists China and Iran at Level 4: Do Not Travel. Additionally, Mongolia, Italy, and South Korea are currently listed at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. However, within those countries there are specific areas designated Level 4: Do Not Travel. For Italy: Level 4 - Do Not Travel to: - Lombardy and Veneto due to the level of community transmission of the virus and imposition of local quarantine procedures. For South Korea: Level 4 - Do Not Travel to: - Daegu due to the level of community transmission of the virus and imposition of local quarantine procedures. For more information on current travel protocol and restrictions, please click here. Detection: Symptoms may appear anywhere between 2-14 days after exposure. They range from mild to severe, and include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
If you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread, contact your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional will work with Texas’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. For more information on what to do if you are sick with COVID-19, please click here. Assistance: If you are in China and need immediate assistance, please contact the U.S. State Department at CoronaVirusEmergencyUSC@state.gov. For Texas-specific COVID-19 questions or concerns, please contact the Texas Department of State Health Services at coronavirus@dshs.texas.gov, or call (877) 570-9779. For local assistance, see the listing of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Local Health Entities. My office is ready to assist you, and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions on COVID-19. As always, thank you for taking the time to read, and please forward this information to family and friends who you think would be interested. It's an honor to serve you in the U.S. Congress. Sincerely,
|
|
