BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas hospital systems are coming together to send a message to the community about beating COVID-19.
CHRISTUS, Baptist Hospitals and the Medical Center of Southeast Texas are asking everyone to 'do your part.'
"Let us allow science to continue to inform our actions to defeat this public health crisis," the systems said in a joint news release on Wednesday.
"It will take all of us to get through this challenging time."
The statement says there's been a 'recent increased incidence of infections in our region,' and assures the community that hospitals will keep responding with 'compassion and professionalism.'
"For many months now during this COVD-19 pandemic, we urged people to take several simple steps to reduce the spread of the virus," the statement continues. "We saw the citizens of Southeast Texas respond – just as you have during previous times of crisis in our communities – and be there for one another."
(Editor's Note: The above video originally aired on Nov. 17, 2020)
From a joint statement from Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health Systems and the Medical Center of Southeast Texas group:
To our communities of Southeast Texas:
We appreciate your effort in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. While we have seen some progress, there is a recent increased incidence of infections in our region. The teams at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas and Medical Center of Southeast Texas continue to respond to the medical needs of our communities with compassion and professionalism. However, we are asking for your continued vigilance to protect yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors from the virus, especially as we enter this critical holiday season.
For many months now during this COVD-19 pandemic, we urged people to take several simple steps to reduce the spread of the virus. We saw the citizens of Southeast Texas respond – just as you have during previous times of crisis in our communities – and be there for one another.
As we have moved from stay-at-home orders and to phased re-openings of our economy, there have been challenges with stabilizing and decreasing the number of cases and hospitalizations locally and across the country. We do not want those challenges to grow as people prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. As a result, we urge you to do several things to prevent people from getting and spreading the virus.
- Wear a mask or face covering around others.
- Practice social distancing. Stay at least six feet away from people who do not live in your household.
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Keep hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and use it when you are unable to wash your hands.
If we are not careful to continue these safety precautions, the devastating impact of the virus can again escalate and bring more suffering in our communities.
Please be assured that your community hospitals remain committed to providing quality care from everyone who needs it. We also work to ensure that our staff has all of the necessary resources to provide that care and stay safe. We encourage you to do your part. Let us allow science to continue to inform our actions to defeat this public health crisis.
It will take all of us to get through this challenging time. The people of Southeast Texas has shown its resiliency before and we know we can do it again – together.
Thank you again for helping to keeping our community safe.