Statement: Texas Hospitals Ask For The Public’s Help

(AUSTIN, Texas – Nov. 20, 2020)  – On behalf of nearly 500 Texas hospitals and their employees, we are asking for the public’s help as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to surge in Texas and nationwide.

Out of care and respect for hospital staff who will be working through the holidays and beyond, Texas hospitals ask you to keep holiday gatherings very small. Remember that the safest way to celebrate is at home with the people you live with. We also ask that you continue to strictly follow the science-based precautions of masking, social distancing and hand washing.

We are counting on you to stay vigilant and protect yourself, so that we can remain ready and able to provide help to those who need us most. This has been a long road, and while we have come a long way, Texas hospitalizations are sharply increasing, reaching almost 8,000 hospitalizations today – the highest we’ve seen since the devastating summer outbreak in Texas.

Hospitals have sustained a strong pace since they activated their pandemic plans months ago. Nurses, janitorial staff, physicians, laboratory technicians, specialists, food service workers and countless others dutifully have soldiered on, working inside hospitals every day to take care of families, friends and neighbors who have been hospitalized with this disease. They do not have the option of turning away or taking a break from the pandemic. They are on the frontlines of this deadly battle. They are tired and emotionally drained. They are worried about their own families. Yet, they keep moving forward, fighting for their patients.

While cases are climbing, there are reasons for optimism as we face this pandemic together. We are more confident in our treatment protocols and we are more experienced and aware of the beast this disease is. There is real hope and promise for an imminent vaccine and additional therapeutics. 

The Texas hospital community appreciates your work to stay safe, and we understand pandemic fatigue is real. Still, we urge you to follow the science-based precautions of masking, social distancing and limiting gatherings. 

We ask that you think of the health and safety of Texas health care workers as you make plans for the holiday season.

About THA
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents 452 of the state’s non-federal general and specialty hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/texashospitals.