Turner urges Houstonians to give it a try, to cancel vacation meetings as the positivity rate rises

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday urged everyone to get tested for coronavirus and cancel vacation meetings as the city’s positivity rate rises as Christmas approaches.

Turner said an additional 777 cases of coronavirus were reported on Monday, bringing the city’s 111,211 cases up. Three more deaths were also reported, bringing the total death toll in the city to 1,530.

The city’s positivity rate stands at 11.2 percent, almost a point from last week, Turner said.

“Take the test before Christmas Eve,” Turner said.

The mayor said people should also cancel the meeting and postpone holiday trips to help “avoid a climb apart from a climb.”

Vaccine in Houston

Turner said both the Houston Department of Health and the Houston Fire Department will receive 3,000 doses each. These will be used to help vaccinate city employees and firefighters who meet the requirements for the vaccine according to current guidelines.

Officials said the state is still debating who will qualify for the next phase of vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced over the weekend that front-line workers and people over the age of 75 should receive the vaccine next, but the final decision will be made by state leaders.

Virus changes

Dr. David Persse, chief physician in Houston, said the widely reported coronavirus mutation is the second variant of the virus found during the pandemic.

“The new mutant virus doesn’t seem to be more lethal,” Persse said. “It does not cause any more serious illness. It does not cause more death. The change seems to be that the virus is transmitted more easily. “

Persse said it makes it even more important that people do not become infected with the virus.