2020 Coronavirus Pandemic A Year in Review

2020 Coronavirus Pandemic –

A Year in Review

by Mary E. Nava, MBA

At the time of this writing, our country is in the eighth month of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic and has elected a new U.S. President. It is not surprising that the pandemic figured prominently in this year’s elections. For the most part, San Antonio and Bexar County have fared well, considering all the challenges associated with the pandemic. Nationally and world-wide, at the front and center of this pandemic were the physicians and medical professionals caring for coronavirus patients and the challenges they faced each day in their clinics or in hospitals. Sadly, the Pandemic is still with us and although there is no cure, vaccine trials continue and two vaccine manufacturers are expected to apply for emergency use authorization (EUA) in November.

Members of the BCMS COVID-19 Task Force (herein Task Force) and its four subcommittees: Communications Plan, Community Mitigation, Hospitals and Workforce and Pediatrics and Schools have been hard at work since March, and until recently, met weekly to discuss how physician members could assist our government leaders and community around the myriad of issues and concerns with COVID19. The Task Force continues to monitor the situation now that cases in Texas, the nation and in other countries are increasing yet again and at the time of this writing, Texas had the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Bexar County case numbers have been holding steady in recent weeks, although a slight uptick has been registered in the number of local COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate. This development is not necessarily unusual since many students have returned to in-person instruction, business establishments have been allowed to open and/or expand the number of people they serve and, of certain concern, is that some people continue to congregate in spite of the COVID-19 threat. Nevertheless, this increase in cases is important to monitor and also tracks increase in hospital admissions. Suffice it to say, this activity has the attention of the Task Force and the Hospitals and Workforce Subcommittee. Ezequiel Silva, III, MD, chair of the Hospitals and Workforce subcommittee, stated, “The role of the subcommittee has been to closely follow trends in hospital admissions and how those admissions have impacted our healthcare system stress scores, including staff and hospital bed availability. By tapping into leaders in the various hospital systems, we achieved a collaborative understanding of our county's needs. This allowed meaningful interactions with the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) where appropriate.”

Working in collaboration with the Communications Plan Subcommittee, members of the Task Force, Pediatrics and Schools Subcommittee and Community Mitigation Subcommittee developed several video public service announcements (PSAs), which were posted to the BCMS website and social media platforms. The PSAs covered such topics as: following the protocols, answering the call (from the health department), when to access the emergency room and wearing a mask properly. Diane Simpson, MD, chair of the Community Mitigation Subcommittee, stated, “The purpose of the Community Mitigation subcommittee is to determine the most relevant public health practices to control the spread of coronavirus. The committee seeks to encourage the adoption of these practices by the public through social media messaging.”

Lubna Naeem, chair of the Communications Plan Subcommittee added, “In a crisis like that of COVID-19, when the stakes are high in a politically charged environment, stepping aside is not an option. Engaging physicians, the community and stakeholders is necessary, now more than ever. Whether making universal mask wearing a community standard or promoting contact tracing awareness, expanding the reach of communication is critical to continuing to educate our citizens on the importance of all of us working together to help combat

this coronavirus.” The Communications Plan Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing all communications pieces submitted by the Task Force or other subcommittee members to ensure consistency of message.

Members of San Antonio and Bexar County elected leadership, along with MetroHealth, attribute San Antonio’s success with earlier reaching a plateau in overall cases and a lesser impact on schools than previously expected to the fact that San Antonians have taken the necessary steps to adhere to the guidelines for wearing masks, proper handwashing and practicing social distancing. "The COVID-19 pandemic uniquely affected children with regards to their education, socialization, and overall health. The Pediatrics and Schools Subcommittee worked diligently to act as a resource for providers, parents, and school systems about the Sars CoV2 virus, and to help provide useful resources for these groups,” said Leah Jacobson, MD, chair of the Pediatrics and Schools Subcommittee. Although the wearing of masks became a political issue, it is evident that the people of San Antonio did their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by following the recommended protocols.

John Nava, MD, Chair of the Task Force said, “The Task Force cannot stress enough the importance of continuing to follow the science and maintaining adherence to the recommended protocols. Task Force members realize that people are getting COVID fatigue, but we by no means are in a position to let our guard down. People must continue to be vigilant, especially now that flu season has arrived and we are in the fall and fast-approaching winter and holiday seasons.” Plans call for the Task Force and Subcommittees to continue to meet every two weeks for the foreseeable future.

BCMS extends a big THANK YOU to all the members of the Task Force and subcommittees for their support and dedication. The work of the Task Force has been a huge undertaking and BCMS appreciates all the members who have stepped forward to help in this endeavor. Additionally, THANK YOU to the BCMS leadership for their care and concern in keeping us (employees of BCMS), safe during this pandemic, by allowing those who could work from home effectively, to do so. This included providing a safe environment for those employees who continued to work in the BCMS offices.

Mary E. Nava, MBA is the Chief Government Affairs Officer for the Bexar County Medical Society.