July 8, 2020
Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President Diana L. Fite, MD, regarding the announcement today that the Republican Party of Texas will not hold an in-person convention.
“The physicians of Texas are pleased that the Republican Party of Texas will not hold its convention as an in-person event in Houston next week. The Houston area, unfortunately, is a hotbed of infections from the novel coronavirus. The most recent state figures show Harris County with 24,000 active COVID-19 cases, a nearly 30% increase from the week before.
“By canceling this large, indoor gathering, Mayor Turner has eliminated the significant risk of exposing would-be convention-goers, convention workers, health care workers, and the residents of Houston to additional COVID-19 infections. The mayor’s actions also reduce the opportunities for the virus to travel from Houston and infect people in parts of Texas that have far fewer cases.
“Five actions have proven effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19. The Texas Medical Association strongly believes that Texans should follow these proven guidelines: stay home when possible, wash hands frequently, avoid large crowds, keep 6 feet apart, and wear face masks or face coverings when around nonfamily members. We support all efforts throughout Texas to reach the highest levels of compliance with these safe practices.”
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 53,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact:
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320
Marcus Cooper (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336