Chamber Members:

We are sharing this important information from the City of Amarillo and local health experts about the move to Level Red last Friday. Below is an email from Mayor Ginger Nelson with information on a recent Press Conference that will provide important information on the current situation with our local hospitals. There is also an invitation to sign up for a Zoom Q&A with local healthcare authorities happening on Tuesday at 4pm.

Penni Bentley

VP of Communication & Marketing

Dear Leaders,

I want to make you aware that the City moved to Level Red today – earlier than the anticipated shift expected next Wednesday. We sped up the shift because of the large number of positive COVID cases reported yesterday (334 new cases in one day) and because our hospital leadership is asking for our help as a community.  

The hospitals held a joint press conference this morning to explain the very serious situation at our hospitals. They are short-staffed and not able to get more nurses. They have shut down beds due to this staffing shortage. Patients are waiting hours (one patient waited more than 50 hours) in the emergency room because there is no room in the hospital. You can watch the entire press conference at this link to see their concerns and hear how you can help:  

https://fb.watch/7liiqrwlmO/

As leaders, we want you to have the information you need to guide your organizations. We are hosting a zoom Q&A session for you with Dr. Todd Bell, our public health authority, Dr. Brian Weis, Chief Medical Officer for NWTH, and Dr. Michael Lamenteer, Chief Medical Officer for BSA.  

Here are the details for that meeting:

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

4:00 p.m. 

ZOOM

https://amarillo.zoom.us/j/82682344216?pwd=YWU4eHB2eTJUWTgyaklUZ25wYks4Zz09

Passcode: 536505

*Copy and paste into your browser if the link does not work*    

The Delta variant is different than the original COVID-19 virus. Please watch the press conference to hear the experts talk about the differences and why our hospitals are in a different situation to care for patients.

Please feel free to share the links above with other leaders in our community. We want to help in any way we can as we address this latest spike in cases - together.

Sincerely,

Ginger Nelson

Mayor

City of Amarillo

O: (806) 378-6445

Below is the official letter that corresponds with the information above.