Until there’s a vaccine, health officials, including Dallas COVID-19 Czar Kelvin Baggett, say your best defense against coronavirus remains good hygiene, social distancing and - especially - wearing a mask.
And yet, some individuals and business owners continue to resist state and local orders to do so.
In May, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson named Baggett, the managing director of an investment firm and a doctor trained in public health, as the city's COVID-19 Health and Healthcare Access Czar.
KERA’s Sam Baker talked with Baggett about resistance to public health guidelines, how to cope with stress during the pandemic and if we ever "flattened the curve."
Dr. Kelvin Baggett, Dallas’ COVID Czar: The things that we continue to see nationally and locally are people who see it as an affront to their own personal liberties. Which is befuddling to me, given the fact that there are so many other public health measures that have been instituted for not just the individual good, but for also for the common and social good.
Two, is that there's been some misinformation regarding the transmissibility and the severity of the virus with some believing that they're immune, that it will have at most, some benign consequences.
Third, is the desire of people just to be active in ways that they previously been and to resume that without restriction.
That's why we have to continue to come forward with accurate information. And we have to continue to be able to provide people with appropriate instruction, so they'll know what to do and when to do it.
>>MORE: Dallas' COVID-19 Czar Talks About Testing, Disparities & Why Cases Still Aren't Under Control
KERA's Sam Baker: Early in his pandemic, there was talk of the need to flatten the curve. Are we anywhere near that?
Baggett: The conversation around flatten the curve really was associated with our shelter in place here locally, and that was also done across the nation. The flattening was to give us an opportunity to understand the virus better. So I'd say, yes, we understand the virus better now in terms of its nature and its transmission, and some of the things we might do to counter it. Two, was to make sure that we could preserve appropriate care and treatment capacity. And yes, we did that.
The benefits that we gained with flattening the curve have largely eroded. We are now no longer sheltering in place. We have more activity. With that, we have to be even more cautious and applying masks and other things that we know are personal protections that can reduce the spread.
Baker: And of course, as we speak, students are returning, maybe to colleges and private schools. The bulk of them expected to return to public schools over the next few weeks, possibly — depending on who does online or in person instruction. Does that keep you awake at night?
Baggett: Yes, it does. Especially when we have so many unknowns. We're still learning how it not only impacts kids, but also how it spreads, how they transmit the virus.
"You can't underestimate the toll this takes on people's mental health." — Dr. Kelvin Baggett
There are many reasons why children, young adults and others need to return to these academic institutions that extend beyond just the learning environment: social, emotional, some for child welfare and other issues.
But we also have to balance those with returning safely and appropriately to these environments. And, being able to make sure that we can respond to any potential rise in infections within those environments, by having testing, contact tracing. But also making sure prior to that, these environments are positioned appropriately to be able to put some of the safeguards and protections, and physical barriers and otherwise, and distancing that minimize and reduce the likelihood of spread.
Baker: Even if you don't get coronavirus or COVID-19, the stress alone can give cause problems. What's your advice to people about coping in this pandemic?
Baggett: You can't underestimate the toll this takes on people's mental health. We're dealing not only with the pandemic, we're also dealing with the economic consequences, as well as the protest and the cause for racial justice and police justice reform and some of these other matters.
What I've said is one, recognize that you're not alone. Others are dealing with this too.
Two is seek help and support. The City of Dallas has resources available, county does as well. There are other sites that exist within these various municipalities where I think they're making it a lot easier to identify social support services, as well as mental health support services, in addition to testing and treatment.
Baker: What about you, Dr. Baggett? You're serving as COVID-19 Czar. You're working full time as a managing director of Posterity Capital Group. So, how are you holding up?
Baggett: It's been challenging at times physically. It's been difficult at times emotionally. At times it also comes with some frustration.
This has become very much a full-time job, which means that I'm sleeping a lot less than I have, but I'm also trying to take a break on the weekend and some other things that I wasn't doing for the first two months.
More About Dr. Kelvin Baggett
▸ Dr. Baggett's guide to protesting safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
▸ Named one of Modern Healthcare's 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in 2015
▸ D Magazine: A Conversation With Dallas’ COVID-19 Czar
This Q&A was edited for clarity.
