September 30, 2020

On Tuesday, Harrison County reported 4 new cases, Gregg 24, and Smith County 7.
Marshall, Karnack ISDs report COVID-19 cases on campus

(J. Harris: So our LOCAL covid infection rate has about doubled in 1 ½ months. Nevertheless, Harrison County still has a lower rate than other area counties as we head into the flu season and our schools have been opened for over a month ago. Our local universities did not bring outside COVID cases to the community! Our jails have had few infections. We need to keep our distance, avoid crowds, and wear masks. Masks work. Vaccines will help and are on the way. Improved and more accessible testing is being implemented. New therapeutic medicines and techniques will help. Physicians and health care professionals have gained tremendous experience. Things are looking up; keep your masked chins up.)

A layperson’s guide to how — and when — a Covid-19 vaccine could be authorized
(J. Harris: A concise and readable laymans guide to vaccinations — well with a 5-minute read.)

JOHNS HOPKINS SUGGESTS:

1. Flu Vaccine for Children in the Time of COVID (Mott Poll, Michigan Medicine) Public health experts have emphasized that during the COVID pandemic, it is important for people of all ages to get seasonal flu vaccine this year. In August 2020, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents about getting flu vaccine for their children age 2-18 years. Two-thirds of parents intend to have their child get flu vaccine this year (49% very likely and 19% likely). Parental intention regarding flu vaccine this year is slightly lower for parents of teens compared to younger children (73% for 2-4 years, 70% for 5-12 years, and 65% for 13-18 years). Among parents who said their child got flu vaccine last year, nearly all (96%) intend to have their child get flu vaccine this year. In contrast, among parents whose child did not get flu vaccine last year, only 28% say their child is likely to get flu vaccine this year.

2. UK to Become WHO’s Largest State Donor with 30% Funding Increase (The Guardian) Boris Johnson will announce a 30% increase in the UK’s funding of the World Health Organization, making the UK the single largest national donor after the US leaves. In an announcement at the UN General Assembly, he will urge it to heal “the ugly rifts” that are damaging the international fight against coronavirus.

3. WHO COVID-19 DashboardThe US is averaging 44,307 new cases and 755 deaths per day. This is the highest average daily incidence since August 21 and nearly 30% greater than the low reported on September 12. We are now 3 weeks past the Labor Day holiday—which is also typically the latest that US schools begin the school year—and the US is exhibiting another increase in incidence at the national level.

(J. Harris: Viral spread is speeding up again. WEAR YOUR MASK).

EXTENSIVE VIRAL TESTING AND CONTROL PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITIES: Click here to read the article

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If God had intended us to fly, he would have made it easier to get to the airport.
~ Jonathan Winters

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State Senate Candidate, District 1, Audrey Spanko, kicks off 16-County District 1 Road Trip at Harrison County Democratic headquarters in Marshall on October 1

State Senate Candidate, District 1, Audrey Spanko, kicks off 16-County District 1 Road Trip at Harrison County Democratic headquarters in Marshall on October 1 Audrey Spanko, Democratic State Senate Candidate, District 1, will kick off her “Texas Senate District 1 Road Trip” at the Harrison County Democratic Headquarters, located at 213 West Austin Street in downtown Marshall, on Thursday, October 1 at 1:00pm—3:00pm.

Ms. Spanko is the Democratic Senate candidate running against Republican incumbent State Senator Bryan Hughes and the event in Marshall is the kick-off event in a road trip will be making to the 16 counties in District 1, in the next 12 days to encourage people to register to vote before the October 5 deadline and to encourage voters to vote early when the polls open in Texas on October 13.

The event in Marshall is designed to provide members of our local community to have an opportunity to meet the candidate and for Ms. Spanko to answer any questions that community members might have about the issues facing East Texas.

Audrey Spanko is a licensed social worker and advocate. She is from Mineola and has two degrees in social work from the University of Texas. For roughly a decade, she has worked for nonprofits helping families seeking medical care and basic needs support, and from 2016-2019 she worked in child abuse prevention for the Department of Family and Protective Services. While finishing classes for her masters degree, she served as an advocacy intern during the 2019 Texas legislative session. It was this experience and all that she witnessed while working as a social worker in Texas that inspired her to run for Texas State Senate.

The event is also designed to provide a continued opportunity for citizens of Harrison County who are not yet registered to vote to register before the voter registration deadline.

“We’ve had a very successful voter registration campaign in Harrison County and we’re continuing to encourage community members who are not yet registered to get registered to vote before the registration deadline on Monday, October 5,” shared Maxine Golightly, chairman of the Harrison County Democratic Party. “It’s important that people make sure they are registered so they can vote in this critical election.”

The event will be held in the backyard of the Democratic headquarters at 213 West Austin so that people can enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and to provide for social distancing. The Harrison County Democratic Headquarters is open every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11am—2:00pm.

Volunteers staff the headquarters for those wishing to register to vote, as well as those wishing to obtain campaign signs, along with information about the early voting schedule in Harrison County, the Democratic candidates, and the issues facing East Texans and Americans. If these times are not convenient, persons are encouraged to call Maxine Golightly at (903) 908- 0521 or Christina Anderson at (903) 938-8373 to make an appointment and they or another volunteer will arrange to meet the person at the headquarters at an appointed time.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Democratic Party wishing to take all measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Democratic headquarters follows all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social-distancing and wearing masks. If a person does not have a mask and wishes to visit the headquarters, a mask will gladly be provided.

Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 13 at seven locations in Harrison County and runs through Friday, October 30, 2020. Information about specific times and locations for early voting are available at the Democratic headquarters or at the Harrison County Elections Office at 415 East Burleson Street.

The Harrison County Democratic Party will host another “Meet the Candidate and Voter Registration” event on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00pm-4:00pm in the backyard of the Harrison County Democratic headquarters, featuring Judge Staci Williams, who grew up in Marshall and is a candidate for the Texas Supreme Court. More information about that event will be provided in a separate news release.

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