According to a video produced by the city of Garland, the process of distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to the first group of recipients began Tuesday, Dec. 29. Included in this group were front-line health care workers that work for the cities of Garland, Rowlett and Sachse and for the Garland Independent School District. Also included in this phase – Phase 1A – were firefighters, emergency medical technicians, school nurses and employees in the jails for Garland, Rowlett and Sachse.
Phase 1B will include people over 65 years of age or those over the age of 16 that have underlying risk factors. According to Jason Chessher, Garland’s health director, the State of Texas will determine when this level will begin. It depends on the number of available vaccines and the number of front-line health care workers that have been vaccinated.
Chessher encouraged citizens to watch www.garlandtx.gov/COVIDvaccine for updates.
“Keep in mind that getting yourself vaccinated not only protects you from other people, it also prevents you from taking the disease home to your family, to your friends, to your co-workers and to members of the general community,” Chessher said. “Vaccines not only help the individual, they help the community at large.”
COVID-19 case numbers released by the city of Garland Tuesday, Dec. 29, are below:
- 16,964 total cases.
- 12,259 people have recovered.
- 4,562 cases are currently active.
- 143 have died.
- The total number of cases now represents 7% of Garland’s population.
While waiting for vaccines to be distributed and become effective, continue to follow all the recommended precautionary measures:
- Wear a mask.
- Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer when you’re unable to wash hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other people.
- Stay at home if you are sick.
- Stay home if you have been exposed to the virus.
- Do not touch nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid large crowds.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who is ill.