LHHS students Abbey Garben, Philip Huang and Brian Sullivan prepare for a math contest in 1978
You’ve seen it on the TV news. People are hoarding groceries and stockpiling toilet paper like they’re preparing for the end times. So where can we turn for thoughtful, informed perspective regarding the coronavirus pandemic?
Lake Highlands High School 1978 graduate Dr. Philip Huang is director of Dallas County’s Health and Human Services. You’ve seen him giving timely, helpful information each time Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins gives an official update.
Thursday evening, Jenkins declared a local state of disaster for public health emergency and issued a local gathering order prohibiting public gatherings of 500 people or more.
“The goal of social distancing,” explained Dr. Huang, “is to protect those populations at increased risk, and the strong recommendation is that those at increased risk not gather in groups of ten or more. These include older populations and those with underlying chronic health conditions.”
The COVID-19 death rate is significantly higher in these groups, explained Dr. Huang.
“The other goal is to protect our health care system, health care workers and infrastructure, and to slow this down so that our health care system isn’t overwhelmed as we’ve seen in other countries,” he said.
Dr. Huang emphasized coughing into sleeves or tissues, washing hands frequently, staying home if sick and cleaning frequently-touched surfaces to slow the spread of the disease.
You can learn more on the DCHHS website and follow their updates on Twitter.
Dr. Philip Huang in LHHS yearbook
Philip Huang directs the LHHS stage band at a Christmas performance in the Student Center
