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Regular Council Meeting April 27, 2020 Page 3 7 ayes — 0 nays. A Motion to combine items 16 and 19 was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Members Plata and Hughes. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 19. EMERGENCY ITEM: Discussion of COVID-19 pandemic in the City of Paris, including but not limited to: a. Weekend acute outbreak of COVID-19 cases at Paris Health Care Center, including but not limited to the City's response to the outbreak; and b. Gov. Abbott's April 27, 2020 press conference and orders and their impact on the City's response to the pandemic. Mayor Clifford explained that they learned a lot about the drive through testing that was administered by the Health Department, which included the test was good for detecting the antibodies but could not be used for detecting for acute cases. Mayor Clifford explained they learned this information through simultaneously administering the blood and nasal swab tests. He said that initially the City ordered 5,000 test kits and received 1,500 but as of this date, he had asked Mr. Anderson to cancel the remainder of the 5,000. Mayor Clifford also said the test kits should get better and less expensive and they could place an order in the future. Mayor Clifford asked Council if they were okay with that decision, and asked if anyone thought they should reorder the test kits. Council Member Portugal said she deferred to Mayor Clifford's medical knowledge and his recommendation. He said he wanted to use the City's money wisely, and was glad they did not order 20,000 test kits. Mayor Clifford said with what had transpired this weekend; they had stopped drive through testing so that all medical personnel could focus on the outbreak. Mayor Clifford said this was very serious citing there were now 57 cases, and 47 of those were associated with a nursing home. Council Member Plata asked what was being done. Mayor Clifford said it was his understanding that everyone was under quarantine, in an effort to get it under control. Council Member Portugal said she had e-mailed Representative VanDeaver and advised his office of the situation. She said he did contact her and was very concerned. Council Member Portugal said that Representative VanDeaver believed that the City would qualify for a hot spot and would contact the appropriate State agencies. Council Member Portugal said if Paris does qualify, the State would possibly send a mobile testing unit to Paris. Mayor Clifford said there were still many people walking around stores not wearing masks and emphasized how critically important it was for everyone to wear masks when in public places or in confined spaces. Council Member Pilgrim inquired if the people working in nursing homes were wearing the proper PPE, and Mayor Clifford said he did not know the answer to that question. Council Member Hughes wanted to know about mandating masks because of cross contamination in nursing homes. Mayor Clifford deferred to city attorney Stephanie Harris, who said individuals were encouraged to wear a face covering but no municipality could impose a fine for not doing so. Council Member Stone said there was an employee working at a facility who tested positive and that same employee worked part-time at another facility. Ms. Stone said one facility was being pro -active and testing everyone but the other facility was not. She recommended that testing be administered in all of the nursing homes. Mayor Clifford said hopefully, Council Member Stone's comments would get people calling the nursing homes. Council Member Plata asked if they could get the State involved.