‘Be the person to help slow the spread’: Weekly Check-in with UMC’s Dr. Joel Hendryx

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In an effort to deliver the most comprehensive coronavirus coverage, ABC-7 has started a weekly feature where we ask Dr. Jose Burgos, the director of internal medicine at University Medical Center, the same seven questions each week to track how the pandemic is changing. This week, Dr. Burgos was unavailable. Instead the segment was done with Dr. Joel Hendryx

Here's the Q&A for November 5:

Mauricio Casillas (KVIA): How has this past week gone for you?

Dr. Joel Hendryx (UMC’s Director of Internal Medicine): "This has been a very busy week for us. As you can tell, it's been a record. We're working with all the hospitals to take care of our patients."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Hendryx: "We and other hospitals are working together to manage the load that we have seen that has increased."

Casillas: What should people at home be doing right now?

Hendryx: "They should be protecting their immediate family by not having outsiders in their home to spread the virus."

Casillas: What is the most eye-opening thing you’ve seen this week?

Hendryx: "We have gotten a large amount of resources that are coming from the federal government, from the state government, and they have brought in doctors, nurses, physician's assistants, respiratory therapists and supplies with the help of our Border RAC which is our coordinating emergency entity here to help us manage this unprecedented surge."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Hendryx: "We will see more patients for the next week, based on the numbers. I also understand and believe that the El Paso community will come together and do the efforts and change our behaviors such that the infections will go down."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Burgos: "That we are discharging a large number of our patients which is great news. We're working very strongly with our other community hospitals, leaders, emergency management to manage this surge."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Hendryx: "Be the person to help slow the spread of this virus. Always be aware that businesses can use your help as far as ordering from restaurants locally to help them get through this pandemic."

Statistics for November 5:

• 58,429 total cases, 22,954 active cases, 639 deaths in El Paso County

Here's a list of earlier segments:

• April 9 Q&A: (225 cases , 1 death)
• April 16 Q&A: (451 cases, 7 deaths)
• April 23 Q&A: (675 total cases, 543 active cases, 10 deaths)
• April 30 Q&A: (924 total cases, 506 active cases, 21 deaths)
• May 7 Q&A: (1,190 total cases, 541 active cases, 30 deaths)
• May 14 Q&A: (1,607 total cases, 771 active cases, 43 deaths)
• May 21 Q&A: (2,046 total cases, 883 active cases, 57 deaths)
• May 28 Q&A: (2,569 total cases, 1,032 active cases, 72 deaths)
• June 4 Q&A: (3,069 total cases, 1,059 active cases, 89 deaths)
• June 11 Q&A: (3,650 total cases, 1,015 active cases, 97 deaths)
• June 18 Q&A: (4,088 total cases, 946 active cases, 119 deaths)
• June 25 Q&A: (4,984 total cases, 1394 active cases, 125 deaths)
• July 2 Q&A: (6,389 total cases, 2,223 active cases, 132 deaths)
• July 9 Q&A: (8,385 total cases, 3,085 active cases, 145 deaths)
• July 16 Q&A: (10,638 total cases, 3,708 active cases, 173 deaths)
• July 23 Q&A: (12,501 total cases, 3,564 active cases, 211 deaths)
• July 31 Q&A: (14,276 total cases, 3,311 active cases, 266 deaths)
• August 6: (15,596 total cases, 3,747 active cases, 285 deaths)
• August 13 Q&A: (17,378 total cases, 4,166 active cases, 330 deaths)
• August 20 Q&A: (19,057 total cases, 4200 active cases, 382 deaths)
• August 27 Q&A: (19,925 total cases, 3,102 active cases, 410 deaths)
• September 3 Q&A: (20,686 total cases, 2,822 active cases, 429 deaths)
• September 10 Q&A: (21,335 total cases, 2,724 active cases, 452 deaths)
• September 17 Q&A: (22,078 total cases, 2,801 active cases, 479 deaths)
• September 24 Q&A: (23,207 total cases, 3,300 active cases, 508 deaths)
• October 1 Q&A: (24,666 total cases, 3,812 active cases, 524 deaths)
• October 8 Q&A: (26,969 total cases, 4,929 active cases, 541 deaths)
• October 15 Q&A: (30,624 total cases, 6,887 active cases, 554 deaths)
• October 22 Q&A: (36,025 total cases, 9,406 active cases, 567 deaths)
• October 29 Q&A: (45,039 total cases, 14,359 active cases, 585 deaths)