‘People are understanding’: Weekly check-in with UMC’s Dr. Jose Burgos

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.

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

Dr. Jose Burgos (UMC’s Director of Internal Medicine): "We had a really good week because the number of patients in the hospital with coronavirus is coming down. Last month we were having between 50-60 patients everyday now we're having in the low 20s."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Burgos: "We can definitely handle the number of patients."

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

Burgos: "We need to educate our kids. They are at home. It's overwhelming. I have three. I have seen how painful virtual school is. But, it's a good time for us to teach them how to deal with this. How to wash their hands frequently, how to avoid the -- I know that schools will have a set of rules -- but how to avoid certain crowded places. Most importantly, how to wear a mask."

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

Burgos: "This week was quite interesting regarding some of the new CDC recommendations about not testing as much. I'm a big advocate and fortunately our organization is as well, of diagnosing people early. Because if you are asymptomatic and you're going out and about, the likelihood of that person to get other people sick is extremely high. We are going to continue to test people even if they are asymptomatic."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Burgos: "I'm dreaming about the day where we tell you we have no patients in the hospital. I see that happening in the near future, but it depends on how we continue to behave as a community."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Burgos: "What is giving me hope is seeing how people are taking this more seriously. I have mentioned this before, there is absolutely no need to politicize this. This is a public health matter, this is not a political matter. People are understanding this more and more."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Burgos: "Flu season is coming. Please get a vaccine and protect your family."

Statistics for August 27:

• 19,925 total cases, 3,102 active cases, 410 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)