SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Senior leaders from the 433rd Airlift Wing, the Air Force Personnel Center, and the City of San Antonio and Bexar County Metropolitan Public Health District gathered to recognize 433rd AW Reserve Citizen Airmen, who assisted at the Bexar County COVID-19 Operations Center at the San Antonio Alamodome Sept. 17.
The Alamo Wing Airmen were part of the COVID-19 case investigation team.
When health care providers or other organizations discover a positive case of COVID-19 in Bexar County, they are required by law to report the case to local public health departments immediately.
Within 24 hours after that notification, these case investigators will launch an investigation, using a standardized questionnaire to collect additional data about the patient. Collected data include clinical signs and symptoms, date of symptom onset, and any complications. Most importantly, the case inspector will notify people who were exposed to provide appropriate public health recommendations to limit disease transmission.
In the act of appreciation, the Armed Forces Service Medal was presented to the team members. Several organizations also presented challenge coins to them. Additionally, several city and county representatives and members from Joint Base San Antonio provided remarks of appreciation.
“This COVID-19 pandemic has really put an extraordinary strain on the public health infrastructure,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District assistant director and Bexar County Communicable Disease Division director. “I have never witnessed this much public engagement, interest, and support for public health in my 18-year public health career. We appreciate all the assistance we have received.”
Kimberly Toney, Air Force Personnel Center executive director, said, “It is an exceptional honor to be here to say thank you to our men and women in uniform. When this started, and we were looking for volunteers, they raised their hands and said, ‘I want to be there and do that. I want to be a part of it.’”