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On August 23, Representative Phil King sponsored a press conference concerning COVID-19 in schools with Former Energy Secretary and Former Texas Governor Rick Perry. Rep. Phil King noted that White, Bell, Capriglione, and Morrison were in attendance and that the aim of the presser is not to promote any company, but to find solutions.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Garrett K. Peel, IVP Executive

  • Delta and Lambda variants are taking lives; data is unclear about the benefits of masks, and some show they are harmful to children
  • Current filters are not effective at killing the virus; current air conditioning systems can be spreaders of the virus
  • IVP’s technology is a proven airborne system to catch and kill airborne viruses and pathogens
  • Is not just about COVID-19, need a system to prevent the spread of pathogens and other viruses
  • Biodefense filters have been installed in various parts of the nation to create safer indoor spaces; includes prison systems, schools, and businesses
  • Have been installed at TDEM and DSHS
  • Have recently partnered with the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Restaurant Association
  • Technology has been approved for emergency use by the FDA
  • Are currently working on other solutions to this crisis
  • Will hear from schools and community leaders who have used this technology
  • Cannot allow politics to interfere with science; call on Governor Abbott to embrace this technology
  • Have an executive counsel we would like Governor Abbott to appoint immediately

 

Dr. Zhifeng Ren, Director Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH (TcSUH)

  • Overviews the function of the IVP air filters
  • In some instances, it does not matter if you are vaccinated or not; the virus is airborne
  • If we do not use this machine, will have more waves with the virus
  • Without clean air, kids cannot be safe in schools

 

Taylor Williams, Superintendent Slidell ISD

  • Were the first school to deploy these units
  • Did not close school one time and maintained a 97% attendance rate
  • Cannot imagine starting schools without these machines; has given community peace of mind
  • Research shows students need to be taught in person
  • Do not have the same educational gaps as other schools because of these machines

 

Kelli Moulton, Retired Superintendent Galveston ISD

  • Implemented the filters after seeing them work in Slidell ISD
  • This is another layer of protection; overviews how the filter is used in schools
  • Did not close any of our elementaries
  • No spread was detected at the campus level
  • School district continues to use these filters

 

Richard Hunton Jr., Hunton Group

  • Are in partnership with IVP
  • Need to use this technology to be proactive against the virus

 

Ken Thorp, Emory University

  • Working with IVP concerning public health policy and economics of these systems
  • Have been disappointed in many officials’ response; vaccines have not been sufficient
  • Need to have this as a key public policy strategy; need to engage with private sector to ensure this is another mitigation tool

 

Anna Tauzin, Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer Texas Restaurant Association

  • Restaurants are struggling now with getting staff the confidence to come back to work
  • Are expanding the “Restaurant Promise” to include these technologies to give people peace of mind
  • Partnered with IVP in December 2020; will continue to work with them

 

Fernando Martinez, Texas Hospital Association

  • Have a division that looks for technologies that will improve patient care
  • HEPA filters currently in hospitals are only effective to a degree; cannot remove all airborne pathogens
  • Provides a personal anecdote of a hotel using one of these filters
  • Hospitals need to catch up and there needs to be a push to adopt this technology

 

Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry

  • Is potentially one of the most important press conferences ever involved with
  • Overviews the response for previous outbreaks of viruses
  • Science is the basis in which we test these technologies
  • Is hard to figure out who to believe concerning public health advise
  • Technology has been tested in real schools, labs, and experts
  • This is not about politics; is about getting kids back into school so they do not have to have a mask on their face
  • Hopes the Governors, including Abbott, who have been criticized for their mask stance use this technology as a solution
  • The federal government has sent dollars from the American Rescue Act
    • One of the wisest ways to deploy those funds is on these devises
  • Texas legislators and entrepreneurs are leading the way

 

Representative Phil King

  • Representatives White, Bell, Capriglione, and Morrison are sitting up here today
  • Are not here to promote any company, but to promote solutions
  • Need to give parents the peace of mind their kids will be safe
  • Equipment was donated to Slidell and was installed easily
  • Slidell ISD Superintendent noted that their cases of strep and other illnesses went down
  • Hopes some of the money coming down from the federal government will be used to get this technology in schools and other public places
  • Masks alone and segregating people will not be the solution

 

Questions & Answers

Q: Do you have stake in this company?

  • Perry – Own part of the company
  • Q: How big is the part?
  • Perry – Not a public official anymore, do not have to answer that
  • Peel – Rick Perry works on the board of IVP

 

Q: Have you talked to Governor Abbott about this?

  • Perry – Yes, have talked to DeSantis and Bill Lee as well; this is about spreading awareness
  • Perry – Notes an article that discusses whether or not masks are effective
  • Perry – Those 12 and under have not been approved for the vaccine and know that masking everyone is not going to work
  • Perry – Is no question if these machines are effective
  • Perry and other members of the panel discuss how the filtration system works
  • Peel – Over 150 campuses in Texas have this technology; includes Episcopal High School, Comal ISD, Houston, Fort Worth, Hogg ISD, some charter schools
  • Peel – Technology is implemented in St Joseph’s Medical Center, Greystone Communities, the George R Brown Center, the Wayne County Prison System, among others

 

Q: Any other companies are doing this? IPV the only one?

  • Peel – Is the only system that is proven to take out pathogens instantaneously
  • Peel – Have a UV contact system and HEPA system in the room which does not catch what the IVP filter does
  • Peel – Noted there was a study that one HEPA filter spread COVID-19 through a hospital

 

Q: Alternative to masks and vaccines?

  • Peel – Is in addition to the tools the CDC has laid out