Corpus Christi City pays TAMU-CC for forecasting COVID-19 model

Since April, researchers at Texas A & M University Corpus Christi have spent time developing the COVID-19 projection model for the City of Corpus Christi.

They no longer need to volunteer.

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, the city council approved an agreement between the Corpus Christine Nuesces County Public Health District and TAMU-CC for the city to pay up to $217,840 for modeling.

According to city materials, the funding is supporting the task force’s work through December.

The Task Force was established in April to create a group of experts to assess and predict the prevalence of COVID-19 in Coast Bend. Task Force members focus on current and future impacts on local hospital infrastructure.

Starting April 10, the Task Force has released its modeling work at the weekly city and county COVID-19 briefings.

The agreement allows the task force to move to longer-term operational units and contribute to consistent assessments and forecasts.

Researchers will continue to inform local leaders of public health issues related to COVID-19, as it could overwhelm the infrastructure of local hospitals where COVID-19 could spread.

Other TAMU-CC task force members will continue to volunteer to support modeling efforts.

According to city documents, funds may be reimbursed through the COVID-19 Coronavirus Remedies, Remedies, and Economic Security Act.