CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It was a rare opportunity for Corpus Christi mayor Joe McComb.
Following the first day of the most recent round of beach closures throughout the city and Nueces County, McComb appeared on CNN on Thursday to explain how leaders within the area are changing the way they're responding to COVID-19.
“We’re trying to make the best that we can out of a situation,” he said. “We’re trying to protect our people here and protect our visitors — and CNN got wind of it — and I was proud to represent the city. (I) hope I did the city proud.”
The national media interview lasted about five minutes, and began with McComb saying the community could have done better.
“I think we left our guard down — the public did," he said. "And started going out a little too much."
The mayor also put to bed the rumor that heat and humidity kills the virus.
Although McComb himself doesn’t enjoy how life has changed, he told CNN the surge in cases was a wake-up call.
“I think the reality is coming home to them that masks, whether they like them or not — I don't like wearing them — but . . . in my opinion, they do work,” he said. “It's not necessarily for me — it's for my wife and my grandchildren and my kids and my children, and our neighbors, so I'm wearing 'em."
The mayor ended the interview with remarks for the Coastal Bend community to take care of one another.
"Stay in communication with your friends,” he said. “But right now, be patient. This is a good patience-learning experience, because I know patience (is) growing pretty thin for a lot of people.”
McComb later told KRIS 6 News life will continue to be different.
“We’re all going to be a little inconvenienced,” he said. “But in the long-run — it's for the best interest of everybody here in the community and our visitors."