The Rundown

Here's What You Need to Know about the Coronavirus in Houston

An ongoing round-up of what we know about Covid-19.

Coronavirus, under the microscope.

Image: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/shutterstock

As you must know by now, the coronavirus is in Houston. We'll be updating this post periodically to keep you up to date with all the latest information about the disease as this public health threat continues to unfold.

Updated 5:08 p.m. July 29

There have been 202,649 total cases of Covid-19 in Houston, per the Houston Health Department today. That number includes 1,342 new cases that have occurred in the past two weeks. Three newly reported deaths bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,950.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo asked all residents to wear masks on Twitter today.

“If you’re vaccinated, you’re already a hero. Now we need you to step up and put your mask back on,” she wrote. “COVID19 is rising again in our community and we need to protect the unvaccinated. Mask up y'all.”

Today, Gov. Greg Abbott released a new executive order, consolidating his other orders pertaining to Covid-19 into one order. Below is a summary:

All Covid-19 testing sites must submit daily Covid-19 numbers reports.
All hospitals must report hospitalizations daily.
No government entity or entity that receives public funds may require Covid-19 vaccinations that currently have “emergency-use authorization” from the Food and Drug Administration. Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are the exception to this rule.
There are no required Covid-19-related operating limits on any entity in the state.
Local governments, including county, city, school district, and public health authority, cannot enact mask mandates. The exception would be assisted-living facilities, juvenile detention centers, jails, and government-owned hospitals.
This order supersedes all orders made by local officials in response to the pandemic.

“The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texans have mastered the safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities.”

Read the full order here.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden released an order Thursday, requiring all federal employees to turn in proof of vaccination or submit to regular Covid-19 testing. Read more here.

On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updates to its mask recommendations. Below is a summary of the changes:

Fully vaxxed people should wear a mask indoors if its a public setting and/or an area of high transmission (i.e., headed to Memorial City Mall? Mask up.)
Fully vaxxed people, especially if they are in an at-risk demographic or someone in their household is at-risk, “might choose” to wear a mask wherever they are.
Fully vaxxed people who’ve had a known exposure to Covid-19 should get tested 3–5 days after that incident and wear a mask inside for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
Everyone, whether they’re vaxxed or not, should wear masks inside schools.

Updated 5:36 p.m. July 28

Houston has had a total of 199,610 cases of Covid-19, 401 of which have occurred in the past two weeks, per the Houston Health Department. Two newly reported deaths bring the city’s total fatality count to 1,947.

The city’s rolling positivity rate has jumped up to 9.7 percent due to widespread cases of the Delta variant. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, in the past week, there have been 5,267 new confirmed cases, 34 fatalities, and 5,292 current hospitalizations reported each day.

Per a report from the Houston Chronicle, fear of the delta variant has spurred more people to get a vaccination, with the state administering more than 68,000 shots on Tuesday—the largest single day number of vaccinations Texas has seen in a month.

As of last week (July 19), 62.8 percent of Houstonians age 12 and up have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 53.5 percent are fully vaxxed, according to HHD.

Updated 3:55 p.m. July 26

Houston has had 197,088 cases of Covid-19, including 339 new cases from the past two weeks, the health department reported today. Three newly reported deaths, one of which having occurred in August 2020, bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,942.

The Food and Drug Administration has requested for Pfizer and Moderna to expand their Covid-19 vaccine trials to children ages 5 to 11. The FDA asked each company to include 3,000 more children so that there might be more information on potential side effects in people under 30. While both companies agreed to make the expansion by fall, Pfizer is poised to fulfill the request much sooner. Learn more here.

Harris County Public Health shared a chart today to help folks decipher if their symptoms are Covid-19 or allergies. Need more help? Check out our guide.

Updated 5:21 p.m. July 23

The number of Covid-19 hospitalizations have increased by 150 percent in the past week, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“Texas is in a race against time,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner, in a video shared to Twitter today. As aggressive variants, like Delta, spread, he warned that they could have a devastating impact on the state.

“These aggressive variants,” he said, “combined with the millions of Texans who have no protection against the pandemic virus create the very real potential that the surge we are already beginning to see could be another rapid surge with devastating consequences for Texans.”

Per DSHS data, only 51.9 percent of Texans are fully vaxxed (in Harris County, about 53.86 percent of people are fully vaccinated). Hellerstedt encouraged everyone to get fully vaccinated to protect yourself and your community. “Yes, that means both doses,” he said. “Or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”

Meanwhile, over in Fort Bend, health officials are encouraging everyone—vaccinated or unvaccinated to wear masks indoors—as Delta spreads. Learn more here.

Houston has had a total of 196,795 Covid-19 cases, the Houston Health Department reported today, including 636 cases that have occurred in the past two weeks. Three newly reported deaths, one of which occurred back in April, bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,939.

Updated 5:28 p.m. July 22

Houston has had a total 196,155 Covid-19 cases, the Houston Health Department reported today, including 290 new cases that’ve occurred in the past two weeks. The department also released two newly reported deaths, which brings Houston’s fatality count to 2,936.

Because of growing case numbers, Harris County moved the Covid-19 threat level from yellow - stay vigilant (the second lowest) to orange - minimize contact (the second highest) today. The county is encouraging all those who are unvaccinated to minimize contacts and for everyone to wear masks.

“Masks kind of suck. But they suck a little less when everyone wears them together,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tweeted today. “The Delta variant has the potential to take an incredible toll on our community. Even if you’re vaccinated, help us save lives by normalizing masks again. We can do this.”

To encourage Covid-19 vaccinations for families with children age 12 and older, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced today a series of pop-up vaccination clinics at Walmarts across the state.

“Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are now rising across all age groups. While fewer young people get very sick, they can get and spread the virus, and we are still learning about the long-term effects,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner, in a statement. “Tens of millions of people have been vaccinated with no ill effects. We know these vaccines are not only safe but also very effective. Achieving higher vaccination rates is essential to eliminating the threat of COVID from our communities.”

Learn more here.

Per KHOU, a new study has found that Covid-19 can have longterm impacts on the brain, even in mild cases. The study out of the UK found evidence of brain atrophy in the areas that control taste, smell, and memory. Learn more here.

Updated 5:55 p.m. July 21

The Houston Health Department today reported that 576 cases of Covid-19 have occurred over the past two weeks, plus an additional 507 backlog cases. Houston’s total is now 195,873. Six newly reported deaths bring the city’s total to 2,934.

Per the Texas Department of State Health Services, Covid-19 cases are increasing once more. In the past week, Texas has averaged 2,684 new confirmed cases, 23 reported fatalities, and 3,566 current hospitalizations each day.

“Texas is in a race to FULLY vaccinate more people before Delta spikes hospitalizations and cases even higher,” DSHS tweeted today.

The Texas Tribune further corroborated this information, reporting today that the state’s seven-day positivity rate (11.1 percent as of July 19) had crossed into the “red zone” above 10 percent, indicating Delta cases are rising.

Nervous you might still get Covid-19 even if you get a vaccine? That’s highly unlikely, according to HHD. Less than 1 percent (0.066 percent) of Houstonians who’ve been fully vaccinated have tested positive for Covid-19 as of July 16.

Need more convincing? Per another Texas Tribune report, only 43 people of the 8,787 people who’ve died in Texas from Covid since February were fully vaccinated. Read that report here.

Despite the growing case numbers, Governor Greg Abbott in Houston today said he won’t enforce a mask mandate in schools this fall.

“Everyone has had more than a year to master all of the same strategies that they can choose of what’s best for them and their family members,” he said. “We’re past the time of government mandates. We’re into the time for personal responsibility.” (Abbott has been using personal responsibility as an excuse for banning mandates since March 2, when he lifted practically every Covid-19 mandate across the state.)

Learn more here.

Updated 5:02 p.m. July 19

The Houston Health Department reported 232 new cases of Covid-19, almost all of which (98 percent) have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 194,354. Two newly reported deaths, which both occurred last month, bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,925.

Per a KHOU report, 156 people who attended the Clear Creek Community Church summer camp in Giddings last month now have Covid-19. At least 20 of those people were fully vaccinated.

Also per a KHOU report, as cases spike in Houston, Houston Methodist is reporting its first case of the Lambda variant, which emerged in Peru last year. Learn more here.

Updated 6:04 p.m. July 16

The Houston Health Department reported 267 new cases of Covid-19 today. Almost all of those cases (98 percent) have occurred in the past two weeks. Four newly reported deaths, one of which occurred on August 8, 2020, bring Houston's fatality count to 2,923.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Harris County rising. Per a new report from the Houston Chronicle, most patients who have been hospitalized for Covid-19 recently were unvaccinated or not fully vaxxed. Furthermore, "None of the 119 people who have died from COVID-19 at Harris Health since January were fully vaccinated."

Statewide, the number of new confirmed cases have surged by 76 percent, hospitalizations by 30 percent, and deaths by 10 percent over the past week, per the Texas Department of State Health Services Friday.

"COVID-19 is increasing in Texas," DSHS tweeted. "Rises in variants, including Delta, have led to surges in cases and hospitalizations. Unvaccinated are at greatest risk. COVID-19 vaccines are the best protection against severe illness from the virus."

Updated 5:45 p.m. July 14

Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that the state has received $210 million-plus in federal emergency grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The money will be allocated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to support mental health and substance use disorder services.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, with 2020 experiencing record-number overdose-related deaths.

“The pandemic has created much higher demand for mental health and substance use disorder services across Texas,” said Sonja Gaines, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Intellectual and Developmental Disability and Behavioral Health Services, per a press release. “The federal emergency funding will allow us to address challenges associated with the impact of COVID-19 and help get Texans who need behavioral support on the road to recovery.”

According to the release, $135.6 million will be allocated for prevention and substance use disorder treatment and recovery and $74.5 million will go to community mental health services.

To learn more about the impact that the pandemic and related trauma can have on you, click here. To learn about the impact having Covid-19 can have on your mental health, click here.

Updated 5:52 p.m. July 13

The Houston Health Department today reported 51 new cases of Covid-19, of which about two-thirds (34 cases) have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,764. The city reported only one new death, which occurred last March, bringing Houston's total fatality count to 2,914.

Yesterday, The Food and Drug Administration placed a warning on the Johnson & Johnson Covidd-19 vaccine, after 100 istances occurred of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, per a report from Washington Post. Though quite rare, Guillain-Barré causes the immune system to attack nerves, per the Mayo Clinic.

This is not the first time the FDA has had to put a warning on Johnson & Johnson. Back in April (see below), the FDA paused administrations of the vaccine after rare blood clots appeared in some patients. Once the vaccinations resumed, J&J received a blood clot warning label.

Read the new warning here.

Updated 3:55 p.m. July 12

The Houston Health Department reported 121 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only five cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 193,718. The department reported zero new deaths today. The city’s Covid-19 death toll remains at 2,913.

Last week, rumors were swirling after Pfizer announced a third Covid-19 vaccine booster shot might be necessary. While that’s not out of the realm of possibility in the future, yesterday Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that people do not need a booster at this time. Additionally, last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration released a joint statement denying the current need for fully vaxxed Americans to receive boosters.

“People who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta,” read the statement. “People who are not vaccinated remain at risk. Virtually all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated.”

As a reminder, if you are unvaccinated, you still should be wearing a mask in most public venues, getting tested if sick, and washing your hands (you should still do that, even if you’re vaxxed) per Harris County Public Health.

Updated 4:22 p.m. July 9

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday announced updates to its Covid-19 school guidance. In sum:

Fully vaccinated students and teachers do not need to wear masks indoors.
Anyone age two and older who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks.
Desks should be spaced three feet apart whenever possible.
Schools should prioritize returning to in-person learning.
Other preventative measures, like contact tracing and hand sanitizer, should be continued.

See the full list of changes here.

This year Harris County is expected to receive $915 million in Covid-19 relief fund as part of Congress’s American Rescue Plan Act. While the county must use this money by the end of 2024, it wants residents’ input on how the funds are allocated.

Harris County residents can take a survey and give input on which health-, jobs-, and housing-related issues they’ve been the most concerned about over the past year.

Learn more and take the survey here.

The Houston Health Department reported 152 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 36 cases have actually occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 193,600.

Three newly reported deaths, one of which occurred December 6, 2020, bring Houston’s fatality total to 2,913.

Updated 4:15 p.m. July 8

The Houston Health Department reported 282 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 3 percent—or eight cases—have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 193,452. Three newly reported deaths—one in January and two in June—bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,910.

Per a report from HHD, 56.7 percent of Houstonians are fully vaccinated, and 61.4 percent have had at least one dose. Across Harris County, 50 percent of residents have had at least one dose and 42.6 percent are fully vaxxed, per city/county data.

Of Texas’s most populated areas, Harris County is performing the worst in terms of Covid-19 vaccinations numbers. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, 48.40 percent of Tarrant County, 50.00 percent of Dallas County, 54.18 percent of Bexar County, and 60.91 percent of Travis County are all fully vaccinated. While low vaccination turnout is nothing new for Harris County, learn more about why some residents are hesitant to get vaccinated here.

Updated 5:321 p.m. July 7

The Houston Health Department reported 654 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 8 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 193,276. Three newly reported deaths, the earliest of which occurred on January 3, bring 2,907.

Per the Texas Department of State Health Services, Covid-19 hospitalizations are rising, with the state averaging 1,721 current hospitalizations per day over the past week. Additionally, DSHS reported the state averaged 813 new confirmed cases and 19 fatalities reported daily over the past seven days.

Last week, a grand jury failed to indict Dr. Hasan Gokal, who was accused of stealing a vial of Covid-19 vaccine, on criminal charges, per several reports.

According to Gokal’s attorneys, at a December 29 vaccination site, an opened vial still had doses left at the end of the day. Gokal asked if any of the volunteers if they needed the vaccine, then administered the nine remaining doses to qualifying recipients off site, to not waste the vial. He then reported those vaccinations to the state. He was fired the next week and charged with theft by a public servant, a misdemeanor, by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, in January.

On January 25, County Court-At-Law Judge Franklin Bynum dismissed the charge, and the district attorney’s office announced it would take the case to a grand jury, which didn’t occur until June 30. In the meantime, the Texas Medical Board had cleared him of any wrongdoing in March.

Learn more here.

Updated 5:06 p.m. July 6

The Houston Health Department reported 992 new cases of Covid-19 today. While that number is jaw-dropping in terms of recent reports, here’s a little context: As the department didn’t report over the holiday weekend, this number reflects four days’ worth of data. Plus, only 10 percent of those 992 cases have occurred in the past two weeks and HHD also removed 453 duplicate cases from the total count. Houston’s total is now 192,801.

Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,904.

Last month a League City church hosted a youth camp—now dozens of participants have been diagnosed Covid-19. Per a report from the Houston Chronicle, 450 adults and adolescents (sixth through 12th grade) went to a five-day Clear Creek Community Church camp in Giddings.

Since then, Galveston County Public Health have connected 57 Covid-19 cases to that camp, and another 90 participants are self-reporting positive cases, per another Chron report. At least three cases are the delta variant.

Updated 3:36 p.m. July 1

The Houston Health Department reported 189 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 59 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 192,207. Two newly reported deaths bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,894.

Per a tweet from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county this week voted to distribute $1,500 one-time payments to 20,000 families still recovering from the pandemic as part of American Rescue Plan funds.

“We're not wasting a second getting help on the ground,” Hidalgo wrote. “Stay tuned for more.”

Harris County testing and vaccination sites will be closed Sunday and Monday for the holiday weekend. Sites will reopen Tuesday, July 6.

Updated 4:56 p.m. June 30

The Houston Health Department reported only 31 cases of Covid-19 today, but attributed this low number to technical issues over the weekend. Most of these new cases (27) have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 192,225.

Two newly reported deaths bring Houston’s fatality total to 2,892.

Per the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state has averaged 749 new confirmed cases, 22 fatalities reported, and 527 current hospitalizations a day for the past week.

There have also been 4,982 total variant cases reported in Texas, per an DSHS infographic posted on Twitter today. According to DSHS’s online variant tracker, which was last updated on June 23, there have been 25 reported cases of the highly contagious delta variant. In Trauma Service Area Q, which encompasses Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton cases, there have been seven reported delta cases.

While it is still unclear whether delta is more dangerous than other Covid-19 strains, many health experts believe it will become the dominant variant in the U.S. this summer. Per the Associated Press, it already accounts for 20 percent of U.S. cases and 90 percent of all new cases in the U.K. Read that report here.

Updated 4:53 p.m. June 29

The Houston Health Department reported only seven new cases of Covid-19 today, of which four cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total is now 193,200. Additionally, the city is only reporting two new Covid-19-related deaths, which bring Houston’s fatality total to 2,890.

Statewide, 51,000 Texans have died from the pandemic, but although this is less than 2 percent of the state’s 29 million residents, it could have lasting impacts, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Per the report, the statewide death rate jumped 22 percent last year, which could lead to a lower life expectancy in Texas.

Read the report here.

On the county level, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced via Twitter today that 50 percent of Harris County residents are fully vaccinated and 60 percent have had at least one shot. Per city/county data, 4,086,654 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered across Harris County and 1,955,198 people are fully vaxxed.

Per a report from Houston Public Media, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will visit Minute Maid Park’s free pregame vaccination clinic this evening in the Union Station lobby. After which, they’ll stay for the Astros game versus the Baltimore Orioles.

“A special thank you to FLOTUS & SGOTUS for their commitment & dedication in mobilizing grassroot vaccine education & accessibility,” tweeted the Mayor’s Office this afternoon. “Their visit today is part of the Administration’s nation-wide tour to reach millions of Americans who still need protection against the virus.”

Updated 4:45 p.m. June 25

First Lady Jill Biden and Second Husband Douglas Emhoff will be in Houston Tuesday, June 29, as part of a tour across the country to encourage people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. It's unclear where the two will visit in town, per several reports.

Yesterday, the Houston Health Department tweeted that more than half (52.6 percent) of Houstonians are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of June 16, and 59 percent have had at least one dose. Countywide, 49.95 pecent of Harris County residents are fully vaxxed as of June 25, per data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The Kinder Institute's "The 2021 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston" report found that one in eight Housotn renters received an eviction notice during the pandemic. While Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky yesterday extended the nationwide moratorium on evictions through July 31, that this could be a "ticking time bomb," per a report from ABC13.

Read the Kinder Institute's report here.

Updated 4:39 p.m. June 24

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported this afternoon that there have been 25 cases of the Delta variant across the state, but Texas "likely has more unidentified cases."

In an infographic posted to Twitter, DSHS encouraged people to get vaccinated as "Pfizer studies show fully vaccinated have 88% protection, single dose 33% protection, against the Delata variant."

Meanwhile, DSHS also reported yesterday that over the past week, Texas has averaged 835 new confirmed cases, 24 reported fatalities reported, and 1,507 current hospitalizations each day.

The Houston Health Department reported 20 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 15 cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Two newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,880.

The Astros will partner with Houston Methodist next week to host a free Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Minute Maid Park. On Tuesday, June 29, show up to the Union Station lobby between 5 and 8 p.m., get vaccinated, then get free tickets to that night’s game versus the Baltimore Orioles or to one of the team’s games with Oakland Athletics July 6–8.

Updated 4:07 p.m. June 23

Per multiple reports, 153 Houston Methodist employees have been fired or have resigned over the hospital system's Covid-19 vaccine requirement.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes threw out a May lawsuit against the hospital system over this policy. In the suit, 117 employees sued the hospital system for this rule, comparing it to the Nuremberg Code, which was implemented after World War II as a response to the human exploitation of concentration camp prisoners.

“Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible,” Hughes wrote at time, per a June 13 Houston Chronicle report. “Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on victims that caused pain, mutilation, permanent disability, and in many cases, death.”

Houston Methodist first announced this policy in late March, becoming one of the first hospital systems to make such a requirement. Empployees had until mid-June to get vaxxed, or face suspension without pay or possible job termination. While almost 180 employees were not fully vaccinated by that deadline, more than 24,000 were.

Read more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 300 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 46 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,832. HHD reported only two new deaths, which bring Houston's fatality count to 2,878.

Updated 5:26 p.m. June 22

While 56.6 percent of eligible Texans have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, less than half of the population (47.87 percent) are fully vaccinated, per data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. In Harris County, 48.95 percent are fully vaxxed.

The City of Houston is hosting 29 free vaccination sites this week, including 19 pop-up clinics at middle schools, supermarkets, and community centers. See the full list here.

The Houston Health Department reported 32 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 56 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,866. Four newly reported deaths bring Houston's fality count to 2,876.

Updated 6:04 p.m. June 18

Per a report from the Washington Post, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are predicting that the highly contagious delta variant of Covid-19 will become the dominant strain in the U.S. this summer. (The CDC has a nifty tool that allows users to see which variants are most likely to become more prevalent in their region. Explore it here.) As of June 16, the delta variant has not been detected in Texas, per the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The Houston Health Department today reported 303 cases of Covid-19, of which 34 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,196. Six newly reported deaths, the earliest of which occurred in March of this year, bring the city’s total fatality count to 2,865.

Updated 3:48 p.m. June 17

The Houston Health Department reported 103 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 20 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,107. However, according to city and county data, less than 1 percent (about 0.8 percent) of Houston's total cases are currently active.

Three newly reported deaths, the earliest occurring in April, bring Houston's fatality count to 2,859.

In other pandemic-related news, as more and more people venture back out into the world post-quarantine, common cold cases are rising, per a report from ABC13. While summer months aren't typically big cold and flu seasons, doctors believe the lowering of pandemic restrictions and fewer people wearing masks could be contributing factors to this trend, according to the report.

Updated 5:08 p.m. June 16

The Houston Health Department reported 156 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 44 cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,193. Four newly reported deaths, the earliest of which occurred in February, bring Houston's fatality count to 2,856.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported today that over the past seven days, the state averaged 793 new confirmed cases, 27 fatalities reported, and 1,560 current hospitalizations each day.

Statewide, there have been more than 2.5 million cases, or about 9 percent of the state's population.

Updated 4:53 p.m. June 15

The Houston Health Department reported 87 new cases of Covid-19, but only six cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,601. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,852.

Flying tomorrow? Get your Covid-19 vaccination while you wait for your flight. No, really.

Curative is holding a free Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Houston Hobby Airport tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines available. Head to the Delta check-in desk; walk-ins will be accepted, but you can also make an appointment ahead of time.

Speaking of vaccine incentives, Harris County Public Health is raffling college scholarships to adolescents under age 18 who get vaccinated. Yesterday, HCPH awarded the first $5,000 scholarship to Jose Mejia.

After the students get shot, they can enter to win here.

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, 46 percent of eligible Texans are fully vaccinated, with 55.35 percent having received at least one dose. In Harris County, 47.19 percent of eligible residents are fully vaxxed and 57.57 percent have received at least one dose, per the report.

Updated 5 p.m. June 14

The Houston Health Department reported 238 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 13 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 194,049. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,846.

Over the weekend, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit against Houston Methodist, which is requiring employees to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

Late last month, 117 employees sued the hospital system for this rule, comparing it to the Nuremberg Code, which was implemented after World War II as a response to the human exploitation of concentration camp prisoners. Last week, several nurses staged a walkout of Houston Methodist - Baytown after their shifts yesterday because they were unvaccinated.

“Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible,” said U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, per a June 13 Houston Chronicle report. “Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on victims that caused pain, mutilation, permanent disability, and in many cases, death.”

Read more here.

Maryland-based biotech company Novavax announced today that its two-shot Covid-19 vaccine is 90-percent effective after a 30,000-person trial, but it's likely that mass use of this new vaccine won't come until the third quarter. Read more here.

Updated 5:20 p.m. June 11

The Houston Health Department reported only 18 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 12 have occurred in the past two weeks. Four newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,823.

As of June 26, Texans won't be able to file for unemployment benefits if the reason they're refusing to work for fear of catching Covid-19, the Texas Workforce Commission announced this week, per a report from the Texas Tribune. Beginning on June 26 as well, Texans won't be able to receive an extra $300 a month in federal unemployment benefits as part of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. Learn more here.

Updated 4:28 p.m. June 9

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that the state had averaged 1,607 current hospitalizations, 1,013 new confirmed cases, and 35 reported fatalities a day for the past seven days. While DSHS has not reported any cases of the highly contagious Delta variant, which first emerged in India and now accounts for 6 percent of U.S. cases, according to NPR, the agency did warn Texans about coronavirus variants.

"COVID stays low as more Texans get vaccinated," DSHS wrote on Twitter. "Variants, like Delta, still threaten our progress. Encourage your loved ones to get vaccinated."

Almost half of Houstonians are fully vaccinated, the Houston Health Department reported today. Across all populations eligible for the vaccine, 49.3 percent are fully vaxxed and 57 percent have had at least one dose. For older age groups, about 88 percent of Houstonians age 60 and older are fully vaxxed.

On the state level, 44.29 percent of eligible Texans are fully vaxxed, and 54.28 percent have had at least one dose. For older populations, 70.24 percent of Texans age 65 and older are fully vaccinated.

Th health department also reported 42 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which a little less than half (48 percent) have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 194,061 and the rolling positivity rate is 4.5 percent. Two newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,808.

Updated 4:47 p.m. June 8

Several nurses staged a walkout of Houston Methodist - Baytown after their shifts yesterday because they were unvaccinated, per several reports. Yesterday was the hospital system's deadline for all employees to get vaccinated, or face suspension and job termination.

Late last month, 117 employees sued the hospital system because none of the Covid-19 vaccines have been given official and final approval and therefore employers technically cannot require employees to receive them. Learn more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 168 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 19 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 194,022. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,806.

Updated 4:27 p.m. June 7

For a little over a month, two cruise ships—the Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista—have been floating in the Port of Galveston. Today, the cruise line giant, which has been docked for more than a year because of Covid-19, announced that the ships are finally setting sail—the Breeze on July 1 and Vista on July 15.

Because the large crowd of families on board, the ships will require proof of vaccination, with folks' second dose occurring at least 14 days before the cruise.

Or will they?

When asked on Twitter about Carnival, Governor Greg Abbott announced today that he's signing a bill— Senate Bill 968—that will prohibit any businesses operating in Texas from requiring proof of vaccination, or vaccine passports.

"Texas is open 100% without any restrictions or limitations or requirements," he tweeted.

Earlier this year on April 6, the governor signed an executive order that prohibits state agencies, as well as public and private entities that receive state funding, from requiring people to show proof of Covid-19 vaccinations before they can enter a premises or receive a service.

“But as I said all along, these vaccines are always necessary and never forced,” said Abbott in a video message on Twitter at the time. “Government should not require any Texan to show proof of vaccination and reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives.”

Vaccine passports, or proof of vaccinations, have sparked debates across the state and the country. While the federal government has not officially announced a national vaccine passport system, several states, such as Arizona, Florida, and Montana, have preemptively banned them.

Now that list includes Texas.

Meanwhile, the Hosuton Health Department reported 209 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 65 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,860. Three newly reported deaths, all of which occurred in May, bring Houston's fatality count to 2,799.

Updated 3:59 p.m. June 4

The Houston Health Department reported 232 nw cases of Covid-19 today, of which 64 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,695. Four newly reported deaths, one of which occurred in July 2020, bring Houston's fatality count to 2,788.

Yesterday, we reporte that 55 percent of Houstonians have at least one Covid-19 dose and 46.5 percent are fully vaccinated. Today, Harris County Judge Lina Hialgo announced that 55 percent of eligible Harris County residents have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, and 44 percent are fully vaccinated.

Updated 4:52 p.m. June 3

The Houston Health Department reported 126 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 77 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,524. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,784. The city's rolling positivity rate is 4.6 percent, the department reported yesterday.

On the state level, Texas averaged 685 new confirmed cases, 32 fatalities reported, and 1,642 current hospitalizations over the past week, the Department of State Health Services reported yesterday. The state positivity rate is 3.09 percent.

More than half of Houstonians have had at least one Covid-19 vaccine. According to HHD, 55 percent of Houstonians have at least one Covid-19 dose and 46.5 percent are fully vaccinated. On a state level, 53.43 percent of Texans, age 12 and up, have had at least one dose and 43.21 percent are fully vaxxed as of today.

Speaking of vaccines, President Joe Biden today pledged to donate 80 million Covid-19 vaccines overseas by the end of the month. Learn more here.

Updated 4:10 p.m. June 2

The Houston Health Department reported 546 new cases of Covid-19 over the past five days, of which 56 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's tota is now 193,503. Seven newly reported/confirmed deaths, one of which occurred on December 15, 2020, bring Houston's total Covid-19 fatalities to 2,779.

Updated 5:33 p.m. June 1

According to Harris County Public Health, the county (including Houston) has had 400,507 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 4,581 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began.

The World Health Organization yesterday announced a new naming system for Covid-19 variants, easing the process by using Greek letters. For example, the U.K. variant (B.1.1.7), which emerged in November 2020, is now Alpha and the South African variant (B.1.351), which emerged in May 2020, is now Beta. Learn more here.

Updated 4:30 p.m. May 29

On Thursday, Houston Methodist announced it was partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to monoclonal antibody therapy. The experimental therapy, which was given emergency-use authorization November 2020 by the Food and Drug Administration, uses laboratory-made proteins to fight Covid-19 and prevent minor and mild cases from worsening.

Since November, Houston Methodist has administered this treatment to 4,200 patients. This partnership with HHS will help the hospital system reach underserved communities. Learn more here.

Harris County Public Health today lowered the county's Covid-19 threat level to moderate (yellow). Under this level, people are advised to be vigilant but otherwise return to life as normal. "Public health recommendations remain in place," according to a tweet from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, "*unless you are fully vaccinated."

The Houston Health Department reported 210 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 85 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 193,115. Six newly reported deaths bring the city's fatality total to 2,772.

Because of the holiday weekend, all city Covid-19 vaccination sites will be closed on Memorial Day, May 31, according to HHD. Three city testing sites, Plaza de Americas, HCC Southwest, and UMMC West Tidwell, will be open.

The state expanded its mobile vaccination program Tuesday. Now any group of five or more Texans can schedule a free mobile vaccination clinic to arrive at a location—so yeah, now you can end your morning yoga class with a Covid-19 shot.

"The eligibility expansion for the State Mobile Vaccine Program will allow more Texans to get vaccinated against Covid-19," said Governor Greg Abbott in a statement. "Vaccines are the most effective defense against this virus, and I urge groups of Texans who wish to get vaccinated as a business, family unit, friend group, or more to call 844-90-TEXAS to schedule a mobile vaccine clinic."

Updated 4:57 p.m. May 28

The Houston Health Department reported 198 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 68 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 193,013. Eight newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 2,766.

According to Harris County Public Health, the county's total case count is 399,829, but our current positivity rate is 5.3 percent (throughout the pandemic, health leaders have been repeating that the goal is to get our area's positivity rate to below 5 percent).

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported today that 10,076,934 Texans are now fully vaccinated. Locally, 1,625,694 people in Harris County have been fully vaccinated as of today, according to county data.

Updated 4:33 p.m. May 26

The Houston Health Department reported 125 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 55 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,926. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatalities to 2,758.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Covid-19 cases are dropping. The country's average number of daily new cases for the past seven days is 22,139, which is down 23 percent from the previous week. In Texas, we averaged 1,962 current hospitalizations, 37 deaths reported, and 1,103 new confirmed cases daily for the past seven days, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Updated 5:50 p.m. May 25

Per several reports, Moderna will apply for Food and Drug Administration authorization to vaccinate children and teens as young as 12 after research found the vaccine to be 93-percent effective after the first dose (learn more here). Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine was given emergency-use authorization for adolescents of the same age group earlier this month on May 10.

Updated 4:54 p.m. May 24

The Houston Health Department reported 217 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 40 percent of cases have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,827. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,756.

As of today, according to city and county data, 1,597,054 people are fully vaccinated in Houston and 2,045,351 are partially vaccinated.

Updated 5:35 p.m. May 20

President Joe Biden signed a new bill today that would expedite the review of pandemic-related hate crimes. Read more here.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science announced yesterday that guests to the museum will no longer be required to wear face masks, although unvaccinated visitors will be encouraged to wear masks. Museum employees will still be required to wear masks.

The Houston Health Department reported 183 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 68 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,352. Four newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,737. The health department is also holding a vaccine drive in the Galleria Financial Center (Level 3) on Saturday, May 22, from noon to 6 p.m.

Updated 3:53 p.m. May 19

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state has averaged 2,239 current hospitalizations, 1,367 new confirmed cases, and 40 new fatalities reported each day for the past week. In total, Texas has had 2,503,036 cases of Covid-19 and 49,999 Covid-19-related deaths since the pandemic began. Harris County's had 397,337 total cases and 6,357 total fatalities.

According to the Houston Health Department, as of May 16, more than half of Houstonians (about 52 percent) have had at least one Covid-19 dose, and 43.2 percent are fully vaxed. That percentage jumps way up for elderly Houstonians. For people age 60 and older, 83.2 percent have at least one dose and 95.1 percent are fully vaxed.

Additionally, HHD reported only 45 new cases of Covid-19 today, ofwhich 82 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,238. Six newly reported deaths, one of which occurred on November 29, 2020, bring Houston's fatality total to 2,733.

Updated 3:57 p.m. May 18

In the past couple of days, Gov. Greg Abbott has made several major announcements regarding Covid-19 policies in Texas. Here’s what you should know:

On Tuesday, the governor issued an executive order prohibiting any government entity, including local health authorities, counties, cities, and school districts, from requiring face masks beginning Friday, May 21. Violations of the order can result in a $1,000 fine, but there are a few caveats to this order.

School districts may keep mask orders through June 4.
Hospitals, state-supported living facilities, and prisons/jails may keep mask orders.
Private businesses are not included in the governor’s order.

This announcement comes about two-and-a-half months since Abbott’s March 2 order, which removed all statewide Covid-19 mandates, including face mask orders and business capacity limits.

On Monday, the governor announced that he was withdrawing Texas from pandemic-era federal unemployment benefits. Starting June 26, Texans on unemployment will no longer receive an extra $300 a month from the federal government in aid, which the state had opted into during the pandemic. Read more about that order here.

Also on Tuesday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo officially moved the county’s Covid-19 threat level from Level 1 Severe (where we had been for 47 weeks, reports the Houston Chronicle) to Level 2 Significant.

Hidalgo cited improving Covid-19 metrics and widespread vaccine availability for the change. But what does it actually mean?

According to the county, under this level, all guidance is voluntary. But unvaccinated Harris County residents should minimize contact with others, social distance, and avoid gatherings. Vaccinated residents can resume activities as normal, provided they follow local laws and local business/workplace guidance.

The county judge summed it up succinctly in a Tuesday afternoon tweet: “If you’re unvaccinated, continue to minimize all contacts. If you’re vaccinated, you do you.”

The Houston Health Department today reported 105 new cases of Covid-19, of which only 27 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Three newly reported deaths bring Houston’s fatality count to 2,727.

Updated 3:59 p.m. May 17

Per a tweet from Gov. Greg Abbott, the state reported zero Covid-19-related deaths on Sunday, May 16—this is the first day since March 2020 that Texas hasn't recorded at least one coronavirus-related fatality. The news was short-lived, however, as the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 23 deaths today. There have been a total of 49,900 fatalities in Texas since the pandemic began, according to the state, and 6,333 in Harris County.

Last Friday, we reported that Trader Joe's had lifted its face mask policy for vaccinated shoppers. Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, and Costco have also lifted their policies, per a report from KHOU. Additionally, the Houston Zoo has announced it also won't require masks, except in paid animal encounters, like giraffe feeding.

The Houston Health Department today reported 158 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 52 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 192,112. Seven newly reported deaths, one of which took place on July 30, 2020, bring Houston's fatality total to 2,724.

Updated 5:15 p.m. May 14

Yesterday, the CDC announced that if you're fully vaccinated, you (mostly) don't have to wear masks anymore. One grocery store chain is taking it a step further. On Friday, Trader Joe's announced that fully vaxed folks no longer have to wear face masks in its stores, the first national retailer to do so. Read more here.

In other news, the Houston Health Department reported 176 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 63 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 191,783. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,704.

Updated 5:22 p.m. May 13

The big news: On Thursday, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people can basically go anywhere inside or outside without face mask, unless required by a local, federal, tribal rule/regulation. Before you barge into your closest fast food joint with your face fully exposed, this caveat also includes mask rules from businesses.

According to the rule change, fully vaccinated people also don’t need to get tested or quarantine after a known exposure to Covid-19.

Read our full discussion on the CDC's recommendations here.

The Houston Health Department reported 100 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 69 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 191,793. Seven newly reported death, one of which occurred in July 2020, bring Houston's total fatality count to 2,698.

Updated 3:50 p.m. May 12

Well, folks, one pandemic-era rule is here to stay: Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1024 on Wednesday, which opens up a wealth of to-go alcohol options to people across the state of Texas, with several caveats. Learn more here.

An independent advisory committee today approved the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12, following in the footsteps of the Food and Drug Administration's decision Monday. The next step will be for the CDC to make a formal recommendation. Once that occurs, children and teens can start to receive vaccines, says the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The city is reporting 147 new cases yesterday and 207 new cases today of Covid-19, bringing Houston's total to 191,721. The city is also reporting 10 new deaths between yesterday and today, which brings Houston's total fatality count to 2,691.

Updated 5:40 p.m. May 10

Children and teens age 12 and older are now able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of about 1.5 million Covid-19 cases in children aged 11–17 from March 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, so on Monday Monday afternoon, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended its December 11, 2020, emergency-use authorization to include younger ages.

In a trial of 2,260 participants, the vaccine was found to be 100-percent effective in preventing Covid-19, according to the FDA. Read our full story here.

According to multiple reports, many pets that were adopted during quarantine last year are now being returned back to shelters. Per a report from the Houston Chronicle, owner surrenders last month were up 82.6 percent than April 2020.

As a reminder, there are plenty of ways to help shelter animals besides adoption. Try volunteering, fostering, taking adoptable pets out on walks, or even just donating to a shelter's Amazon Wishlist. Read about more ways to help here.

The Houston Health Department reported 235 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 60 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 191,613. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,672.

Updated 4:22 p.m. May 7

Due to the vaccine supply outpacing demand, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced yesterday, it is no longer sending weekly shipments to healthcare providers. It is now sending shipments as requested. Learn more here.

In anticipation of the FDA potentially approving Pfizer's vaccine for adolescents next week, DSHS is encouraging pediatric health care providers to sign up for the state's Covid-19 Vaccine Program.

“Vaccinating adolescents will bring us closer to ending the pandemic and getting back to normal,” said DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt in a statement. “Starting the enrollment process now will enable pediatric providers to start vaccinating their patients soon after the FDA expands the Pfizer vaccine’s EUA.”

Pfizer has announced that it's started the vaccine application process for full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Pfizer-BioNTech's mRNA vaccine, which was approved on December 11 last year, was the first Covid-19 vaccination to receive emergency use authorization in the U.S. But that emergency use authorization was based on initial large-scale trials and wasn't a complete approval. Basically, the FDA's approval meant that based on the trials, the vaccine is likely to do more good than harm and the threat of Covid-19 was strong enough that the potential benefits outweighed the risks. Since then, Pfizer has continued conducting trials and following steps needed for a full approval.

The Houston Health Department today reported 388 new cases of Covid-19, of which 87 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 191,223. The department also reported 16 deaths, however 11 of those deaths are from recent state confirmations. Houston's fatality total is now 2,655.

Updated 4:22 p.m. May 6

Starting tomorrow, businesses and organizations can call the State Mobile Vaccination Team Call Center (844-90-TEXAS) to have a mobile vaccination team come to their location and vaccinate employees.

"Vaccines are the most effective tool in Texas' fight against Covid-19, and we are committed to making Covid-19 vaccines even more widely available to Texans across the state," said Governor Greg Abbott in a press release. "The State Vaccine Call Center will help connect businesses and civic organizations with these life-saving shots and ensure that more Texans have an opportunity to get vaccinated."

Learn more here.

In an essay published yesterday (read it here), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote that the U.S. could get a manageable handle on the coronavirus by July ... if people continue to get vaccinated. As of May 5, according to CDC data, 249,566,820 total vaccines have been administered across the country, and 107,346,533 people, or about 32 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated.

As of today in Texas, 1,270,919 people, or 37.15 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. In Harris County, 1,270,919 people are fully vaccinated.

Some more data you should know:

Yesterday, DSHS reported that in the past week, the state averaged 2,079 new confirmed cases, 2,631 current hospitalizations, and 47 newly reported fatalities each day.

More locally, the Houston Health Department reported 352 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 86 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,950. The department also reported 12 new deaths, which brings Houston's fatality total to 2,639.

Updated 4:38 p.m. May 5

According to a report from the Texas Tribune, about 5 percent of Texans who've received one Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine dose are skipping their second vaccination (this jumps up to 8 percent nationwide). According a CDC report, Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are only about 64 percent effective after the first dose. That protection jumps up to 94 percent after the scond dose. Want to better understand how this all works? Re-read our interview with Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse about the science behind the Covid-19 vaccines.

For those looking for their second dose, or their first, head to CVS. According to KHOU's Marcelino Benito, the pharmacy chain is now offering same-day and walk-in vaccine appointments.

The Houston Health Department reported 104 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,897. The department also reported 11 new deaths, which brings the city’s fality total to 2,627.

Updated 4:52 p.m. May 4

Walgreens will be hosting a free vaccination drive on May 6 at San Jacinto College–North Campus. Learn more here.

The Food and Drug Administration could authorize the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for children and teens age 12 and above as early as next week, according to a report from the Washington Post. Learn more here.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 2,948,739 vaccines have been administered in Harris County, with 1.2 million people fully vaccinated, as of today.

The Houston Health Department today reported that the city's current Covid-19 positivity rate is 12.7 percent, which is up about two percentage points from last week's 10.8 percent. The city has been seeing a slow rise in positivity, but, acording to the health department, "With fewer people getting tested, it’s not unexpected to see a rise." Learn more here.

Updated 4:39 p.m. May 3

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "since the pandemic started, mental-health related hospital visits rose 24% for children ages 5-11, and 31% for children ages 12-17." Learn more about childhood mental health here.

The Houston Health Department reported 285 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 76 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,632. Nine newly reported deaths, one of which occurred in December 2020, brings Houston's fatality count is 2,596.

Updated 4:46 p.m. Apr 30

The Houston Health Department reported 152 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 70 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,453. The health department also reported 12 new deaths, which brings Houston's total fatality count to 2,573. Yesterday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that for the past week, the state has averaged 2,170 new confirmed cases, 2,795 current hospitalizations, and 47 new fatalities reported each day.

Updated 5:28 p.m. Apr 29

Rapper Bun B has partnered with the Houston Music Foundation, Houston Methodist, and The Heights Theater to hold two Covid-19 vaccine drives for the local music community (musicians, music industry professionals, gig-workers, creatives, and venue staff, plus audience members—so, basically, it's for everyone). At The Heights Theater on May 5, health care workers will administer first doses of Pfizer from noon to 4 p.m.; second doses will be administered on June 2. Appointments are required. Sign up here.

Phones across the city buzzed today with an alert from the Houston Health Department: Don't need an appointment any more to get a Covid-19 vaccine at any HHD site. Click here to find a site close to you.

The health department also reported 138 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 50 percent occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,444. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,561.

Updated 5:10 p.m. Apr 28

According to a report from the Texas Tribune, 7.4 million Texans, or 25.4 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated as of April 26. In Harris County, 1,138,990 people are fully vaccinated as of April 28, according to county data.

The CDC reported today that the country's Covid-19 are falling. The country's seven day average of new cases is 53,934 cases, which is a 16-percent decrease from the previous week. Learn more here.

Meanwhile, the Houston Health Department reported 147 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 54 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total in now 190,375. HHD also listed 14 newly reported deaths. Of those deaths, two occurred in December 2020 and another three were people below the age of 50. Houston's total fatality count is now 2,555.

Updated 6:32 p.m. Apr 27

In new guidelines released Tuesday, the CDC announced that people who have been fully vaccinated can go outside without a mask, except in crowded settings, i.e., if you’re going to a concert at, say, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Just enjoying a picnic at Memorial Park? You don’t have to wear a mask for that.

Another big development: If you’ve been exposed to someone who currently has Covid-19, but you’ve been fully vaccinated, you do not need to isolate or get tested unless you begin to have symptoms.

Read more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 107 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 21 percent occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,275. The health department also reported 17 deaths, two of which occurred in December 2020, bringing Houston's fatality total to 2,541.

In other news, Houston's current positivity rate is 14.7 percent, which is up four points from last week. Learn more here.

Updated 3:41 p.m. Apr 26

The Houston Health Department reported 403 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 72 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 190,193. The department also reported 11 new deaths, two of which occurred in December 2020. The city’s total fatality count is now 2,524.

Last Friday, a CDC advisory board recommended Johnon & Johnson vaccinations resume. Yesterday, the CDC officially updated its recommendations to reflect this change. Learn more here.

Updated 5:19 p.m. Apr 23

The Houston Health Department reported 493 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 83 percent occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 189,271. The health department also reported 11 new deaths, which brings the city’s total fatality count to 2,486.

A CDC advisory panel has recommended that health care providers resume administrating the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. Last week, the CDC and FDA told health care providers to stop using the one-dose vaccine after reports of a rare type blood clot appeared in some patients. The vaccine will now have to carry a FDA blood clot warning, according to various reports.

Following this news, the Houston Health Department tweeted this afternoon that it will resume administering its 300 doses of the J&J Covid-19 vaccine.

Updated 5:06 p.m. Apr 22

The Houston Health Department reported 417 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 80 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 188,845. Nine newly reported deaths bring the city’s total fatalities to 2,477.

Speaking of reported deaths: From April 6 to 16, the city reported 162 Covid-19 deaths. Of those deaths, nearly 50 occurred in 2020. According to HHD, those deaths from 2030 were the result of "newly received state records." However, according to an investigative report from KHOU, the city's had access to those records, which also counts Houston residents' deaths outside of city jurisdiction limits, since October. See the report here.

Updated 4:56 p.m. Apr 21

President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will have administered 200 million Covid-19 vaccines by Thursday. (In Harris County, 2,572,404 doses have been administered.) To help spur more vaccination demand, the president also announced today that the government will give out tax credits to companies that offer paid time off to employees to get vaccinated. Learn more here.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, over the past week, the state has averaged 2,912 current hospitalizations, 60 new fatalities, and 2,310 new cases each day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has had 135.3 cases per 100,000 over the past seven days as well.

Locally, the Houston Health Department reported 322 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 81 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 188,531. The department also reported 10 deaths, which bring's Houston's total fatality count to 2,468.

Updated 3:45 p.m. Apr 20

Researchers at Texas A&M have identified a new strain of Covid-19, called BV-1 (BV stands for Brazos Valley) that's similar to the UK variant. However, the variant has only been found in one student. That student initially had mild symptoms and tested positive on March 5. They tested positive again on March 25, indicating it could be longer-lasting than other variants. The student tested negative on April 9.

“We do not at present know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of mutations similar to other internationally notifiable variants of concern,” said GHRC Chief Virologist Ben Neuman in a statement. “This variant combines genetic markers separately associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”

You can learn more about this variant here and keep up with the prevalence of different variants in Texas here.

Locally, the Houston Health Department reported 269 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 82 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 188,237. Eight newly reported deaths bring the city’s total to 2,458.

Updated 4:43 p.m. Apr 19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of U.S. adults have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine. In Harris County, about 2.5 million doses have been administered, but still, only about a quarter of Harris County residents have been fully vaccinated.

In fact, there has been a decline in demand in our region. Galveston County is phasing out its drive-thru vaccination site because of low demand (learn more here). Meanwhile, in a bid to up local demand and increase accessibility, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced today that appointments at NRG's community vaccination center would no longer be required. Learn more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 69 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 57 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,450. The city's positivity rate is 10.2 percent, up from 8.2 percent last week (Houston had been hovering around 8 percent for the past month or so.).

Updated 4:51 p.m. Apr 16

The Houston Health Department reported 323 new cases of Covid-19, of which 89 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 187,515.

The health department also reported 13 new deaths today, bringing Houston's fatality total to 2,417, and also continuing a concerning string of increasing death counts. The city has tweeted double-digit lists of newly reported Covid-related fatalities everyday since April 6, excepting April 7 when no numbers were reported at all. In total, the city has reported 162 new Covid deaths in 11 days (46 of which occurred in 2020), about 6.7 percent of Houston's total Covid-19 fatalities since the pandemic began.

According to Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Public Health has gotten rid of its waitlist. Now you can just go online to readyharris.org to sign up for a time. Worried you won't get in next week? Don't worry, HCPH has 55,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for next week.

Updated 5:38 p.m. Apr 15

The Houston Health Department reported 354 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which almost all (94 percent) have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 187,231. The department reported 13 new deaths, which bring the city’s total to 2,404.

According to some reports, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said that people will need a third shot as a booster within 12 months of being fully vaccinated. Read more here.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed last year, might have to be cancelled, according to a Washington Post report. Read it here.

Updated 3:33 p.m. Apr 14

According to Texas Department of State Health Services, the overall decrease in cases and hospitalizations across the state has stopped as several areas are starting to see hospitalizations and case counts rise.In the past seven days, according to DSHS, Texas has averaged 2,876 hospitalizations, 2,310 new cases, and 60 newly reported deaths each day. In Trauma Service Area Q, which includes Houston, the hospitalization rate has remained relatively steady for the past seven days, hovering just above or just below 7 percent.

Meanwhile, the Houston Health Department reported 396 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 88 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 186,949. The department also reported 12 new deaths, which brings Houston's fatality count to 2,394.

Today we published an essay about one Houstonia writer's experience with Covid-19, and the impact shame had on recovery. Read it here.

Updated 4:01 p.m. Apr 13

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have called on health care providers to pause administering the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine after reports of a rare blood clot developing in some patients. There have been six cases of a rare type of blood clot, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which could potentially cause hemorrhaging in the brain.

While the CDC and FDA investigate, they've asked states to pause giving out doses. Although none of the CVST cases have occurred in Houston or Texas, the Houston Health Department and Harris County Public Health have stopped J&J distribution at NRG. Learn more here.

HHD reported 220 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 13 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 186,598. The department reported 15 new deaths, which brings Houston's fatality count to 2,382.

Updated 4:15 p.m. Apr 12

The Houston Health Department reported 261 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 55 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is 186,378. The department also reported 12 deaths, seven of which occurred in March, four in February, and one in January, which brings Houston's fatality count to 2,367.

The city's rolling positivity rate is 8.1 percent. For the past few weeks, the rate has been hovering between 8.1 and 8.5 percent. See a graphic here.

Updated 4:30 p.m. Apr 9

The Houston Health Department reported 555 nw cases of Covid-19 today, of which 84 percent of have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 185,682. There are 11 newly reported deaths, bringing Houston's fatality count to 2,294. Of today's reported deaths, five occurred from July to October of last year. The city recently received new state records, which is why HHD has been reporting deaths that occurred months ago for the past few days.

The City has partnered with Walgreens to vaccinate more than 6,000 Houstonians across the city this weekend. Many of these sites will be at churches and community centers in vulnerable neighborhoods. Learn more about the initiative here and sign up for a vaccine appointment here.

In an interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci has listed what activities he'll do now that he's fully vaccinated and what activities he'll avoid (namely, crowded spots). Read more here.

Updated 3:35 p.m. Apr 8

Everyday, the Texas Department of State Health Services updates Covid-19 vaccination stats. Here's what we know, according to today's update.

As of April 7, 13,268,7999 doses have been administered.
35.4 percent of the population age 16 and up have had at least one dose.
That proportion hops up to 66.04 percent for people age 65 and up.
5,063,173 people, or 21.85 percent of the population age 16 and up, are fully vaccinated.
In Harris County, 37.15 percent of the population age 16 and up have had at least one dose and about 21 percent are fully vaccinated.

The Hosuton Health Department reported 242 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 80 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 185,362. The department reported 17 deaths, five of which occurred from June to September last year, which brings the city’s fatality total to 2,283.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Apr 7

Harris Country Judge Lina Hidalgo announced this afternoon that FEMA would extend Houston's community vaccination site (the federally funded mass vaccination site at NRG) for an additional four weeks. On March 24, Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner sent an open letter to FEMA, asking to extend funding for the site, and two days later on March 26, Gov. Greg Abbott stated that FEMA had rejected his own request to continue the NRG site as well as other community vaccination sites around the state.

Multiple reports have come out today that the UK variant of Covid-19 is now the most prevalent strain in the U.S. To keep up with how prevalent the UK variant, as well as other variants, is in our region, check out this Texas Department of State Health Services web page.

Because of system errors, the Houston Health Department will not release new Covid-19 case counts today.

Updated 5:30 p.m. Apr 6

Gov. Greg Abbott today signed an executive order that prohibits state agencies, as well as public and private entities that receive state funding, from requiring people to show proof of Covid-19 vaccinations before they can enter a premises or receive a service. Essentially, Abbott has banned government-mandated "vaccine passports," which have been sparking major debates across the country, in Texas.

"But as I said all along, these vaccines are always necessary and never forced," said Abbott in a video message on Twitter. "Government should not require any Texan to show proof of vaccination and reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives."

Read the full executive order here.

The Houston Health Department today reported 114 new cases of Covid-19, of which only 24 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. The department suggested that today's low count could be due to reporting system delays. Houston's Covid-19 total is now 185,224.

The department also reported 10 new deaths, bringing Houston's fatality total to 2,266. Four of these deaths occurred in June and August of 2020, but are only just now being reported "due to recent confirmation via newly-received state records."

Updated 2:30 p.m. Apr 6

According to the Houston Health Department, 40.3 percent of Houstonians have at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose as of yesterday, and 30.8 percent is fully vaccinated. Of the city's most vulnerable populations, 90.1 percent are fully vaccinated. Learn more here.

The city still has some first dose vaccination slots open. Learn more and register here.

As a reminder, because of the pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service has extended some individual deadlines from April 15 to May 17. Read more here. (The IRS also has deadline extensions and other relief for people impacted by Winter Storm Uri.)

Updated 4:01 p.m. Apr 5

The Houston Health Department reported 256 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which just over half (51 percent) occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 185,165. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,256.

The health department opened first-dose vaccination appointments for April 7–10. Learn more here.

Updated 4:27 p.m. Apr 2

The Houston Health Department reported 412 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 74 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 184,504. Four newly reported deaths bring the city’s total fatalities to 2,339.

In Harris County, 1,750,630 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered, according to data from Harris County Health, and 615,194 people are fully vaccinated. Of the people who've been vaccinated, 34 percent were white, 23 percent Hispanic, 10 percent Black or African American, and 10 percent Asian. Learn more here.

Updated 11:27 a.m. Apr 2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated travel guidelines today for fully vaccinated people. If you are fully vaccinated, then you can resume travel (almost) like before the pandemic. You do not need to get tested before or after domestic travel, nor do you need to self-quarantine after the trip. If you travel internationally, you don't need to get tested before your trip (unless required by your destination country), but you do have to get tested when you return to the U.S. You don't have to self-quarantine when you return, though. In all cases, you have to wear a mask.

For a succinct graphic of what the CDC says you can and cannot do if fully vaccinated, click here.

Today the White House announced via Twitter that in the U.S., 74 percent of seniors (adults age 65 and up) have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 52 percent of seniors are fully vaccinated. Additionally, almost 100 million Americans have received at least one dose and more than 56 million adults are fully vaccinated.

Updated 5:30 p.m. Apr 1

The Houston Health Department reported 341 cases of Covid-19 today; of those cases, 77 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 184,139. Eight newly reported deaths bring the city’s fatality total to 2,229.

Houston Methodist has become one of the first major hospitals to require all its employees to get Covid-19 vaccine. Learn more here.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state has averaged 2,385 new cases and 95 new fatalities a day for the last seven days.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo received her first Covid-19 vaccine dose today. "I’m proud to join more than 1 million in Harris County who have gotten at least 1 shot," she tweeted.

Updated 4:40 p.m. March 31

The Houston Health Department reported 310 new cases of Covid-19 today. Houston's total is now 183,860. Eight newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,221.

There have been 1,257 reported cases of Covid-19 variants in Texas this week, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Twitter today. About 93 percent of those cases are the UK variant. In Trauma Service Area Q, which includes Harris, Matagorda, Wharton, Waller, Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Walker counties, 271 variant cases were reported. Of that number, 261 were the UK variant.

Because of the pandemic, Veterans Affairs is extending debt relief for veterans through September 3o, 2021. Learn more here.

Updated 4:12 p.m. March 30

The Houston Health Department reported 444 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 48 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 183,579. The health department also reported 11 new deaths, one of which occurred on December 10, 2020, bringing Houston's fatality count to 2,213.

The health department also opened up vaccine appointments April 1–3. While many slots have already been filled, about 300 spots are still open on Friday. Follow along with updates here.

Updated 3:52 p.m. March 29

The University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and the University of St. Thomas launched an inter-college "Take Your Best Shot" challenge—each university will compete to see who can register the most students and alumni for a Covid-19 vaccine—today is the first day everyone in Texas is eligible to get a vaccine.

"This means you and your friends can now register for the Covid-19 vaccine," said Mayor Turner, a UH grad himself, at a press conference Monday afternoon. He encouraged young people to sign up, as did U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee.

"It's a good thing to get vaccinated," she said.

Turner also asked people to get tested, as the number of people getting tested for Covid-19 has dramatically decreased in the past few weeks. Of today's 744 newly reported cases of Covid-19, only 36 percent are from the past two weeks (Houston's total case count is now 183,156; seven new deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,202).

In other news, on Friday, Office Depot and Staples announced that they would laminate people's completed vaccine card for free. Office Depot's offer, which includes its Office Max location, will be available through July 25, according to CNN. There is no end-date yet for Staples. Perhaps you can take your laminated vaccine card over to Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut, too.

In a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4,000 healthcare workers in six states, including Texas, were monitored following their Covid-19 vaccinations. The study found that the participants' risk of infection dropped by 80 percent after a first dose of Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine, and that risk dropped by 90 percent after the second dose. Learn more here.

Updated 5:15 p.m. March 26

The Houston Health Department reported 650 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 65 percent occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 181,561.
Of that number, 6,925 cases are currently active. The city also reported 13 new deaths, which brings Houston's Covid-19 fatality total to 2,171.

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted this morning that FEMA has rejected his request to extend the federally supported community vaccination centers in Arlington, Dallas, and Houston (the mass vaccination site at NRG). Read his statement here.

Updated 5:01 p.m. March 25

The Houston Health Department reported 581 cases of Covid-19 today, 68 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is 181,054. The city also reported 11 new deaths, one of which occurred on December 24. Houston's total fatality count is now 2,158.

The health department this morning also reported that 18.3 percent of Houstonians are fully vaccinated and 32.6 percent have had at least one dose as of March 21. About 90 percent of seniors age 60 and up have gotten at least one dose and 55.9 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the HHD.

Updated 4:47 p.m. March 24

The Houston Health Department reported 584 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 84 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 180,639. Of this number, 6,427 cases are currently active.

On Twitter today, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that Covid-19's spread is slowing some. In the past week, Texas averaged 2,556 new cases and 122 new fatalities a day.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wrote a joint letter to FEMA today, requesting that it keeps the NRG vaccination site, called Covid-19 Community Vaccination Center, open through May 31. "The CVC has successfully enabled distribution of 6,000 vaccine doses per day, 7 days a week, since late February, and has helped reduce racial and geographic disparities in vaccine distribution in Harris County and the City of Houston," they wrote.

Updated 5:02 p.m. March 23

Beginning next week, all Texans will be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced today. However, the elderly (age 80 and above) will be allowed to cut lines. Read more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 264 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 7 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 180,639. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 2,141.

Updated 4:28 p.m. March 22

The Houston Health Department reported 453 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 68 percent occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 180,536. Four newly reported fatalities bring Houston's Covid-19 death toll to 2,134.

The health department also reported that Houston's current rolling positivity rate is 9.9 percent, which is up slightly from last week's 9.2 percent, but that number is still down from where we were almost month ago (12 percent on February 24).

Doughnut company Krispy Kreme announced today that folks can get a free glazed original doughnut through the end of 2021 if they show their vaccination card. According to the Harris County / City of Houston COVID-19 Data Hub, 953,121 people in Harris County have had at least one Covid-19 vaccine and 436,938 are fully vaccinated and can now get a free doughnut.

Updated 4:47 p.m. March 19

The Houston Health Department reported 373 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 76 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 179,273. Of that number, 6,387 cases are currently active. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,099.

This morning, the Houston Chronicle reported that many adult Houstonians with elderly immigrant parents are struggling to find Covid-19 vaccines for their families because of technology hurdles, language barriers, and distrust. This afternoon, Harris County Public Health tweeted that its vaccination portal is now multi-language. Folks can now sign up in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese, as well as English.

FEMA has anounced that it will be providing financial assistance for Covid-19-related funerals that have occurred since January 20, 2020. Learn more here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its recommendations for schools today: Instead of at least six feet of social distancing, it's now saying there only needs to be a minimum of three feet between students. It's also removed its recommendation for physical barriers. Read more about the CDC's revised recommendations here and the larger debate about safety in schools here.

Updated 4:48 p.m. March 18

The Houston Health Department reported 373 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 76 percent have occurred in the past 14 days. Houston's total is now 179,273. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,099.

Updated 3:40 p.m. March 17

The Houston Health Department reported 362 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 80 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 179,088. Of that number, 5,412 cases are currently active. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 2,090.

Updated 2:58 p.m. March 17

Harris County Public Health's Dr. Maria Rivera, Houston Health Department's Dr. David Persse, and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will discuss Covid-19 vaccines and distribution in a live tele-town hall with AARP at 11:30 a.m. on March 25. Learn more here. Other town halls and talks surrouning Covid-19 and vaccinations are scheduled for Thursday, March 18, and Saturday, March 20.

According to several different reports, the IRS is expected to push 2021's tax deadline back a month because of the changes to tax codes in the American Rescue Plan. You would have until May 15 to file your 2020 tax return. Read more here.

Today marks one year since local restaurants and bars had to close because of Covid-19, so we've published an oral history of how the past year has impacted Houston's hospitality industry.

Updated 5:28 p.m. March 16

Moderna has begun a study that tests the effects of its Covid-19 vaccine on children age 6 months to 11 years, and local kids in Houston, Tomball, and Port Lavaca could be eligible, according to ABC13.

The Houston Health Department reported 448 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 73 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 178,727. Five newly reported deaths bring the Houston's total fatality count to 2,084.

Updated 5:43 p.m. March 15

The Houston Health Department reported 362 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 74 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 178,308. Of that number, 5,061 cases are currently active. Eight newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 2,079.

Houston's current positivity rate is 9.8 percent, down from 13.1 percent last week.

Updated 3:50 p.m. March 12

The Houston Health Department reported 630 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 83 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 176,919 (215 duplicate cases were removed from the count, as well). Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,050.

Harris County Public Health reported Friday that on Thursday, 1,038 people were vaccinated in one hour (9 a.m. to 10 a.m.) at the NRG Park mega-site. That's a new record for hourly vaccinations at one site in the county. The department also reports that more than 150,000 people remained on the waitlist for Phase 1B, as of Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden on Thursday evening directed state governments to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1. The president's goal is to get the country "closer to normal" by July 4.

Updated 4:24 p.m. March 11

The Houston Health Department reported 1,211 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 87 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 176,504. Of that number, 6,849 cases are currently active. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,043.

Although it was originally planned for President Joe Biden to sign the the American Rescue Plan, which passed yesterday, into law on Friday, he went ahead and signed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill today.

A year ago today, RodeoHouston was shut down and Harris County declared a state of emergency—the pandemic's reckoning in Houston. We at Houstonia are reflecting on the last year and what we've learned.

Updated 5:01 p.m. March 10

Folks, Congress just passed one of the largest federal aid packages since the Great Depression. On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden’s nearly $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package. Wondering where all that money is going?

Well, $350 billion will aid tribal, state, and local governments, and another $10 billion is designated for critical infrastructure projects. There’s more than $140 billion headed to schools, $14 billion to vaccine distribution, $49 billion for Covid-19 testing, and $25 billion to rental assistance, among other things. There will also be a third round of stimulus checks. Learn more here.

Texas officially opened 100 percent today, but some local businesses, like restaurants and museums, have opted to keep Covid-19 precautions.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced today that Texans age 50 and up can now sign up for a Covid-19 vaccination. “We’ve seen a remarkable decrease in the number of hospitalizations and deaths since people 65 and older started becoming fully vaccinated in January,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, in a press release. “Expanding to ages 50 to 64 will continue the state’s priorities of protecting those at the greatest risk of severe outcomes and preserving the state’s health care system.”

Read more about Phase 1C eligibility here.

And finally, The Houston Health Department reported 264 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 3 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 175,293. Of that number, 5,861 cases are currently active. Eight newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 2,034.

Updated 5:10 p.m. March 9

Today officially marks a year since we at Houstonia began writing and updating this article. On March 9, 2020, Sen. Ted Cruz was quarantining after an exposure, the Houston Health Department had recently set up a call center to answer questions, and face masks were not yet part of our daily lives. Rice University cancelled classes until March 13. And while South By Southwest in Austin had been cancelled, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo would still operate for two more days. Anyways, back to the news:

The Houston Health Department reported 81 new cases of Covid-19 today, although the department attributed the low number to system processing backlogs. Houston's total is now 175,184. Eight newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality total to 2,026.

The U.S. House of Representatives will re-vote tomorrow on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill, as the version of the bill that was passed by the U.S. Senate last weekend than what the House originally voted for.

Activities at Houston parks are beginning to start back up. Learn more here.

Updated 4:08 p.m. March 8

Mayor Sylvester Turner began his weekly Covid-19 press conference today by thanking the local businesses that are "planning a responsible transition" to reopenings Wednesday, per Gov. Greg Abbott's order. He encouraged all businesses to require masks, saying that we will probably be in a better situation two months from now.

He also thanked local bar Concrete Cowboy, which came under fire this week for planning a “mask-off” party on Wednesday, for cancelling the aforementioned party and for choosing to remain closed that day as well.

While everywhere in the state can reopen 100 percent this week, Turner said the city's transition will be more "methodical." City-owned facilities will still require masks, and parks will featured phased reopenings. For example, Little League practices can start back today, Turner said. In another week or two, then games can start.

And although, he did say he sees a "glimmer of hope," the mayor said the virus is "not easy to totally crush. He encouraged people to continue to get tested, especially if you haven't been vaccinated, and he also encouraged people to sign up for a vaccine.

According to Houston Health Department Executive Director Dr. Stephen Williams, the department is opening another drive-thru vaccination site near George Bush Intercontinental Airport. This site will administer second doses, while the site at Del Mar Stadium will administer first doses. Other sites will continue to provide both vaccination doses, and the department hopes to deploy more mobile sites, he said. "We will continue to target those who are most vulnerable." Williams also reminded people that all sites are appointment only.

In terms of numbers, the city is reporting 318 new cases of Covid-19 today, Turner announced, bringing Houston's total to 175,150 cases. There are six newly reported deaths, which brings the city's fatality count to 2,018. The positivity rate is 13.1 percent, up slightly from last week.

Houston's chief medical officer, Dr. David Persse, came one to discuss that the city is detecting traces of Covid-19 variants through its wastewater testing program, which began last May. On February 8, the UK variant was found in 21 of the city's 39 treatment plants. Two weeks later it was found in 31 treatment spots. Despite the high percentage of the variant in waste, it's hard to conclude how many people actually have it, Persse said. But, "there's a fairly large amount of the UK variant in our community and it's spreading."

There is also evidence of the South African and and Brazilian variants, said Persse, so "the race is on" to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

Both Turner and Persse encouraged people to still wear masks, and double up when possible. Persse brought up a recent CDC study that found that if both people are wearing two masks, then the risk of transmission is almost zero.

Persse also warned people to be careful when making spring break plans. While most people who plan to go on spring break skew younger and should therefore be okay if they got Covid-19, they could bring it back and accidentally give it to someone who's at risk. He asked people to be "smart and responsible." He also said "maybe next year" to college students looking to go on the typical college spring break.

In other news, the CDC came out today stating that if you have been fully vaccinated, then you can sit in a room unmasked with others who have also been vaccinated. Read more here.

Updated 10:37 a.m. March 8

On Saturday, the Senate voted on party lines to approve President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill. In this bill. Included in this bill are another round of stimulus checks, extending $300-a-week federal unemployment benefits through September 6, child tax credits, $350 billion in aid for local governments, among other provisions.

As the bill passed by the Senate featured changes from the version passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, the House will revote on the bill Tuesday.

So am I getting anything in this new round of stimulus checks?

In this new round, individuals making up to $75,000 and couples with a joint income of up to $150,000 would receive $1,400 and $2,800 respectively. Folks earning more than that would receive incrementally smaller checks until the benefits capped out at incomes $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples. According to NBC News, heads of households making $112,500–$120,000 would also receive checks.

Updated 4:50 p.m. March 5

The Houston Health Department reported 867 new cases of Covid-19 today, 60 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 174,187. Of that number, 10,787 cases are currently active. The city also reported 12 new deaths related to Covid-19, which brings the city's total fatality count to 1,988.

More than 82 million vaccines have been administered since December 14, according to a report from NPR. In Harris County, 558,514 initial doses have been administered, and people are fully vaccinated. As a reminder, if you want to sign up for the city's Johnson & Johnson vaccine waitlist, there's a different registration portal than the one for Pfizer and Moderna.

Updated 5:11 p.m. March 4

The Houston Health Department reported 893 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 48 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 173,595. Of that number, 10,348 cases are currently active. The city also announced 11 newly reported deaths, which brings Houston's fatality count to 1,976.

The University Interscholastic League, the governing body for almost all public school competitions, announced today that while masks are still required at contests/competitions, individual schools may limit capacity however they choose, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Learn more here.

Today, the Texas Education Agency and Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state will provide a "hold harmless" to Texas school systems for the rest of the academic school year. This means that instead of receiving funding based on current attendance, which is down for some school systems because of the pandemic, schools will receive funding based on attendance projections from before the pandemic began. This is the third consecutive hold harmless, which was enacted during the spring 2020 semester, and the last, according to a release.

Updated 6:49 p.m. March 3

There has been plenty of public outcry since Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas can reopen at 100-percent capacity on March 10.

"Texas — I think it's a big mistake," President Joe Biden said today at the White House, per a report from the Texas Tribune. "We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because the way in which we are able to get vaccines in people's arms. The last thing — the last thing — we need is Neanderthal thinking in the meantime."

The president has also directed states to open up vaccinations to educators. As a result, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced today that education and primary care personnel, including teachers, school staff, bus drivers, child care providers, and more, are eligible to get vaccinated. Learn more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 771 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 51 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 172,743. Of that number, 9,740 cases are currently active. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,965.

Updated 5:26 p.m. March 2

Earlier today, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas can reopen 100 percent on March 10, to mixed reactions from local leaders and businesses. Learn more here.

The Houston Health Department reported 408 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 48 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 172,053. Of that number, 9,107 cases are currently active. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,956.

In other news, Harris County received its first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine today: 12,000 doses arrived at NRG this morning, according to a tweet from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Updated 2:25 p.m. March 2

After weeks of hinting, Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that he’s removing all statewide Covid-19 mandates, including face mask orders.

“It is now time to open Texas 100 percent,” he announced in Lubbock Tuesday afternoon.

Effective next Wednesday, March 10, any business in Texas can reopen 100 percent capacity, if they wish. That doesn’t mean businesses have to reopen, Abbott specified, but “people and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate.”

The statewide face mandate will also end on March 10. But, Abbott said, removing state mandates does not mean ending personal responsibility. He encouraged people to continue social distancing practices as they see fit.

He did specify that if Covid-19 hospitalization rise above 15 percent for seven straight days, then a county judge may implement some restrictions. But, no one can be jailed for not following restrictions, and no one can be fined for failing to wear a mask. Plus, all entities must be allowed to operate at 50 percent.

Updated 3:36 p.m. March 1

Mayor Sylvester Turner began Monday afternoon's press conference by acknowledging that the pandemic has now been going on for a year—the first case of Covid-19 in the area was on March 4. "I recognize that it's been a challenging year," Turner said.

The city is reporting 914 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston's total to 171,714. There are seven newly-reported deaths, bringing Houston's fatality count to 1,951. The current positivity rate is now 11.8 percent, which is down from 15.1 percent at the beginning of February. While this is good news, Turner said that the goal is to get the rate below 5 percent.

Dr. David Persse, the city's health authority, said Houston Health Department is seeing less and less traces of Covid-19 in the city's wastewater. This is good news, but the city is seeing more evidence of Covid-19 variants, especially the UK variants, in our wastewater. The UK variant, for example, is more easily spread.

Resulting, "we're in a little bit of a race," said Persse, calling for people to get tested, sign up to get vaccinated, wear masks, and social distance. While we seem to be moving out of the Covid-19 wave that began last October, we experienced that wave, said Persse, "because we dropped our guard."

The mayor announced that in addition to normal doses headed to the FEMA vaccination site at NRG, 15,000 more Covid-19 vaccine doses should be arriving in Houston tomorrow. Of that number, 9,000 doses will come from Moderna, and another 6,000 doses will be the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was authorized for use by the Food and Drug Administration last Saturday. The J&J vaccine would "certainly be the best option for our transit populations," said Turner. At first, the J&J vaccine will only be sent to NRG.

In response to hesitation over the J&J vaccine's efficacy in comparison to the Moderna and Pfizer shots, "the best vaccine is the one you can get," Persse said. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have unusually high efficacies, and Johnson & Johnson's shot is still highly effective. "Let's not get our standards mixed up," he said.

"Anything vaccine that can keep you out of the hospital and keep you alive is worth getting," said Turner.

Dr. Stephen Williams, executive director of the Houston Health Department, announced that the city would be opening and expanding its vaccination waitlist to all those in 1A and 1B. He encouraged people to sign up online at houstonemergency.org or call to sign up (the city's Covid-19 call center number is 832-393-4220).

Updated 7:48 p.m. Feb 27

On Saturday the Food and Drug Administration approved Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, making it the third vaccine to be authorized in the U.S.

This vaccine is about 66 percent effective in preventing moderate-to-severe cases of Covid-19 and 85 percent effective in preventing the worst cases. While that's a lower efficacy than Moderna and Pfizer, the advantage of Johnson & Johnson's shot is that it is only one dose, plus it does not have to be kept at as cold a temperature as the other two.

Another difference is how this vaccine is made. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines uses messenger RNA to give your cells a genetic code to make a spike protein that looks like the coronavirus to your body, and your immune system attacks it, making antibodies. The mRNA is very fragile, which is why it must be kept at such cool temperatures. According to a report from the Associated Press, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a Trojan horse method: the necessary spike proteins are snuck into your body through a cold virus, and your body starts making copies of that protein, so your immune system can start making antibodies. This is similar technology to other Covid-19 vaccines in development, like AstraZeneca, according to the report, as well as the tech used to make an Ebola vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is approved for people age 18 and older, just like Moderna. According to PBS News Hour, the company hopes to make 20 million doses by the end of March and 100 million by the end of June.

Want to know more about this new vaccine? Check out the FDA's fact sheet. For more information about the different vaccines, follow our updates here.

Updated 4:57 p.m. Feb 26

According to data from the Texas Medical Center, things are starting to look better in the Houston area. The current Covid-19 positivity rate for TMC hospitals is 6.9 percent, which is down from 8.9 percent last week and 12.3 percent last month. The region's Covid-19 reproduction rate, also known r(t) is 0.93. This rate measures how Covid's spread—if the number is above 1.0, then that means Covid-19 is spreading in the area. So, 0.93 is good, but it is up from last week's rate of 0.76.

Due to a technical problem, the Houston Health Department will not be reporting any Covid-19 numbers today. You can catch up with daily new numbers on the health department's social media channels or on the Harris County/City of Houston Covid-19 Data Hub dashboard.

An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration officially recommended Johnson & Johnson's one-shot Covid-19 vaccine be authorized for emergency use. If the FDA follows the same timeline as it did for Moderna and Pfizer's vaccines, then we could expect an authorization potentially by this evening. It might also be a few days, according to some reports.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Twitter today that 5 million Covid-19 doses have been administered in the state so far. Additionally, around 40 percent of Texans age 65 percent and older have been vaccinated with at least one dose, and about one-fifth have been fully vaccinated.

DSHS also announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shipping 676,28 vaccine doses to Texas next week. Of that number, 84,240 will go to federally supported sites, like the FEMA site at NRG in Houston. The state is requesting 429,600 second doses as well, DSHS reported.

Updated 5:18 p.m. Feb 25

In addition to the UK, South African, and Brazilian variants of Covid-19, two more strains are emerging in California and New York. The best way to combat them, wrote the Washington Post, is to continue social distancing practices.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report yesterday linking indoor workout at gyms to higher Covid-19 numbers, after a breakout of cases in Chicago. If you do work out inside a gym, the CDC advises you keep your mask on the whole time, even if you are socially distanced from others.

The Houston Health Department reported 305 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 68 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 170,909. Of that number, 8,687 cases are currently active. Three newly reported deaths, one of which occurred last August, brings Houston's fatality count to 1,944.

Updated 4:08 p.m. Feb 24

The Houston Health Department reported 133 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 54 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 170,720. Of that number, 11,275 cases are currently active. Seven newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,941.

Earlier today, the Food and Drug Administration released a report that found Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine to be safe and effective against the coronavirus, but it will still be at least a few days before it can be officially authorized for emergency use. Read more here.

Updated 5:28 p.m. Feb 23

The Houston Health Department reported 161 new cases of Covid-19 today, but the department noted that the low count is probably due to last week's weather halting testing and reporting. Houston's total is now 170,667. Of that number, 11,456 cases are currently active. Six newly reported deaths brings the city's fatality count to 1,924.

Because of the storm last week, Covid-19 shipments had been delayed and other doses were lost, causing many awaiting second doses to panic. Don't, said the Texas Department of State Health Services today in a tweet. "Everybody will be receiving second dose shipments," DSHS associate commissioner Imelda Garcia said, per the Austin American Statesman. "It might not be there right on time."

DSHS reported that between yesterday and today, Texas providers should receive 1.4 million Covid-19 vaccine doses. Of that number, 58 percent will be dedicated to second doses.

Updated 4:45 p.m. Feb 22

"It's been trauma after trauma and one thing we all need is a little bit of hope—and that's what we're providing here today," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said on Monday afternoon as she, Mayor Sylvester Turner and other lawmakers and representatives stood outside the NRG Stadium vaccination site, the same day the United States reached a grim marker, seeing Covid-19 deaths reach 500,000.

This site, one of four pilot sites in the country, fully funded FEMA through reimbursement, has a soft opening on Tuesday and then is set to be officially up and running on Wednesday. This site will fully-vaccinate approximately 126,000 people by serving 6,000 per day seven days a week for three weeks from Wednesday before transitioning to second doses for three weeks. Both departments will use their waitlists to schedule appointments for the drive-thru site.

"This site is a huge step, but, to be clear, it is not mission accomplished," Hidalgo said, warning that she was going to request that FEMA provide even more vaccine supplies once this program, backed by the Biden administration, has completed this first program.

Turner echoed Hidalgo's sentiments, before going on to note that the city has resumed conducting Covid-19 tests as of Saturday, reporting 547 new cases and four additional deaths. "Even in spite of the cold the coronavirus is very much still present in our city, and we have to remind people that testing is still important and getting this shot is still very very important," Turner said.

The Houston Health Department and Harris County Health are going to be using existing waitlists to decide who gets the vaccine, and focusing on vaccinating those with underlying health conditions or other factors in certain underserved zip codes, Turner said. "I can't say enough about what this new vaccination site is going to mean for the city of Houston," Turner said.

U.S. Rep. Al Green praised Hidalgo and Turner, pointing out how he called Turner late one night last week "and I'm not going to say what we talked about but then some 6,000-plus low-income Houstonians got the supplies that they'd been in need of." Green also noted that he and other Houston leaders are inviting President Joe Biden to come to Houston so that Biden can see "what his pen has done," and the lives he is going to have saved by making this FEMA vaccination site happen. "This is a time for us to pull together," Green said. "The sun is out, as the judge has indicated so judiciously. It is a brighter day, and there are brighter days to come but those days will require that we have our hands on the arc of the moral universe. Dr. King reminded us that it is long, but that it bends toward justice. But it doesn't do it alone."

Updated 5:50 p.m. Feb 19

The Houston Health Department reported 1,026 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent has occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 169,044. Of that number, 11,306 cases are currently active. The department also reported 13 new deaths, which brings the city's total to 1,916.

City Covid-19 testing resumed today, and vaccinations will resume tomorrow. The health department's Covid-19 call center is also up and running again.

Updated 5:48 p.m. Feb 18

Houston's total Covid-19 case count is now 168,091. Of that number, 14,766 cases are currently active. There have been 1,903 deaths.

The Houston Health Department will resume Covid-19 vaccinations this weekend. People who received their first dose during the week of January 18-23 will receive a call from the department tomorrow or Saturday to schedule their appointment. Learn more here.

Updated 6:01 p.m. Feb 17

The Houston Health Department reported 600 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 60 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 168,035. Of this number, 15,530 cases are currently active. There are eight newly reported deaths, bringing Houston's fatality count to 1,897. However, due to power outages and closed testing sites, some reporting in new cases and deaths may be delayed.

Updated 12:45 p.m. Feb 17

Mayor Sylvester Turner said that he expects vaccine distribution, which has been forced to pause due to the winter storms and the unprecedented power outages the Houston area and Texas are dealing with, will resume on Friday. Those who had vaccination appointments for this week should be able to reschedule and get their vaccines by next week he stated.

Right now, most clinics are closed due to the same issues of power and water outages, Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse said.

Updated 6:25 p.m. Feb 15

The Houston Health Department reported 917 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 77 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 167,493. Of that number, 15,358 cases are currently active. Because of widespread power outages across the state and connectivity difficulties, the health department is not reporting any new deaths today.

City of Houston-affiliated testing and vaccination sites will continue to be closed tomorrow due to the inclement weather.

After a storage facility lost power early this morning, Harris County Public Health officials rushed to distribute 8,400 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine before they were spoiled, according to the Houston Chronicle. Doses were given to Houston Methodist, Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals; Rice University; and the county jail, as these were places where there was already a large group of people congregated and medical staff available, per the report. At Rice, the vaccines were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, per a different Chron report.

Updated 5:25 p.m. Feb 12

All Harris County vaccination and testing sites will be closed Sunday through Tuesday, due to the winter storm. Similarly, City of Houston testing and vaccination centers will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The Houston Health Department reported 1,094 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 80 percent has occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 164,938. Of that number, 17,247 cases are currently active. The city also reported 10 new deaths, which brings Houston's total fatalities to 1,871.

Updated 4:47 p.m. Feb 11

The Houston Health Department reported 612 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 79 percent have occurred the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 163,990. Of that number, 16,489 cases are currently active. There are 11 newly reported deaths, which brings Houston's total fatality count to 1,861.

Yesterday, the Texas Department of State Health Services tweeted that the state is averaging 9,360 new cases a day and 300 new fatalities reported a day.

"Texas is still reporting 300 deaths a day. Case surges are dangerous. They strain hospitals and their ability to care for all who need it. They cause an increase in deaths that can last months," DSHS tweeted. "With vaccines, we have a chance to keep cases down. This is when we fight back Texas."

However, at a press event in Dallas today, Gov. Greg Abbott said that if Covid-19 cases continue to trend downward, then he might start to lifting some Covid-19 restrictions, with more announcements "coming soon," per a Texas Tribune report.

“We want to make sure that the numbers do continue along the same trend,” Abbott said, per the Texas Tribune. “And if they do continue on the same trend, we are already evaluating ways that we can begin to lift restrictions.”

Read the full report here.

As of Monday, Texas is ranked 47th in the country for vaccine allocation, according to a report from Austonia, with there being about 15,182 doses per 100,000 people. Last-minute allocation adjustments and unpredictable shipping schedules are just some of the reasons for this, per the report, but officials from Texas and other shortchanged states, like Utah and Nevada, have called out the CDC and FEMA. Read the full report here.

According to new CDC guidelines, if you have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19, then you don't have to quarantine after potential exposure to the virus. But, you must meet the following criteria:

"Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)"
"Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series"
"Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure"

These guidelines are facing pushback, however, as initial trials on the vaccines did not test if a vaccinated person was still capable of trasmiting the virus. Instead, the trials looked at whether people were symptomatically ill.

Updated 5:55 p.m. Feb 10

The Houston Health Department reported 903 new cases of Covid-19 between yesterday and today. Houston's total case count is now 163,452. Of that number, 19,274 cases are currently active. The health department is also reporting 12 new deaths, all of which occurred in January, which brings Houston's fatality count to 1,850.

The CDC came out with new research today that found double masking or tightening a medical mask across your face could reduce your exposure to Covid-19 by about 95 percent. Read the story here.

Updated 12:14 p.m. Feb 10

This morning Houston City Council approved $70 million for emergency rental assistance. The money will be allocated to a joint rental relief fund with Harris County, and Catholic Charities and BakerRipley will be in charge of distributing the money. So far, the city/county joint fund totals $159 million.

"The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has decimated thousands of people and made it difficult for hardworking families across our region to pay rent," said Mayor Sylvester Turner in a statement. "The City-County partnership with BakerRipley and Catholic Charities demonstrates how critical a coordinated collective response is to helping our neighbors."

Turner also asked City Council to extend an eviction grace period through March 31. Council will vote on this ordinance at next week's meeting.

Houston is getting a mass vaccination site before the end of the month. Today, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was establishing community mass-vaccination pilot sites in three spots across Texas, including NRG Stadium. The site, which should open by February 24, according to Abbott, will be able to vaccinate thousands of people a day. Read more here.

Updated 5:18 p.m. Feb 9

St. Luke's Health is partnering with Texas Southern University to vaccinate Houston's most vulnerable populations, including super seniors, other at-risk populations, and ethnic minorities who are included in the state's 1A and 1B stages. Sign up and learn more here.

Tomorrow Houston Health Department Executive Director Stephen Williams will be on KBXX 97.9 The Box with Drs. Napoleon Higgins and Felicia Jordon to discuss the Covid-19 vaccine. The talk starts at 4 p.m.

Updated 4:19 p.m. Feb 8

There are 1005 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today, bringing Houston's total to 163,438. Nine newly reported deaths have brought Houston's total fatality count to 1838 total cases.

The city's positivity rate is going down, Turner said. Today's rate is 15.1 percent, down three points from last month. But that number is "still far too high, showing uncontrolled community spread."

Turner and other officials said Houstonians cannot let their guard down just because case numbers are going down.

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX) died after being hospitalized from Covid-19 two weeks ago. He was 67.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of U.S. Rep Ron Wright," said Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement today. "Ron was a principled leader who fought to preserve Texas values and was an explemplary representative of his district."

Updated 3:30 p.m. Feb 5

The Houston Health Department reported 507 new cases of Covid-19 today, 90 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston’s total case count is now 162,028. Eight newly reported deaths bring the city’s fatality count to 1,814.

The Texas Medical Center reported today that the seven-day average Covid-19 testing positivity rate was 9.7 percent across the TMC. That’s down from 11.1 percent last week and 15.2 percent at this time last month.

Updated 6:18 p.m. Feb 4

The Houston Health Department reported new 1,213 cases of Covid-19 today, 88 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 161,630. Of that number, 21,971 cases are currently active. Eight newly reported deaths bring the city's fatality count to 1,806.

University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs released a study earlier this week finding that 40 percent of Texans were unsure they would accept a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Houston Public Media. Another 22 percent said they would not get one. Read the full report here.

Updated 5:17 p.m. Feb 3

While not completely shocking, RodeoHouston officials cancelled the 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today, citing the ongoing pandemic as the reason. Throughout the afternoon, city leaders have been expressing their solidarity with the decision.

"I want to commend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for protecting the health and safety of our community," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tweeted. "The next few months are critical to determining if and how fast we'll be able to reach herd immunity."

"I know that cancelling the 2021 Rodeo was a difficult decision for President and CEO Chris Boleman and the thousands of dedicated volunteers, vendors, workers, and competitors who make the show successful," tweeted Mayor Sylvester Turner. "I support their decision and look foward to a bigger Houston Rodeo in 2022."

The Houston Health Department reported 1,474 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 160,561. Of that number, 21,259 cases are currently active. Seven newly-reported deaths bring the city’s fatality total to 1,798.

While the Covid-19 spread is starting to slow across the state, "Texas remains ripe for a wildfire as there's still more COVID now than in the summer," tweeted the Texas Department of State Health Services today. In the past seven days, Texas averaged 13,995 new cases a day, 11,422 current hospitalizations, and 303 new fatalities reported a day, according to DSHS.

Updated 5:15 p.m. Feb 2

The Houston Health Department reported 499 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 86 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 159,187. Of that number, 23,115 cases are currently active. Seven newly reported deaths, one of which occurred on July 30, bring the city’s total fatalities to 1,791.

"The most pressing health priority is to help Texans heal from the pandemic," Gov. Greg Abbott said in his State of the State address last night. In his speech, he designated expanding broadband internet access and protecting business owners from Covid-19 related litigation as "emergency items"—fast-tracking the items in the Texas Legislature. The governor also listed expanding telemedicine and "to prevent 'any government entity from shutting down religious activities in Texas,'" according to a Texas Tribune report. While taking a moment to call for prayers for the more than 36,000 Texans who died from Covid-19, he praised the state's overall response, to some criticism, according to the report.

Updated 3:50 p.m. Feb 1

As of this morning, the Houston Health Department has received 41,950 first doses of Covid-19 vaccines and administered 33,839, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. He praised a community vaccination event last Saturday, where 500 people received their first dose of a vaccine at Hope Clinic. Turner said the city plans to announce another community vaccination event in northeast Houston. "Our strategy will focus on putting vaccinations in communities that are high-risk and vulnerable."

The health department has also administered more than 2,300 second doses, Turner said. The mayor said he received his own second dose last Saturday. "Things went well," he said, that the pain went away after a day.

He did encourage people to not call the health department about their second dose. You will get a call from the health department for your second dose. Only call if it's within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment time, he said.

Said HHD Director Dr. Stephen Williams, "demand continues to far exceed supplies," but more Covid-19 vaccines are coming. Houston's chief medical officer, Dr. David Persse, encouraged people to not balk at the idea of (or difficulty of signing up for) a second dose. While there haven't been studies looking at the long-term impacts of one dose, he said it could short-lasting. "It is the purpose of the second dose to drive home immunity in your system." and develop memory cells in your system.

Likewise, if you've been vaccinated, you should still get tested, Persse said. The vaccine studies only looked at people who got symptomatically ill with Covid-19, but didn't consider whether people were still contagious. (Learn more about how the vaccines work here.)

The Houston Health Department reported 1,089 new cases of Covid-19 today, Turner said. Houston's total case count is now 158,751. Six new deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,784. "The impact on our community is sobering."

The mayor reminded people that President Joe Biden's federal mask mandate begins today. According to the mandate, all travelers, age 2 and up, must wear masks on airplanes, subways, ships, trains, buses, taxis, and ride-shares. Local airports will be enforcing the mandate, said Turner, and if you don't comply, you'll be escorted out of the airport.

Persse then explained yet again how to properly wear a mask: "The mask go over the nose and the mouth, not just the mouth." The only people who do not need to wear a mask are children under the age of 2, and people who are incapacitated, unconscious, or would be unable to remove a mask themselves. "If you have a history of asthma," said Persse, in a tone like he was scolding school children, "that does not mean you do not have to wear a mask."

Many metrics are starting to show some improvement, said Persse. Hospitalization and positivity rates appear to be leveling off. This week, HHD reported the city's positivity rate at 16.9 percent, the same as last week, and down slightly from the week of January 15, when the rate was 18.2 percent. "We may be at the beginning of the downside" of this surge, said Persse, but he encouraged everyone to continue the social distancing practices, like mask wearing and frequent testing.

Updated 3:40 p.m. Jan 28

The Houston Health Department reported 1,287 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 83 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. After 87 duplicate cases were removed, Houston's total case count is now 152,601. Of That number, 21,124 cases are currently active. Eight newly reported deaths, one of which occurred in October, bring Houston's fatality count to 1,748 (two previously reported deaths were moved to different jurisdictions and removed from Houston's total).

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 255,708 people in Harris County have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Of that number, 48,899 are fully vaccinated.

Updated 4:42 p.m. Jan 27

The Houston Health Department reported 1,421 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 85 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. After removing 111 duplicate cases, Houston's total is now 151,401. Of that number, 21,124 cases are currently active. Nine newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,742.

Montgomery County is partnering with St. Luke’s Health—The Woodlands Hospital to distribute Covid-19 vaccines via drive-thru. Learn more and sign up here.

Tonight, Telemundo is hosting a Spanish-language panel about the Covid-19 vaccine. Panelists include U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Dr. Maria Rivera from Harris County Public Health, and Dr. Alfredo Torres from UTMB Health.

On Friday at 10 a.m., Houston Methodist is hosting a virtual town hall about the Covid-19 vaccine. Panelists include Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist; Dr. Victor Narcisse, associate division head of hospital medicine; and Arianne Dowdell, vice president, and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. Learn more about the town hall here, and sign up by 8 a.m. Friday morning here.

Updated 5:40 p.m. Jan 26

The Houston Health Department reported 1,603 cases of Covid-19 today, of which 89 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 150,091. Of that number, 24,688 are currently active. The department also reported 14 new deaths, bringing Houston's fatality count 1,733.

Updated 6:07 p.m. Jan 25

Harris County Public Health announced today that the county health department—separate from Houston Health Department—would launch a new Covid-19 vaccine appointment portal. This site, according to the announcement, would not assign appointments via first-come, first-serve. Instead, only people in Stage 1A or Stage 1B would be able to sign up. Learn more here.

Per a Houston Chronicle report, a Harris County Judge has thrown out the case against former Harris County Public Health physician Dr. Hasan Gokal, who is accused of stealing a vial of Covid-19 vaccine. According to Gokal's attorneys, after a December 29 vaccination site, an opened vial still had doses left at the end of the day. Gokal asked if any of the volunteers if they needed the vaccine, then administered the nine remaining doses to qualifying recipients off site, to not waste the vial. He then reported those vaccinations to the state. When news of this broke last week, Gokal was fired and charged with theft by a public servant, a misdemeanor, by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

“In the number of words usually taken to describe an allegation of retail shoplifting, the State attempts, for the first time, to criminalize a doctor’s documented administration of vaccine doses during a public health emergency,” wrote County Court-At-Law Judge Franklin Bynum, criticizing Ogg, per the Chron report.

Updated 4:20 p.m. Jan 25

On Monday Mayor Sylvester Turner, 18th District U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and local leaders and health officials toured the newly established drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination site at Delmar Stadium in Spring Branch. There, at the facility operated by United Memorial Medical Center, the city hopes to vaccinate an average of 1,000 people per day Monday through Saturday.

“I’ll work to vaccinate as many people as possible as per our supply,” said Turner at a press conference in the Delmar Stadium parking lot. “I want to encourage people to be as patient as possible.”

Turner said that while public vaccination appointment slots will be filled through the online portal when opened (AlertHouston sends notifications when slots open), seniors and people with disabilities can call 832-393-5500 to be put on a separate waiting list. Alternatively, seniors can call the Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4301 to be put on a waiting list.

The city is also utilizing the Bayou City Event Center in Sunnyside, at which officials hope to vaccinate another 1,000 per day, on average; and four local health centers where they intend to give shots to about 100 people per day. The goal, said Turner, is to max out the number of doses distributed to the city at the end of each week.

Both the mayor and Jackson Lee spoke critically of the way the vaccines have been distributed to Houston. Turner said he and officials were doing everything in their power to ensure vaccinations were doled out equitably, emphasizing the hardest-hit communities, which tend to have higher Black and Latino populations. He said setting up the drive-thru centers in Spring Branch and Sunnyside represented an attempt at getting doses to the most vulnerable, but ultimately he can’t control every aspect of distribution.

“I don’t control the distribution process of vaccinations to the City of Houston. The state determines that,” said Turner. “This is the most diverse city in the United States, the most diverse city in the state of Texas. I don’t mind to mediate the State in how to define distribution.”

Jackson Lee said she and her fellow members of Congress are working to ensure a proposed $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package endorsed by President Joe Biden filters into cities that have been affected the most by the deadly virus.

“We inherited a very unassembled, very haphazard, very absent distribution protocol,” said Jackson Lee. “We’re looking to respond to cities. … We are going to be focused on hard-hit areas so that we don’t have stories of a family of Hispanic or African American people where they buried the mother and the adult son, and they funeralized the father and son on a Saturday, and now the entire family is gone. This is what we’re seeing in these communities.”

Both Jackson Lee and Turner emphasized that while early vaccine distribution continues and can be a slower process, people should continue to practice social distancing, wear face masks, and wash their hands.

As a sober reminder of the virus’s impact, the Houston Health Department on Monday reported 3,039 new cases of Covid-19, the largest single-day amount. Turner said the high total is primarily due to corrections addressed by the department’s data collection system; to wit, he said Sunday’s total was 267 new cases. The Health Department also reported 11 Covid-19 deaths on Monday. Despite the shock of seeing escalated totals, Turner said that Houston’s Covid-19 rates are “improving slightly.”

“It’s slightly better, but again that depends on our behavior and how collectively we act to get in front of this virus,” said Turner. “Testing is very important, wearing these masks and social distancing, and at the same time we will do our very best to get these vaccines out there as soon as possible.”

Updated 5:45 p.m. Jan 22

The Houston Health Department reported 646 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 79 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 144,877. Of this number, 20,730 cases are currently active. Nine newly reported deaths bring the city's fatality count to 1,677.

Earlier this afternoon, the health department opened up 1,600 new Covid-19 vaccine appointment slots. Despite some technical trouble with an erroneous password prompt for some users, all slots were filled. For more information on how to get the vaccine here in Houston, check out our guide.

Speaking of vaccines, there has been plenty of confusion surrounding how the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines work. So we asked Dr. David Persse, Houston's chief medical officer, to explain the science behind them in his own words.

Updated 5:43 p.m. Jan 21

Today President Joe Biden signed 10 more executive orders regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. These include requiring face masks while traveling in airports and other forms of transportation, like buses and trains; expanding testing with a Covid-19 Pandemic Testing Board, and providing guidance for school re-openings. The president summarized today's orders in a post on Instagram:

"Exercise the Defense Production Act to ramp PPE and vaccine production"
"Expand testing, treatment, and the workforce"
"Mount a comprehensive vaccination campaign"
"Safely reopen schools, businesses, and travel"
"Address racial and other disparities in COVID impact and care"

Yesterday, Biden signed three Covid-related executive orders, requiring face masks on federal property, rejoining the World Health Organization, and creating a Covid-19 response coordinator position. And while this wasn't an executive order, he also brought back Dr. Anthony Fauci to the White House briefing room.

He also released today a 21-page summary of his 198-page Covid-19 strategy. The main points of that strategy are as follows:

"Ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing."
"Fix personal protective equipment (PPE) problems for good."
"Provide clear, consistent, evidence-based guidance for how communities should navigate the pandemic – and the resources for schools, small businesses, and families to make it through."
"Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines — because development isn’t enough if they aren’t effectively distributed."
"Protect older Americans and others at high risk."
"Rebuild and expand defenses to predict, prevent, and mitigate pandemic threats, including those coming from China."
"Implement mask mandates nationwide by working with governors and mayors and by asking the American people to do what they do best: step up in a time of crisis."

According to several reports, a Harris County Public Health official has been fired for stealing a vial of Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Hasan Gokal admitted to taking the vial, according to a KHOU report, and has been charged with theft by a public servant, a Class A Misdemeanor.

ABC13 reported that the Harris Health System, which includes Ben Taub and Lyndon B, Johnson hospitals, will run out of Covid-19 vaccines by noon on Friday. Dr. Esmaeil Porsa told the station that he had no idea when HHS would get another shipment.

Harris County has three state-designated vaccine hubs, where vaccines are shipped to then disseminate into the community. Harris County Public Health and the Houston Health Department are our area's other hubs.

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, 215,719 people in Harris County have received at least one vaccine dose, and 38,125 have been fully vaccinated.

The Houston Health Department reported 1,444 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 144,327. Of that number, 20,415 cases are currently active. Seven newly reported deaths brings Houston's fatality count to 1,668.

Updated 5:30 p.m. Jan 20

As part of his slew of first-day executive orders today, President Joe Biden signed a mask mandate: Face masks will be required on federal grounds, and he's encouraging everyone to wear face masks for his first 100 days.

In the past seven days, Texas has averaged 17,360 new cases and 317 newly reported fatalities a day, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Additionally, the state averaged 13,903 current hospitalizations each day. "Texas must avoid an additional surge in cases," DSHS tweeted today. "Hospitals can't take much more. Fatalities are still increasing."

Here in Houston, the health department reported 1,339 new cases of Covid-19 today, 87 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 143,069. Of that number, 24,586 cases are currently active. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,661. Yesterday, the U.S. crossed 400,000 Covid-19-related deaths.

Updated 6:23 p.m. Jan 19

The Houston Health Department reported 1,425 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 87 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 141,764. Of that number, 23,311 cases are currently active.

Houston's current Covid-19 positivity rate is 17.4 percent, down slightly from last week.

From Saturday, January 16, to today, the city has reported 35 new Covid-19 deaths in Houston. The city's total fatality count is now 1,655. Today City Hall and various other buildings lit up as part of a nationwide memorial to all those who've lost their lives to Covid-19 in the U.S.

Despite long lines and some folks who were turned away, the health department vaccinated 6,122 people at Saturday's Minute Maid Park mass-vaccination site. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 188,337 people in Harris County have gotten their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and 34,464 have been fully vaccinated.

Several Houston clubs lost their liquor licenses today after videos of large, maskless crowds of people partying surfaced this weekend, prompting a Twitter fight between Mayor Sylvester Turner and rapper Bow Wow.

Updated 4:55 p.m. Jan 15

The city is hosting another mega-vaccination site at Minute Maid Park this weekend. The Houston Health department is contacting folks with appointments to let them know about the new location. This morning, the health department also opened up 2,600 new slots, which filled in 16 minutes, for the event.

HHD reported 1,440 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 89 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 136,756. Of that number, 18,986 cases are currently active. Six new deaths, all of which have occurred in December and January, bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,620. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, our region's hospitalization rate is 19.7 percent.

On Tuesday, the Health Museum is hosting experts in a panel discussion on the Covid-19 vaccine at 1 p.m.. The experts include Dr. Stephen Linder, director of the Institute for Health Policy at UTHealth's School of Public Health; Dr. David Persse, Houston's public health authority; and Dr. Catherine Troisi, associate professor in the Divisions of Management, Policy, and Community Health and Epidemiology UTHealth's School of Public Health. The event is pay what you can, and people can post questions ahead of the discussion or during the event.

Updated 4:37 p.m. Jan 14

The Houston Health Department reported 1,620 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 90 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. The city's total is now 135,469. Of that number, 18,202 cases are currently active. Six new deaths bring the city's total fatality count to 1,614.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced today that more than 1 million Texans have received a Covid-19 vaccine. In Harris County, 136,338 people have gotten at least one shot and 22,99 have received the booster as well. To learn more about how and where to get vaccinated in Houston, check out our article.

Updated 5:43 p.m. Jan 13

The Houston Health Department reported an astonishing 2,239 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 85 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. The city's total case count is now 133,946. Of that number, 17,763 cases are currently active. Four newly reported deaths, all of which have occurred since December 7, bring the city's fatality count to 1,608.

Today the health department launched a new Covid-19 data hub in conjunction with Harris County Public Health. On it, folks can look up threat level, testing, demographic, and case data statistics for our area. There is also a page on vaccine information, with links to the Texas Department of State Health Services's vaccine distribution data. In case you're wondering, 123,066 people in Harris County have already been vaccinated with their first dose and 18,117 have gotten their second, according to DSHS.

Updated 5:08 p.m. Jan 12

The Houston Health Department reported 873 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 73 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 131,872, of which 17,763 cases are currently active. Four newly reported deaths, one of which occurred last June, bring Houston's fatality count to 1,604.

This evening several Houston leaders, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, local health authority Dr. David Persse, Harris County health authority Dr. Sherri Onyiego, and Baylor College of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine dean Dr. Peter Hotez, will participate in a town hall to discuss the vaccine. Learn more here.

Updated 3:45 p.m. Jan 11

In a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Sylvester Turner thanked various city departments, including the Houston Health Department, the Houston Fire Department and volunteers from RodeoHouston, for a successful vaccination site last Saturday at Minute Maid Park. The city had planned to administer up to 3,600 doses, but they were able to administer 3,852 doses that day. Some of those doses came from a shipment of 8,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine that the city received from the state last Friday.

HHD Executive Director Stephen Williams said that the city opened up 1,000 vaccination slots for last Saturday's event, and those slots were filled in 15 minutes. "What we saw were people that were extremely grateful."

He said the city has received more than 22,000 vaccine doses so far, and is expecting to receive more later this week. The Texas Department of State Health Services has named Houston as a "vaccine hub." The health department is planning to have north and south vaccine locations that can become weekend megasites along with the department's four health clinics.

Whether there are more megasites depends if the city receives more vaccine shipments, said Turner.

Despite the vaccine's presence, Covid-19 numbers continue to rise. Turner reported 1,460 new cases in Houston today, bringing Houston's total to 131.035. While the death count "is still modest" in comparison to other cities, Turner reported three new deaths, which brings the city's total fatality count to 1,600.

"We're in the middle of the storm," Turner said. "I suspect that the next two weeks for the city of Houston will be very, very important" as holiday-related cases will starting appearing.

The current positivity rate is 17.4 percent, up from last week's 16.2 percent. "That number is moving is in the wrong direction," Turner said. Also, there are more than 2,100 people in our hospitals for Covid-19. At the peak of the summer storm, there were a little more than 2,400 people in the hospitals.

We are just about at the levels that we were in the height of the summer surge, said Dr. David Persse, the city's chief medical officer. But he's not hopeful we're reaching the creast of this surge, based on the rising numbers. "I don't think this storm has an eye to it."

Updated 5:15 p.m. Jan 5

There are 1,449 new cases of Covid-19 today in Houston, according to the Houston Health Department, of which 86 percent have been from the past two weeks. After removing 140 duplicates, HHD reported Houston's total case count to be 126,021. Of that number, 15,216 cases are currently active. Five newly reported deaths, all of which occurred in December, bring Houston's fatality count to 1,585.

In Texas, there are 13,921 current lab-confirmed Covid-19 hospitalizations, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, and 2,755 lab-confirmed hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area Q, the region that includes Harris County. According to DSHS, TSA Q has 92 available ICU beds and 1,839 hospital beds available. Today, the Texas Medical Center in Houston reported its non-pandemic configured ICU capacity was full, and its total ICU capacity was at 83 percent.

Updated 6:03 p.m. Jan 7

The Houston Health Department reported 1,586 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 92 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. After 119 duplicate cases were removed, Houston's total is now 124,712. Of that number, 14,291 cases are currently active.

In a tweet this afternoon, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the city was partnering with the Astros Foundation to turn Minute Maid Park into a vaccination site. However, this is not the megasite that Turner alluded to Monday during a press conference. Folks will need to make an appointment to get vaccinated here.

Updated 2:15 p.m. Jan 7

The new strain of Covid-19 has been confirmed to be in the Houston area, the Harris County Public Health Department announced on Thursday. This is the first evidence of the mutation, which was discovered in the United Kingdom last month, in the state of Texas. Local officials are particularly concerned as the area continues to see a high positivity rate (today it is 16 percent) and we are now facing an iteration of Covid that is between 40 to 70 percent more contagious.

The patient who has the disease is a man in Southwest Harris County, between 30 to 40 years old, who has not traveled out of the area recently, according to a Harris County Public Health Department release. He is in stable condition and will be kept in isolation until he is cleared by local health authorities. Harris County Public Health epidemiologists are working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to identify, notify, and quarantine anyone the man may have been in contact with since he contracted the disease.

"Though mutations of a virus are expected, we are closely monitoring this case and any potential contacts to prevent the ongoing spread of the virus at all levels,” Dr. Sherri Onyiego, Harris County's new Health Authority, said. “The prevention measures for this strain are no different and our community should continue staying home in addition to wearing face masks, social distancing, getting tested, and washing your hands frequently. We know that our community has growing Covid fatigue, but as cases and hospitalizations are steadily increasing. Now is not the time to drop our guard down.”

Updated 5:07 p.m. Jan 6

The Houston Health Department reported 638 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 85 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is 123,245, of which 13,269 cases are currently active. One new death brings Houston's fatality count to 1,576.

This morning the health department received 13,800 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. The department has already administered 7,006 doses and given 1,900 to other providers to administer. One such provider is Kroger, which is partnering with Houston ISD to administer the vaccine to school nurses, per a Chronicle report.

The Texas Department of State Health Services today tweeted, "The COVID-19 spread has likely never been worse in Texas." In the past seven days, reported the DSHS, Texas has had 12,790 current hospitalizations and averaged 15,365 new cases and 208 new fatalities reported a day.

Updated 4:46 p.m. Jan 5

As of 4:15 p.m. today, Houston has crossed the governor's threshold for re-openings. Basically, for seven consecutive days, our region's Covid-19 hospitalization rates have been above 15 percent, so most businesses and restaurants must roll back to 5o percent occupancy, and other businesses, like bars, must close.

In related news, the Houston Health Department reported 409 new cases of Covid-19 today, 86 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 122,721—15,302 of which are currently active. Five newly-reported deaths, bringing the city’s total to 1,575.

Updated 3:59 p.m. Jan 5

Yesterday, Houston's chief medical officer Dr. David Persse said we were "perilously close" to reaching the threshold in which restaurants would have to roll back capacities and bars would close. Turns out, we're only one day away.

Back in September, Gov. Greg Abbott made hospitalizations rates the key for re-openings. So long as a Trauma Service Area—Houston is in Area Q—had less than 15 percent of its hospital occupancy filled with Covid-19 patients, most businesses could expand to 75-percent capacity. But if a TSA was above 15 percent for seven consecutive days, then most businesses, including restaurants, gyms, and museums, would have to roll back to 50-percent capacities, and other businesses, like bars, would have to close.

Well, Houston, Area Q has had six straight days over 15 percent.

Dec 29 – 15.48 percent
Dec 30 – 15.46 percent
Dec 31 – 16.71 percent
Jan 1 – 16.99 percent
Jan 2 - 17.44 percent
Jan 3 – 18.21 percent

Official numbers were last updated at 3:40 p.m. Jan 4 on the Texas Department of State Health Services tracker. So, we'll likely know tonight or tomorrow what our fate is, but it does not look good.

Updated 4 p.m. Jan 4

Several Houston leaders, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña, and City Council Member Michael Kubosh, publicly received Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine this afternoon in an effort to convince Houstonians to get the shot.

"This vaccine is safe," Acevedo said simply.

Over the weekend, the Houston Health Department vaccinated almost 2,000 people at the city’s first Covid-19 vaccination site at the Bayou City Event Center. Folks who qualify for Stage 1A and Stage 1B (Turner noted that 8 million Texans qualify for Stage 1B) can register for the vaccine at this site at houstonemergency.org. But be prepared to wait—appointment slots are already booked through January. The city is working on a vaccination "mega-site" to set up by next weekend, said Turner.

The mayor noted the large absence of people of color getting vaccinated at the Bayou City Event Center over the weekend, reassuring people that “no, this is not the Tuskegee project and this is not the time for people of color to be staying away."

He also noted that “a shot in the arm” is one of the best ways to protect yourself from Covid-19. HHD Executive Director Dr. Stephen Williams and the city’s chief medical officer, Dr. David Persse, both echoed the mayor’s entreaty for folks to sign up.

Persse noted that the vaccine is 95-percent effective, and should also protect people from the new strain of Covid-19, which originated in the U.K. but has now percolated into countries across the globe and several states around the U.S.. While this new strain is no more dangerous, it “spreads much more easily,” Persse pointed out.

He, and other officials, also commented that until we reach heard immunity, we will have to remain vigilant.

"Although the vaccine is available, it is not time for us to let our guard down," said Williams.

Covid-19 continues to spread in Harris County, officials said.

The city reported 899 new cases today, bringing Houston’s total to 122,331. Two new deaths bring the city’s fatality total to 1,570.

The positivity, hospitalization, and hospital occupancy rates are all increasing, said Turner. The city’s current positivity rate is 13.9 percent, up from last week’s 3.2 percent.

Hospitalization rates are getting "perilously close" to 15-percent hospitalization rate threshold that Governor Greg Abbott set for openings, said Persse. Galveston County, he said, has already crossed it. As a reminder, if we cross a 15-percent hospitalization rate for seven consecutive days, then restaurants must revert back to 50-percent occupancy and bars must close, among other rollbacks.

So Houstonians need to keep up the work of tamping down the spread of this disease. As Peña said, "Wear your mask. Proper distancing and proper hygiene will go a long way."

Updated 8:20 a.m. Jan 4

The City of Houston opened its first Covid-19 vaccination site over the weekend. The clinic, located at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Rd, quickly shifted to a by-appointment setup that soon saw all of its 750-per-day slots available to receive the first part of the vaccine fill up on both Saturday and Sunday. The clinic is currently available, by appointment only, to those who meet the criteria for Phase 1A or 1B to receive the first part of the Moderna vaccine. Although capacity was limited, they were able to vaccinate 1,008 people on Saturday alone, and appointments for Sunday were filled up by the time the clinic opened Sunday morning.

Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is slated to receive the vaccine himself Monday, says the goal is to administer 100,000 vaccines in Houston by the end of this month. If they haven't been able to snag a spot of the free clinic, people who think they may fit the current criteria for receiving the vaccine should check out Texas Covid-19 Provider Location Map and call providers nearby to see if they can receive the vaccine that way, according to a city release. As vaccine availability increases in 2021 and more people become eligible, people will be able to get vaccinated at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, hospitals and other “usual” sites.

Meanwhile, 24 free testing sites are opening this week across the city, with particular focus on the Aldine area since residents there have been clocking the highest Covid-19 positivity rate in Houston, according to a release.

The Houston Health Department will offer drive-thru testing at two surge sites affiliated with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Dr, and Houston Community College—North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd, will offer nasal self-swab tests.

The sites will open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments are available at doineedacovid19test.com and on-site registration is also available. Each site has a daily capacity of 1,250 tests, according to the release.

The department also offers free drive-thru testing via self-nasal swab at the Aramco Services Company, 9009 W. Loop South. The mega testing site will open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The site has a daily capacity of 1,000 tests. People wanting to get tested at the Aramco site can call the department’s Covid-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220.

The department will offer testing at two community sites that don't require appointments and open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until each reaches its daily capacity of 250 tests:

Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Drive, drive thru and walk up, self-nasal swab, and
Hiram Clark Multi-Service Center, 3810 W. Fuqua St., drive thru and walk up, self-nasal swab.

The department will provide self-nasal swab testing at the METRO Addicks Park & Ride, 14230 Katy Freeway, and the Multicultural Center, 951 Tristar Drive, city of Webster. Appointments are available by calling the department’s call center at 832-393-4220.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Houston Astros are also offering self-oral swab tests daily at Minute Maid Park (Lot C), 2208 Preston. The testing site’s capacity is 1,200 tests per day.

The site features eight drive-thru testing lanes and four walk-up testing lanes. It will open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Spanish-speaking staff is available on-site. Visit curative.com to set an appointment or obtain more information. On-site registration is also available.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Dec 30

On Wednesday Black local and state officials received Covid-19 vaccines publicly at the McGovern in an effort to show people that fears about receiving the vaccine should not overrule the public necessity for getting communities fully inoculated against this virus. "I did have some reservations myself, but I put aside my reluctance and weighed the impact," State Rep. Senfronia Thompson said shortly before receiving her first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Thompson's sister died of Covid-19. “I know how heartbreaking it is to not be able to be there by your loved one’s side while they’re on a respirator,” she said. “You can’t even share their last minutes with them.”

The group of those getting the vaccine included State Reps. Harold Dutton, Garnet Coleman, Joe Deshotel, Alma Allen, State Sen. Borris Miles, and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. All of them qualified to take the vaccine now as part of the state's 1B category, which includes people over 65 and people under 65 with serious pre-existing conditions.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the other officials on hand said that they were making a point of encouraging Black communities to get the vaccine because of mistrust of the government. At the same time, they and Hispanic communities have been heavily impacted by the disease. “Every day, when I read the names of people who have died from COVID, almost all of them are people of color,” Turner said. He is scheduled to receive the vaccine on Monday.

Harris County also issued a public alert on Wednesday afternoon urging people to cancel any plans for celebrating New Year's Eve with people outside of those already living in the same house. This alert comes as the state is seeing a massive surge in case numbers, with 60 percent of the ICU beds in Texas now occupied. And officials predict that things will only get worse, as the peak of the surge isn't expected until January 9. The positivity rate in Texas is now averaging above 15 percent, according to a state report released on Tuesday, while the Christmas weekend saw Harris County's hospitalization rate of Covid-19 patients above 15 percent (and rising to more than 20 percent on Monday) for three days straight.

Updated 5:05 p.m. Dec 29

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texans who qualify for Stage 1B can start receiving Covid-19 vaccinations. This phase "will focus on people for whom there is strong and consistent evidence that COVID-19 makes them more likely to become very sick or die," according to a DSHS fact sheet. It includes people over the age of 65 and people over 16 with at least one chronic health condition that puts them at risk. Some of these health conditions include obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and chronic kidney disease.

The Houston Health Department reported 703 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston's total to 116,732. Of these cases, 14,522 are currently active. Three newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,547.

Updated 4:03 p.m. Dec 28

The Houston Health Department reported 765 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city total to 116,043. One newly reported death brings the city’s fatality count to 1,544.

The positivity rate is 11.6 percent, down slightly from last week’s 12.2 percent.

The health department and the Houston Fire Department received their first shipments of 3,000 doses (each) of the Moderna Covid19 vaccine today. There are more than 260 people in the department who can get vaccinated under the Stage 1A phase, said HHD Executive Director Dr. Stephen Williams at a press event this afternoon. “These are people that are in health care directly related to Covid-19.”

In the next couple of days, the department will be offering vaccines to 365 HISD and Pearland ISD school nurses who qualify. The department will also be working to get vaccines to other populations outside the health care field, like residents in long-term care facilities.

“Although everyone who wants to get vaccinated will eventually be able to get vaccinated,” he said, “initial doses are for critical populations identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services.”

Dr. David Persse, the city’s chief medical officer, encouraged everyone to take the vaccine when they are eligible. “This is the beginning of the end,” he said. “This is the time for us to jump on this opportunity aggressively.”

The Houston Fire Department also got 3,000 doses today. More than 50 percent of Houston fire fighters have volunteered to take the vaccine, said HFD Chief Samuel Peña. Qualifying members of the department have been eligible to get vaccinated at Houston Methodist since December 20.

Until we get to the point where everyone can get vaccinated, Turner, who could be receiving his vaccination on January 4, reminded people to be mindful of their behavior. “Do everything we need to do in order to blunt the progression of this particular virus,” he said.

When asked if he would close down businesses or break up bars and clubs on New Year’s Eve, Turner said he did not think “draconian action” should be utilized. “We’re not going to be so paternalistic.” He cited limited resources, preferring to focus police officers on the city’s increasing crime rate. This is a different angle than with the mayor’s previous statements, when he called a curfew or a shutdown a “nuclear option” that would hurt businesses that are following orders, along with the businesses breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

He also focused on individual responsibility.

“People have to be responsible,” he said. “People also have to assume the responsibility that when they hold these large events, and people end up getting sick, and some people could eventually die—people have to assume the responsibility for that.”

Updated 1:51 p.m. Dec 28

On Sunday, President Donald Trump signed Congress's second stimulus package into law. Congress passed the $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief package last Monday, promising to send out $600 checks to Americans, but last Tuesday the president refused to sign the bill, criticizing the low amount. While Democrats in Congress seemed eager to increase the funding to the president's suggested $2,000, Republicans have so far held out. Read more here.

Updated 7:15 p.m. Dec 23

The Houston Health Department reported 634 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 92 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. The total case count is now 112,056.

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump called the $600 checks from Congress's recently passed stimulus package “ridiculously low.” The checks, half the amount doled out in the first round of stimulus, have faced criticism all around. Trump has suggested $2,000 instead. Read more here.

Updated 3:55 p.m. Dec 23

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo convened a joint press conference on Wednesday afternoon to urge Houstonians and Harris County residents not to gather together for Christmas this year. "Please take care of your loved ones this holiday season," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. "It's the most loving thing you can do."

“If you can change those plans, postpone those plans we would encourage you in the strongest of ways to do that this year,” Turner said. “This will be a different holiday, just like Thanksgiving. I’m telling everyone to stay home, and quite frankly I am going to stay home. It’s not going to be easy, especially when you grow up in a city where all of your sisters and nephews and cousins and brothers and uncles and aunties live.”

Dr. David Persse warned that these holiday gatherings might seem like the least dangerous kinds of gatherings because they are comprised of family and friends, people you're close to and comfortable with, but that's why these events are actually more concerning. "We’re seeing the spread at funerals, we’re seeing the spread at weddings, we’re seeing the spread at places where we tend to drop our guard,” Persse said. “Everyone up here recognizes that us asking everyone not to have their Christmas gatherings is a huge ask, a huge ask.”

Persse said that he and his wife hosted a careful, socially-distanced Thanksgiving last month, but the results didn’t leave him without concerns. “You know what, we did well, but we didn’t do perfect,” Persse said. “We’re not having Christmas at my house this year.”

Nine percent of the known Covid-19 cases end up in the hospital right now, based on the current hospitalization rates, Persse pointed out, and the number of deaths from those hospitalized is at about 12 percent. “That is a staggeringly high rate,” he said.

Turner announced that two more people have died from Covid-19 in Houston, while the positivity rate was at 11.2 percent as of the start of this week. “Our positivity rate has been increasing for the last several weeks,” Turner said. “Quite frankly, it is going up, and we don’t need to see it going up any further.”

Turner was once again asked if he was considering instituting a curfew, but he said that he viewed this as a nuclear option, and one that he would only use if our Covid-19 rate was out of control and there was no other option. "It is a very blunt tool, because it affects everyone," he said. "Please don't make us employ this blunt tool ... and as for your New Year's Eve parties? No. Just no."

Modeling has indicated that Houston could become one of the next hot spots if we keep heading this way. "I want us to defy the modeling," Turner said. He explained that he has told his family not to come by this Christmas, and, his voice wavering for a moment, he said he had even asked his daughter to stay away. "You know how much I love my daughter. I told her to stay away, because I love her so much I want to see her next year."

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was also on hand to urge Houstonians to try and be as safe as possible, "We want you to live to see 2021," Lee said. "What we are trying to say here is that if you are here locally, try and help us out."

Updated 5:59 p.m. Dec 22

The Houston Health Department reported 343 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 89 percent have occurred within the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 11,536. Of the total count, 12,119 cases are currently active. One new death brings the fatality count to 1,531.

After months of failed negotiations, Congress passed a second stimulus package Monday night. In addition to the funds for individuals, families, and businesses, the legislation will also fund the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and fund the federal government through September 2021. Read more about the package and how much money you can expect to receive here.

Updated 4:14 p.m. Dec 21

"It's been a little over nine months that we've been dealing with this enemy," said Mayor Sylvester Turner of the coronavirus in a Monday press conference. Today, he reported 777 new cases of Covid-19, bringing Houston's total to 111,211. Three new deaths bring Houston's total 1,530.

Houston's positivity rate is still climbing. This week, the rate is 11.2 percent, up from last week's 10.5 percent. It's important to blunt the progression of the positivity rate, and then drive it back down, said the mayor.

"To avoid a surge on top of a surge," Turner asked people to cancel holiday plans outside of your immediate family and postpone travel to 2021. "Let's hold off to next year." He also asked people to get tested before Christmas Eve.

The City of Houston is to receive 6,000 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, approved last Friday, this week or next. The Houston Heath Department will get 3,000 doses and the Houston Fire Department will get the other 3,000. The doses will be distributed to 1A Tier 1 workers, as designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services, which includes front line workers, first.

Fire Chief Samuel Peña said the department is prepared to store and administer the doses as soon as they come in. So far, EMS and firefighters who qualify have been volunteering to get vaccinated at local hospitals. "We're proud of our employees and those who are taking advantage of this opportunity," he said. So far, 421 fire department workers have tested positive since the pandemic began.

Dr. Stephen Williams, HHD executive director, said the the state's vaccine allocation advisory council, which he sits on, is currently working on a list of 1B workers to get vaccinated in the next round. This could include public health and emergency response staff, last responders (i.e., medical examiners, funeral home workers), and school nurses. They are now waiting for state approval. The priority, he said, is for everyone who qualifies for the vaccine, to get access to it.

Dr. David Persse, HHD's chief medical officer, came on to discuss the new Covid-19 strain that has appeared in the U.K. While it appears that the new strain is not anymore lethal, he said, it is more contagious. He spoke of Covid-19's r-value, which is a ratio used to measure how infectious the virus is. Basically, if the virus's r-value is greater than 1, it's very contagious. This new U.K. strain's r-value is around 3. "That's a significant increase."

He then explained how this new strain appeared: Anytime somebody becomes infected with the virus, the body makes copies of it. When your cells copy the virus, there's a risk your body could make a mistake, he said, which is how mutations form. So far, Covid-19 has seen two significant mutations since the pandemic began.

Before folks get too nervous, it does look like the the vaccine will work on this new strain. So, when your turn comes up, "take the vaccine."

Congress has passed another stimulus package. Individuals will receive $600, but there will be no money given out to local government, like the CARES Act in the spring. While he said he was glad people were receiving support, Turner expressed frustration over the exclusion of local govenrment. "I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with Congress." The city has lost millions in revenue because of the pandemic, and "their failure to include local governments in the equation" will have significant impacts on Houston's operations, he said.

In other news, BakerRipley has distributed 12,278 direct assistance checks so far, totaling more than $14.7 million. Another round of $1,200 checks will be mailed out on December 23.

Updated 9:16 p.m. Dec 18

The Food and Drug Administration Friday approved Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on adults age 18 and older. This decision comes exactly a week after the FDA approved Pfizer's vaccine, which can be used adults and teens age 16 and older and was distributed across the country earlier this week.

“With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of COVID-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in the fight against this global pandemic that is causing vast numbers of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States each day,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in a statement.

Read the full statement here.

Updated 5:25 p.m. Dec 18

The Houston Health Department reported 805 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 89 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 108,589 cases. There are 12 newly reported deaths, 66 percent of which have occurred in December. Houston's fatality count is now 1,09.

Updated 5:24 p.m. Dec 17

The Houston Health Department reported 855 new cases of Covid-19 today, 92 percent of which have been from the past two weeks, bringing the city's total count to 107,889. Of this number, 10,809 are currently active. One new death brings Houston's fatality count to 1,497.

Meanwhile a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel today endorsed Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. Read the panel's full report here. If the FDA follows the same timeline as it did with the Pfizer vaccine, then we can expect an approval Friday, with vaccines reaching U.S. cities early next week.

Updated 9:50 a.m. Dec 17

Gov. Greg Abbott provided an update on the state of the state's Covid-19 vaccine program outside a UPS center in Austin on Thursday morning. Abbott announced that more than 224,000 vaccine doses will have been distributed across the state by the end of what he said would be "an extraordinary day" in Texas. Right now, the leading recipients of the Pfizer vaccine (and of Moderna once the federal Food and Drug Administration approves its vaccine, which is expected to happen sometime today as well) here in Texas will be frontline healthcare workers.

“Everyone owes a debt of gratitude to these doctors and nurses who have been on the frontlines for months now,” Abbott said. “We cannot thank them enough for risking their lives to care for others.” He explained that getting them the vaccine first will, of course, help them continue to do that.

This is especially crucial in Texas, where the numbers of those infected and the hospitalization rate have been growing. Despite the recent calls from the White House for Texas to take further measures to slow the rapid increase of Covid’s spread in the state, Abbott vehemently stated that Texas will not be enacting further shutdown measures.

He pointed to California and insisted that we still don’t know how this disease spreads and that this means shutdowns are pointless. “One thing we need to put behind is shutdowns. There will be no more shutdowns,” Abbott said. “Every adult in Texas has the responsibility to follow the guidelines to protect themselves.”

Abbott is banking on vaccines and on people continuing to wear masks, social distance, wash hands, and take all the other advised precautions to prevent contracting the disease. The way vaccines are being doled out is that each state will get a shipment a week, with the expectation being that there will be roughly one million people in Texas vaccinated before the end of this month, Abbott explained. Abbott himself hasn't taken the vaccine yet, because, he said, he wants to wait for the appropriate time and doesn't want to take a vaccine that could be better used on a frontline health worker, but noted that he plans on doing so.

Both Abbott and Dr. John Hellerstadt of Texas Department of State Health Services made a point of reminding people to remember that even though the vaccine is going out, the pandemic isn't over yet. "We should all be very hopeful, but we should all be very patient and understand that we don’t just need a million, we need hundreds of millions of vaccines and that will be coming in the coming months," Hellerstadt said.

More telling, while it was once common for Abbott and all of those around him at these press conferences not to be sporting masks, not only were Hellerstadt and the others flanking the governor wearing their masks, but also as soon as the stopped speaking they put them back on.

Updated 3:27 p.m. Dec 16

There are 1,514 newly reported cases of Covid-19, which brings Houston's total 107,156, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today, remarking this is the highest single-day count of new cases the city's seen in a while. Although both Turner and Dr. David Persse, Houston's chief medical officer, remarked this could be the backend of Thanksgiving-related cases, "that's a lot of cases," said Persse.

Three new deaths, all from recent weeks, bring Houston's fatality count 1,496. Across Houston, about 1,200 people are currently in the hospital for Covid-19. Hospitalizations have been "gently trickling up" over the past few weeks, Persse said.

Persse said he's hopeful that first responders will begin to get vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the month, but it's likely their turn won't come until January. The first Houstonians got shot with the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday. "I just can't tell you how giddy people were" at the hospitals yesterday, said Turner, joking everyone was "elated" to get shots.

But even though there's excitement and hope surrounding the vaccine, Persse and Turner said folks still need to be mindful and careful, especially during this holiday season. Keep masks on, minimize holiday celebration, and forego parties, Turner said. He discouraged people from traveling for the holidays. "Let's bear in mind that this virus is very much active in this city."

Persse also reminded people that a plastic shield only protects you from potential splatter, and do nothing to protect others from you. "We should consider them not effective at all when we compare them to the masks," he said.

In other news, Houston City Council today voted to spend the remainder of the city's $405 million of CARES Act funding on continuing testing and contact tracing through the new year, according to a Houston Chronicle report. CARES Act funding must be used by December 31, so the city is using $22 million to ensure these programs run through February.

Updated 6:43 p.m. Dec 15

The first Houstonians received the Covid-19 vaccine today in hospitals across the city. Read more about it here.

In other vaccine news, the Food and Drug Administration released an analysis today of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, finding it to be effective and safe for emergency use. The vaccine could potentially be officially approved for use in the coming days. Read more about it here.

The Houston Health Department reported 780 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 92 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total count is now 105,730, after 12 duplicates were removed. Of the total cases, 10,552 are currently active. There are no newly reported deaths; the fatality count remains at 1,493.

Updated 4:33 p.m. Dec 14

Late last week the first batch of $1,200 checks from the direct assistance program were mailed out by BakerRipley, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in a Monday afternoon press conference. In total, 2,355 checks, equaling $2,826,000 of the initial $10 million of federal CARES Act funding, were mailed out to individuals, many of whom were from city and county waiting lists.

Today, another $2.5 million in checks will be mailed out. The goal, said Turner, is to get as much of the money distributed before the holidays and the end of the year. So far, about 50,000 people have applied to the program.

There are 745 new Covid-19 cases reported today, said the mayor, which brings Houston’s total to 104,962. Six new deaths bring our city’s fatality count to 1,493.

Houston’s current positivity rate is 10.5 percent, up from last week’s 9.7 percent. But, in some good news, the reproduction rate (a ratio that measures how quickly the virus is spreading), which is being tracked by the Texas Medical Center, is less than 1. This means the virus is starting to slow down somewhat.

Results are back from the Houston Health Department’s joint antibody study from the fall, which was conducted in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University’s Kinder Institute.

From September 8–19, 420 homes were selected to test members of their respective households for Covid-19 antibodies. A total of 678 people volunteered to give blood samples, said Loren Hopkins, the health department’s chief environmental science officer.

According to the study results, about 13.5 percent of the Houston population had been infected with the virus, which translates approximately 250,000 people, by September. This is a rate four times higher than the number of people who actually got a positive Covid-19 test during that same period. This could indicate that the testing data alone does not give us a complete description of how many exactly how many people have gotten Covid-19 in Houston, Hopkins noted.

Other interesting data points from the study: Antibodies were higher in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black population groups, younger people, and women.

The results of this survey underscore the necessity of masks and social distancing, said Turner.

A second phase of this study will be conducted in January 2021. Previous participants will get retested for antibodies and additional 420 homes will be asked to participate. According to Hopkins, this is to measure how much the virus has spread since phase one and how antibodies decrease over time.

The testing in January will see how people maintain their immunity over time, said Dr. David Persse, chief medical officer of the health department. This is important to know because in order for life to return to normal, we need to reach herd immunity. To achieve herd immunity here, Persse explained, 70-plus percent of the city's population will need to be simultaneously immune.

The need for so many people to be included to achieve herd immunity, he said, is just “another reason why everybody needs to consider getting vaccinated."

Last Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for adults and teen age 16 and older. This morning, MD Anderson Cancer Center received Houston’s first shipment of vaccines. Tomorrow, more hospitals, including Houston Methodist, the TMC, CHI St. Luke’s, Texas Children’s Hospital Main, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, and Memorial Hermann, will receive shipments.

Turner encouraged these hospitals to “start putting those vaccines to use as quickly as possible." Front line workers will be among the first to get vaccinated.

The mayor also encouraged the TMC to be transparent and show the public healthcare workers physically taking the vaccine, similar to what New York has done. "I think it would create more confidence, and make people feel better,” said Turner. “Let's not keep it behind the walls."

He also said that he would take the vaccine publicly when his turn eventually comes.

Persse then came on to assuage fears over the vaccine. While it’s turned out to be a much faster process than many first thought it would be for a vaccine to be developed, there is nothing new about the infrastructure that made its development possible.

The technology that was used to create this vaccine was the same one developed 15 years ago to fight SARS 1 (Covid-19’s official name is SARS-CoV-2), Persse noted. "From a scientific standpoint," Persse said, "nothing has been rushed."

He said people should not be scared of a negative physical reaction to the vaccine. Most people experience normal side effects, such as a sore shoulder, a muscle ache, a little bit of fever. People with allergies, like peanuts, latex, or shellfish, should not be worried.

While there have been reports of several people in the U.K. reacting badly, apparently they'd had poor reactions to previous immunizations.

Since the vaccine was approved for emergency use, no one can be legally forced to take it. But both Persse and Turner strongly encourage Houstonians to get a vaccine when they can—Harris County has historically been very bad about getting immunized.

"If we want to stop wearing masks, if we want to get back to normal as a community as a state, as a nation, we have to get to herd immunity," Persse said, his voice growing audibly emotional. "If that means I have to roll up my sleeve and have a sore arm and a low-grade fever for a couple of days, so be it."

To make things easier for the general public when the vaccine becomes more widely available, HHD Executive Director Dr. Stephen Williams said that people will be able to get vaccinated at their local healthcare provider. More than 500 healthcare providers in Houston have already signed up to administer vaccines when available.

Additionally, HHD has been testing ways to mass-dispense the vaccine. Said Williams, while they haven't decided where it would occur, the health department has planned for drive-thru vaccines, using similar models to those utilized for testing.

In other news, the White House Coronavirus Task Force has said that states like Texas needed to do more to slow the spread of Covid-19, including shutting back down. While Turner said this was more of a message to Gov. Greg Abbott, all city-permitted, -produced or -authorized events are on hold and city workers will continue to work from home through January.

A potential curfew order is prepared, said Turner, but the mayor has once again backed off the idea, after threatening it for several weeks in November. "That's like a nuclear option," he said, echoing his words from last week.

Updated 9:55 p.m. Dec 11

On Friday evening the Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for adults and teen age 16 and older. The decision comes after the United Kingdom approving the vaccine earlier this week, a U.S. advisory panel endorsing the vaccine yesterday, and White House Chief of Staff threatening the resignation of FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn if the vaccine was not approved by end of day Friday, according to some reports.

The FDA approved the vaccine for emergency use based on the results of a current trial of 44,000 people age 12 and older, which so far has been about 95-percent effective.

“Based on these data, and review of manufacturing information regarding product quality and consistency, it is reasonable to believe that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine may be effective,” RADM Denise Hinton, the FDA’s chief scientist, wrote in an official letter of approval to Pfizer. “Additionally, it is reasonable to conclude, based on the totality of the scientific evidence available, that the known and potential benefits of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine, for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older.”

The vaccine will be administered in two doses, three weeks apart from each other. Pfizer will also be required to submit monthly safety reports and quarterly manufacturing reports.

Read more here.

Updated 5:34 p.m. Dec 11

The Houston Health Department reported 672 cases of Covid-19, of which 94 percent have taken place in the past two weeks, and removed 38 cases from the total count. Houston's total is now 103,238. Of those cases, 9,249 are currently active. Six newly reported deaths bring the city's total fatality count to 1,481.

Updated 6:10 p.m. Dec 10

The Houston Health Department reported 1,060 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston today, of which 96 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. After 60 duplicated were removed, Houston's total case count is now 102,604. Of that number, 8,752 cases are currently active.

While it has yet to be officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration, a U.S. government advisory panel today endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which the United Kingdom approved and started distributing earlier this week, for widespread dissemination in adults and teens over the age of 16 here in the U.S. With this endorsement, it's expected for the FDA to soon approve the vaccine and distribution could begin next week, which keeps with the timetable that Gov. Greg Abbott has previously discussed. Read more here.

Updated 4:13 p.m. Dec 9

There are 315 new cases of Covid-19, 92 percent of which occurred in the past two weeks, the Houston Health Department reported today. After 71 duplicates were removed from the count, Houston's total is now 101,604. Of those cases, 9,105 are currently active. Four new deaths, one of which occurred in June, bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,472.

Updated 5:10 p.m. Dec 8

The Houston Health Department reported 79 new cases of Covid-19 today. Before you get excited, the department notes that today's low number could be due to many testing sites being closed over Thanksgiving. After 19 duplicates were removed, Houston's total case count is now 101,360. Only 9,136 of those cases are currently active; 90,756 people have recovered. One new death brings the city's total fatality count to 1,468.

Updated 4:05 p.m. Dec 7

The Houston Health Department reported 403 new cases of Covid-19 Monday, which brings the city’s total count to 101,300 cases. Two newly reported deaths bring the fatality count to 1,467.

"While we have not yet seen a surge from Thanksgiving-related cases, we’ll probably start seeing them this week going into next," said Mayor Sylvester Turner in a press conference this afternoon, "and hopefully we won't."

The city’s latest positivity rate is now 8.8 percent, up from last week’s 8.3 percent. That is too high, said Turner. The goal is to drive that rate back down to 5 percent, where the city was in early October.

Digital equity had become essential in 2020, said Turner, so the city is partnering with Comcast to bring Internet Essentials—affordable, high-speed Internet for low-income households—to more communities in Houston. City Council has voted to allocate some CARES Act money to provide 5,000 one-year internet vouchers so folks can stay connected for school and work.

"The program would provide a lifeline," said Turner, for folks struggling throughout the pandemic. Applications close December 20. Learn more here.

Comcast is also working with the city to establish nine "lift zones"—or connected places—for children who don’t have internet at home to have a safe place to study. Currently these sites are planned for different community centers across Houston, but Comcast plans to establish more spots in 2021, said Melinda Little, director of Government Affairs.

"Internet now more than ever has become such a vital part of our day-to-day lives," she said.

On Wednesday, Houston City Council will vote to allocate $2,036,000 to the Houston Food Bank in CARES Act funding, said Turner. The food bank reported that its distribution has surged 200 percent this year during the pandemic, he added. The money is "sorely needed."

The council will also vote to allocate $131,475 in CARES Act funding to BARC Houston to help efforts to rescue homeless animals this holiday season and to support the surge in pets who had to be surrendered to shelters because of the pandemic.

While the city has to use up its CARES Act money by the end of the year, Turner said he would reserve a contingency of $10–12 million to continue funding for contact tracing, testing, and Covid shelters for Houston’s homeless past December 31.

Houston Health Department Director Stephen Williams, who also sits on the state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, discussed how a vaccine in Houston will be distributed and administered.

The initial allocation, which will be distributed through Houston Methodist, will be extremely limited. "Initial doses of the vaccine will be slated for critical populations," he said. It will take through the first quarter of 2021 for first-tier-level individuals (think physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, first responders) to get vaccinated. According to Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña, 1,500 Houston firefighters' names have been submitted for possible vaccination during the first phase.

The general population shouldn’t expect to get a vaccine until the second quarter of next year. But once it’s become more widely available, people will be able to get vaccinated at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and “other usual sites.” You will need two doses of the vaccine. You’ll also receive a card after your first shot explaining the vaccine, and you’ll be added to the state immunization registry to help ensure people are getting the right vaccine.

Because this is an emergency-use vaccine, no one is required to actually get it, but Turner and other city officials urged Houstonians (who historically don’t like vaccines) to take it to help curb the number of people testing positive and getting hospitalized.

“When you’re able to take it, let me encourage you to take it,” said Turner.

Peña said the fire department responded to 105 occupancy complaints over Saturday and Sunday. He reminded people Monday that 75 percent is the maximum occupancy for businesses, "but more important than that is proper distancing" within these businesses.

If occupancy gets too out of hand, then a curfew will be put in place, said Turner, but it seems unlikely that a curfew will actually happen. Although the city has begun prepping for a potential curfew, the mayor called it a "nuclear option," saying we’re not at the point where it’s necessary. He’ll continue to monitor numbers, but "even when the situations were as bad as they were in June, July, and August, I didn't enforce a curfew," added Turner.

The mayor closed the conference by thanking everyone who has been following social distancing guidelines, encouraging folks to shop local and support small businesses this holiday season (but "be safe shoppers," as in avoiding crowded stores and practicing distancing), and staying "mindful of the road rage."

Updated 12:22 p.m. Dec 7

On Sunday, the Houston Health Department reported 1,333 new cases of Covid-19, which brought the city’s total to 100,907. While it should be noted that only 8,795 are currently active, that total is still staggering. We break down the numbers here.

Updated 6:07 p.m. Dec 4

The Houston Health Department reported 109 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 63 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. After 51 duplicate cases were removed, Houston's total is now 99,454, inching closer and closer to 100,000. Five newly reported deaths, three of which occurred over the summer, bring the city’s total fatality count to 1,449.

Updated 4:23 p.m. Dec 3

There are 1,137 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today, bringing the city's total to 99,396. Three new deaths bring the total fatality count to 1,444 (one death as been moved to another jurisdiction). "That is a very large number," said Dr. David Persse, the city's chief medical officer. Yesterday, Turner said, more than 3,000 people died in a 24-hour period across the U.S.

Both Persse and Turner spoke about the city's rising hospital numbers. While they're not climbing as fast as they did over the summer, these things can go "from zero to 60" quickly, Turner said.

Persse pointed out that the downward slope in hospital numbers post-July was not because of changing seasons. It was because of people changing their behavior and avoiding gatherings and other events that could spread the virus, such as bars and clubs. Turner asked those establishments to limit their occupancies and follow health safety protocols, once again threatening a curfew if they didn't comply. He also encouraged individuals to modify their behavior. If you walk in somewhere and it's packed, Turner said, "I would strongly advise you to turn around and go some place else, preferably to your home."

Persse also reminded people that no single layer of protection is enough, and folks should be following all of the social distancing guidelines, like meeting outdoors (although, "when it comes to gatherings, none is best," he said), washing your hands, and, especially, wearing a mask. The only "acceptable reason" an adult—or anyone over the age of 2—could have for not wearing a mask in public, Persse said, is if they are in such a condition that if in an emergency, that person would not be able to remove their mask themselves. Being uncomfortable wearing a mask or a history of asthma are not "adequate" excuses. He also said a face shield is not a mask. It only protects your eyes.

He also clarified that the CDC has not changed its guidance on quarantine—it is still two weeks. If someone were to only quarantine for one week, then that person has as much as a 12.5-percent risk of spreading Covid-19 to others. That's too high, Persse said.

Speaking of quarantining, if you traveled for Thanksgiving or saw folks who traveled, you should be quarantining until you can get your Covid results back (and get tested, if you haven't), said Turner. "We have yet to experience the potential surge from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend."

Yesterday, the Houston City Council allotted more CARES Act funding for local aid. Another $10 million will be distributed through the Small Business Covid-19 Relief Fund, which will have doled out a total of $35 million by the end of the year. There will also be $20 million given out as direct assistance, in $1200 payments for struggling households. Money will go to households who previously applied for assistance but did not receive aid because of a lack of funds.

Also yesterday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that vaccines could be arriving in Texas the week of December 14, but Persse offered clarifications of when the average person might expect to get vaccinated: He said from the projections that he's hearing from the people in charge at the national level, including Dr. Fauci's team, is that the average person could expect to receive a Covid-19 vaccine in April 2021. But people should expect to wear masks until 70-plus percent of the population have immunity, which won't be for a while. He said New York City would have the highest herd immunity, but current estimates put it at only 23 percent.

Updated 4:05 p.m. Dec 2

The Houston Health Department reported 476 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 92 percent have been from the past two weeks. The city's total is now 98,329. Four new deaths bring the city's fatality count to 1,442.

In a press release this afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have allotted 1.4 million Covid-19 vaccines to Texas for this month. The immunizations, which will be delivered beginning the week of December 14, will be distributed based on the state's vaccine distribution principles. Read more about that here.

"The State of Texas is already prepared for the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine, and will swiftly distribute these vaccines to Texans who voluntarily choose to be immunized," Abbott said in the release. "As we await the first shipment of these vaccines, we will work with communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19."

Updated 5:20 p.m. Dec 1

The Houston Health Department reported 239 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 93 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 97,917. Three new deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,438.

Updated 4:04 p.m. Nov 30

There are 685 new cases of Covid-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon, bringing the city's total to 97,703. There are no new deaths.

November was the second busiest month for Covid-19 testing, behind July, Turner said. At Houston Health Department-affliated sites, 90,877 people have gotten tested this month. "Hopefully that will continue in the city of Houston" throughout December, the mayor said.

Turner encouraged anyone who traveled or received travelers over the Thanksgiving holidays to get tested over the next couple of days. He said he would not be surprised by an uptick in case count in the two weeks post-Thanksgiving.

Dr. David Persse, the city's chief medical officer, also encouraged folks to get tested, as there are some estimates that put the number of asymptomatic Covid-19 cases at 55 percent of total cases, instead of the previously thought 40 percent. This is because current Covid-19 cases are trending to younger age groups, who are more likely to be asymptomatic, he said.

Persse announced that 12.7 percent of Harris County hospital beds are currently filled with Covid-related patients. As per Governor Greg Abbott's September order, if a hospital region reaches 15 percent, then that region must reverse some of its reopenings. "We need to change things," said Persse, "and drive the numbers down."

In some good news, Turner said, the city's positivity rate is down slightly from last week. It is now 8.4 percent, down from 8.8 percent. But people shouldn't get their hopes up; this "a bit of good news as a snapshot in time," Turner said, and can change tomorrow. Besides, said Persse, 8.4 percent "is way higher than our arbitrary goal of 5 percent, which is still 5 percent too high."

While there are no new deaths reported today, the mayor reflected on two city of Houston employees who died from Covid-19 last week: Joel Carillo from Houston Public Works, whose wife also works in department, and Ernest Leal Jr, who'd been with the Houston Police Department since 1984.

Both Turner and Persse, along with Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña encouraged people to continue social distancing, following safety protocols, and mask wearing. Acevedo reminded people that face masks must cover the nose and mouth. "If you're going to wear it, wear it right," he said, comparing wearing a mask improperly to wearing your seatbelt under your armpit.

Acevedo also announced that HPD's Vice division will start visiting bars and establishments that are breaking Covid-19 rules. According to Peña, the fire department has responded 20,000 Covid rules-related complaints since March 18. While the majority of those situations are handled on the spot, he said the department needed the business community's help in maintaining safety and to "keep the lights on."

Mayor Turner said that even he would start visiting some of these establishments, but "I'm not coming in for a drink." If the situation continue to get out of hand, with too many people in an establishment, or a place isn't following the governor's orders, then a curfew might have to be put in place, Turner threatened. "Please just consider yourself forewarned."

As for the current cold snap, Persse warned people to be careful. While the cold weather itself won't significantly impact the virus's behaviors, it does impact people's behavior as they move socializing indoors. "The weather changes how we behave," Persse said, which could lead to more Covid-19 cases, just like what happens with the cold and flu every year. What this means is that people should be following social distancing guidelines now more than ever. "You really can't be socializing outside your bubble," Persse said.

Updated 11:55 a.m. Nov 30

The Houston Health Department did not report any new cases over the holidays. On Saturday, the department reported a three-day total of 924 (88 percent of which occurred in the previous two weeks) new Covid-19 cases for November 26–28. The department also reported 11 new deaths during that period. Yesterday, the health department reported 530 new Covid-19 cases and three new Covid-related deaths. As a result, Houston's totals are now 97,028 cases and 1,436 fatalities.

Updated 5:51 p.m. Nov 25

The Houston Health Department reported 1,288 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 95,714. Two newly reported deaths bring the city’s total fatality count to 1,423.

As the Texas Tribune explains, you might see Covid case and death counts flatten over the next couple of days then spike next week. This is because as doctor's offices and other health offices close for the holiday, and there is less testing and reporting going on. Read more about this phenomenon here.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Nov 24

The Houston Health Department reported 546 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 94,521. Four new deaths, all of which have occurred since October 30, bring Houston's fatality count to 1,421.

Houston's positivity rate continues to climb. Yesterday, the health department reported the city's positivity rate was 8.8 percent. Three weeks ago, the rate was 7.1 percent. Six weeks ago, the city reported a positivity rate of 5 percent.

As of today, 449,984 people have been tested for Covid-19 at health department-affiliated sites. In July, the city administered the most tests (95,301). So far, at 78,704 tests, November is the second highest month.

Updated 5:10 p.m. Nov 23

The Houston Health Department reported 463 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 93,988. Three newly reported deaths bring the city’s fatality total to 1,417. In a press conference this afternoon, Dr. David Persse, the city's chief medical officer, noted that our Covid hospitalization rate has crept up above 10 percent. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 6,576 new cases of Covid-19 across the state today. So far, Texas has had 1,100,979.

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that a first round of Covid-19 immunizations could arrive in Texas by December 12. But don't get your hopes up just yet. So far, there aren't any Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines, but there could be before the end of the year, according to a Texas Tribune report. And any approved vaccine will most likely be in short supply.

Persse said that the city should be seeing vaccines here in the next several weeks, although certain people like healthcare workers and those who are most vulnerable to the disease will be prioritized. "There will almost certainly be more people who want this vaccine than there will be vaccines to administer," Persse said, warning that even with these first vaccines going out it will take time to get everyone vaccinated against the disease.

As a result the governor has created an Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP) to decide where and who gets the immunizations first. The 17-member panel includes state senators, researchers, doctors, and health officials from across the state, including Houston Health Department Executive Director Stephen Williams.

According to a release from DSHS, the panel has created the following criteria for vaccine distribution:

"Protecting health care workers who fill a critical role in caring for and preserving the lives of COVID-19 patients and maintaining the health care infrastructure for all who need it."
"Protecting frontline workers who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their work providing critical services and preserving the economy."
"Protecting vulnerable populations who are at greater risk of severe disease and death if they contract COVID-19."
"Mitigating health inequities due to factors such as demographics, poverty, insurance status and geography."
"Data-driven allocations using the best available scientific evidence and epidemiology at the time, allowing for flexibility for local conditions."
"Geographic diversity through a balanced approach that considers access in urban and rural communities and in affected ZIP codes."
"Transparency through sharing allocations with the public and seeking public feedback."

According to the panel, health care providers will the first to get the vaccination. Because there won't be very many doses in the beginning, health care workers are being divided into two tiers. Tier 1 will get the vaccines first, and then if there's any left over, then Tier 2 will get vaccinated.

First tier:

"Hospital staff working directly with patients who are positive or at high risk for COVID-19. Includes:a. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other support staff (custodial staff, etc.) b. Additional clinical staff providing supporting laboratory, pharmacy, diagnostic and/or rehabilitation services."
"Long-term care staff working directly with vulnerable residents. Includes: a. Direct care providers at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and state supported living centers b. Physicians, nurses, personal care assistants, custodial, food service staff."
"EMS providers who engage in 9-1-1 emergency services like pre-hospital care and transport."
"Home health care workers, including hospice care, who directly interface with vulnerable and high-risk patients."

Second tier:

"Staff in outpatient care offices who interact with symptomatic patients. Includes: a. Physicians, nurses, and other support staff (custodial staff, etc.) b. Clinical staff providing diagnostic, laboratory, and/or rehabilitation services c. Non 9-1-1 transport for routine care."
"Direct care staff in freestanding emergency medical care facilities and urgent care clinics."
"Community pharmacy staff who may provide direct services to clients, including vaccination or testing for individuals who may have COVID."
"Public health and emergency response staff directly involved in administration of COVID testing and vaccinations."
"Last responders who provide mortuary or death services to decedents with COVID-19. Includes: a. Embalmers and funeral home workers who have direct contact with decedents b. Medical examiners and other medical certifiers who have direct contact with decedents 6. School nurses who provide health care to students and teachers."

The vaccine will be in two doses, but anyone who receives it won't be considered immune until about a week after their second dose. "It can either be good, or it can be alarming for us after Thanksgiving," Turner said. "This vaccine is on the horizon so we just have a couple more months to get through," Mayor Pro Tem David Martin said, reminding parents that it would be wise to have any children coming home from college tested as soon as they are in town to ensure that no one is carrying the virus home to their families.

"Let me tell you what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for the fact that so many people and businesses have been willing to share what they have with those less fortunate, so much so that thousands of Houston families, at least some of their needs are being met," Turner said, as he explained how the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate at the George R. Brown Convention Center will play out this year. (It will be a carry-out situation this time.)

As to how to handle the holiday if you are considering seeing anyone outside of those you've been sticking with throughout the pandemic, you should get a test done beforehand, Persse said. "I would not recommend anyone go to a hospital to get tested. Hospitals are busy taking care of sick people," Persse said, as he outlined the approach people should take about getting tested. He also warned that people truly can be infected with the disease without showing symptoms, and that the rapid tests are only truly reliable if you get a positive result. So if you are wanting to see people and want to be as certain as possible about your status regarding the disease, he warned that you need to get your tests conducted either today or tomorrow to give enough time for them to be processed.

Persse said that his own family will be doing a careful outdoor Thanksgiving because he and his wife haven't seen their grandchildren since January. "We are playing by the rules, but we haven't seen them in months, so we're going to do that," Persse said. Martin said that he and his wife and immediate family are getting tested before the holiday and that the celebration will be strictly immediate family that are known to be Covid-free. Turner plans on serving food at the annual Superfeast and is keeping his gathering small and at his house versus the family place at Acres Homes.

Updated 5:19 p.m. Nov 20

The Houston Health Department reported 367 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 79 percent have been from the past two weeks. After the health department removed 223 duplicates, Houston's total case count is now 92,412. There is one newly reported death. The health department also moved one death to a different jurisdiction, so Houston's fatality count is still 1,406.

Yesterday, Texas reported its highest single-day count of new cases during the entire pandemic: 12,293. At 11,738 new cases, today has the second highest single-day count, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. During the summer surge, the highest single-day count was 10,791 on July 15. All 254 counties in Texas are reporting Covid-19 cases. While there has been quite a bit of press lately about spikes in El Paso and Lubbock counties, Harris County still has 40 percent more cases than those two counties combined.

Instead of the annual Thanksgiving parade, the city is hosting a Thanksgiving distribution drive on Saturday, November 21, at NRG. Learn more here.

Updated 5:19 Nov 19

The Houston Health Department reported 967 new cases of Covid-19, of which 94 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 92,268. Two additional deaths bring the city's fatality count to 1,406.

Gov. Greg Abbott made headlines yesterday when he said there would be no more shutdowns in Texas, despite surging cases across the state. He reiterated that point again today at a press conference in Lubbock. Read more here.

Yesterday, Houston City Council approved a program that will close street traffic along the Main Street artery between Commerce and Rusk streets through March 2022. The initiative will allow for eating and drinking establishments along that strip, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, to expand their patios into the roadway. Read more here.

Updated 2:43 p.m. Nov 18

According to the Houston Health Department, there are 1,158 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 96 percent have been from the past two weeks. At 91,566 total cases, Houston is inching closer and closer to 100,000. Six new deaths bring the total fatality count to 1,404.

Updated 4:27 p.m. Nov 17

In a press conference this afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that the average number of daily new cases in Harris County has increased by 250 percent since the first week of October. The positivity rate has also increased by 30 percent since that time period. Currently, in Harris County hospitals, there are 234 people in ICUs and 516 in general beds being treated for the virus. These numbers are close to “the trends we saw right before the crisis in June and July,” she said, comparing the situation to a frog in boiling water.

This is the moment to take action, she said. “We have a narrow window to turn this ship around.” As the holidays approach, the judge suggested two different things people can do.

First, she encouraged people to cancel gatherings large and small, unless it’s with their immediate household. It’s not going to be a normal holiday, but “things shouldn’t be normal when it’s a time of crisis,” she said.

Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, said if the pandemic is a football game, then the holidays is halftime. “Think of the holidays as risky behaviors,” he said, calling this time “critical” for our situation as we head into 2021.

Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, CEO of the Harris Health System, further cemented the point by warning that Thanksgiving could be a super-spreader event. The data, he said, shows that younger people are getting Covid-19, which is good because they’re not getting as sick, but there’s a “ground swell of a lot of Covid-19 cases in our community.” Because of that, Thanksgiving has the potential to be worse than Memorial Day or July Fourth weekend, he said, as people prepare to gather with family.

If you have to gather, said Porsa, get tested and self-isolate before you do so. Gatherings, he said, should ideally be less than five people but no more than 10. Don’t eat a family-style meal, plates should be loaded up before everyone sits down. He also suggested eating outside and not gathering around the dinner table.

The second activity Hidalgo suggested was to go get tested. “This virus maybe invisible but we can make it visible through testing,” she said.

The county judge said she be sending out a health alert to Harris County with this information today as well.

In Houston today, the Houston Health Department reported 268 new cases of Covid-19, of which 84 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. There have been 90,501 total cases. Two new deaths (two other deaths have been moved to other jurisdictions) bring the total fatality count to 1,398.

Updated 3:50 p.m. Nov 16

Mayor Sylvester Turner noted on Monday that the holidays with the traditional large family gatherings are not advisable this year. "We strongly encourage family's to limit holiday gatherings to household members only," Turner said, noting that our positivity rate is now at 7.9 percent, and is continuing to move in the wrong direction.

He also asked people to be very mindful of holiday travel, to be cautious if you are thinking about traveling to areas that have much higher rates of spreading right now, and to remember that masks do work. "As a result, the wearing of masks in the City of Houston is mandatory," Turner said. "Nobody wants to give you a fine, but the wearing of masks in the City of Houston is mandatory."

The Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade this year will be the H-E-B Thanksgiving Food Distribution at the NRG Stadium. "I know it's difficult to not celebrate with all of our family and friends, but we must defeat this virus," Turner said. "Let me close with this: Don't invite Covid to your Thanksgiving dinner."

Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse also stepped up to remind everyone that Houston fought this virus once before—and got our positivity rate down—battling it down until we backed away from the soaring rates we were seeing back in July. "Isolation and quarantine are hard but these are the things this community needs to repeat its excellent performance and get these numbers back down" Persse said. "We are in a much better situation than the rest of the state is, but we want to keep it that way."

They also warned that the recent reports on the two vaccines currently in trials are encouraging but that there's still a lot that has to be done before it will be clear if either vaccine is going to ultimately be safe and effective, officials noted. Turner warned Houstonians not to take the news of the vaccines as reason to relax about this virus.

"Just because our numbers here are not as bad as they are in West Texas or other parts of the country, doesn't mean they can't go back up," Turner said. "We are ringing the bell and raising the flag, Houston. ... all of us recognize this virus, that is serious and insidious and that many families are without their loved ones."

Updated 3:33 p.m. Nov 13

According to a somewhat harrowing Friday report from the Texas Medical Center, Covid-19 cases are beginning to surge again in Houston. Here's what we know:

Yesterday, the TMC admitted 140 new Covid-19 patients. That's nearly double the average daily new intakes from a month ago (76). Last week's average was 104 new hospitalizations/day.
Yesterday, according to the TMC report using Texas Department of State Health Services data, there were 387 new cases of Covid-19, plus 1,764 newly reported older cases. Last week, the average new cases per day was 697, which is almost double the average from a month ago (394).
The TMC's current positivity rate is 5.2 percent. Last week it was 4.4 percent. Last month it was 3.4 percent.

In sum, according to the TMC, daily new cases and hospitalization rates are doubling from where they were a month ago and the TMC positivity rate is also climbing.

In other news, Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that Covid-19 antibody therapy drug bamlanivimab, which received FDA approval earlier this week, would be shipped to acute-care hospitals across the state as early as next week.

"This initial allotment of bamlanivimab will help health care professionals effectively treat cases of COVID-19 within their communities and aid in reducing hospitalizations," said Abbott in a statement. "I thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing Texas with this crucial antibody therapy that will help keep Texans safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19."

Today, the Houston Health Department reported 465 new cases of Covid-19, of which 86 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 89,282. Six newly reported deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,387 (the health department did remove one death from the official count and moved it to a different jurisdiction).

Updated 5:38 p.m. Nov 12

The Houston Health Department reported 834 new cases of Covid-19 over yesterday and today, of which 86 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 88,882 cases. Six newly reported deaths bring the total fatality count to 1,382.

In her State of the County address, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo discussed the ongoing pandemic. Read more here.

Updated 5:21 p.m. Nov 11

Texas has officially crossed 1 million total Covid-19 cases. Yesterday, the state reported its highest number of new cases in a single day since the peak of the pandemic on July 15. Said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in a statement on Twitter: "What we're seeing here in Texas is what happens when you let denial and politics drive public health policy. It's not only tragic because of the alarming trends we're seeing, but also because we're stuck in a vicious cycle wishful thinking and unsustainable reopenings. ..." Read the full statement here.

Updated 3:03 p.m. Nov 10

The Houston Health Department reported 683 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 87 percent occurred in the past two weeks. This is the highest one-day reported new cases since October 3. Houston's total is now 88,236. Two newly reported deaths brings Houston's total fatality count to 1,376.

In other news, Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that the state is prepared to rapidly distribute Covid-19 medications and treatments as they become available. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an antibody treatment called bamlanivimab from Eli Lilly & Co., which is now being distributed across the country, including Texas, according to a release from the governor. Read more here.

Updated 3:54 p.m. Nov 9

The Houston Health Department reported 367 new cases of Covid-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced. Houston's total is now 87,566. One new death brings Houston's fatality count to 1,374.

Houston's updated positivity rate is now 6.9 percent, up slightly from last week's 6.7 percent. "That number is still too high," said Turner.

The mayor encouraged Houstonians to continue social distancing measures, like hand-washing, mask wearing, and social distancing. "Covid-19 has changed our reality," Turner said. "And we must continue to change our behavior to meet that reality."

With that, the health department released a new public health campaign, "Don't stop. Don't forget." The campaign compares mask wearing to everyday activities like brushing your teeth or clicking your seatbelt. "We need to make it part of our routine," said Dr. David Persse, the city's chief medical officer.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced today that its current Covid-19 vaccine trial has a 90-percent success rate in its first interim report. "This is very good news," Persse said, but it's still very early, he warned. The trial won't be done for a while, and then there has to be a safety and efficacy study done on this vaccine. Folks can't let news about this vaccine to allow them to drop their guard, Persse reminded.

The city has seen large increases in domestic violence this year due to the pandemic, Turner said. This year calls related to family violence have increased by 48 percent.

The city is putting $6.2 million in CARES Act funding towards a Domestic Violence Response Initiative, he announced. Through this initiative, the Houston Police Department, the city's Community Emergency Response Team, and the new Domestic Abuse Response Team will be able to respond to more calls and provide more resources to victims.

This initiative is meant to help better address the emotional and mental stress that the pandemic has brought on, Turner said.

The program will support existing resources as well as new programs, said Stephen Williams, executive director of the Houston Health Department. It will expand the number of crisis hotline workers (last year the hotline received 40,000 calls; this year, 45,000 total calls are expected), and it will also allow for more DART and CERT teams to be out in the field by paying current teams overtime.

It also partners with local community groups, like the Houston Area Women's Center and the Montrose Center.

The DART program is more than just an officer and an advocate, said HPD Lt. Julie Pleasant, who is in charge of the DART program. The team will bring a victim advocate to a scene of domestic violence to "answer what will happen next." The advocate will be able to answer victims' questions, such as explaining medical assistance, housing assistance, and other resources available, and also explaining how the police investigation will work. Additionally, if a victim does not want to go to a hospital, a team of forensic nurses that can come to the scene and perform an exam that can then be used later in the investigation.

This program, said Pleasant, is "a collaborative approach for wraparound services."

If you are needing immediate help and support, said Williams, the Houston Area Women's Center's hotline number is 713-528-2121.

Updated 3:48 p.m. Nov 6

The Houston Health Department reported 475 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 84 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total is now 86,504. Five new deaths bring's Houston's fatality count to 1,362.

Updated 4:15 p.m. Nov 5

A Covid-19 surge is taking all over the country, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. Yesterday, the U.S. reported more than 100,000 new cases across the country. West Texas communities, like Lubbock and El Paso, which reported more than 3,000 new cases yesterday, are also seeing major surges.

El Paso is a third the size of Houston, said Houston chief medical officer Dr. David Persse, and if we're not careful, what's happening there could happen here, but three times worse because of the size difference. "The people of El Paso are really no different than the people in Houston."

In Houston, we're seeing a "modest" increase, said Turner. The Houston Health Department reported 302 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 86,071. Four new deaths put Houston's fatality count at 1,357. "We are inching up," Turner said, "and again we just wanted to raise a red flag."

He urged Houstonians to be cautious, telling folks to not be afraid of getting tested and to go get tested. "We don't want to go back to where we were in June, July, and August."

Turner also encouraged people to continue wearing face masks. "Follow your mayor," he said. "I wear one; I carry one as a spare."

Persse once again told people to get a flu shot. He expressed concern that people will confuse flu symptoms with Covid, especially if people haven't gotten their flu shot, and both viruses will spread. He also encouraged people to go to the hospital or a doctor's office if they're sick and not wait until they're in very condition. People should not be afraid of those place, he said. "They're all very safe places to go."

Updated 4:50 p.m. Nov 4

The Houston Health Department reported 312 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 83 percent have been from the past two weeks. The health department has reported 200 or more new cases of Covid-19 everyday since October 28. With today's report, Houston's total case count is now 85,811. Six newly reported deaths bring the city fatality count to 1,352.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 9,048 new cases of Covid-19 today. The last time the state reported daily numbers higher than 9,000 was three months ago to the day on August 4.

Updated 8:03 p.m. Nov 3

The Houston Health Department reported 301 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 88 percent have been from the past two weeks. Five newly reported deaths bring the fatality count to 1,347.

Updated 4:37 p.m. Nov 2

The Houston Health Department reported 274 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 81 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 85,279. One newly reported death (from September) brings Houston's fatality count to 1,342.

The city's Covid-19 positivity rate is 6.7 percent, the same as last week. The positivity hit a low in early October—5.6 percent on October 9—but has been climbing back up over the past few weeks as cases across the state and country are on the rise.

Updated 4:56 p.m. Oct 30

The Houston Health Department reported 353 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 84 percent have been from the past two weeks, Houston's total case count is now 84,307. Three newly reported deaths bring the fatality count to 1,333.

Updated 4:27 p.m. Oct 29

The Houston Health Department reported 241 new cases of Covid-19 today, 75 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 84,018. There are 11 newly reported deaths, dating as far back as June 13, bringing the total fatality count to 1,330. Of the 11 new deaths, 10 were people of Hispanic descent.

ExxonMobil today announced large layoffs as a result of the pandemic. Houston is to receive the brunt of the cuts. Learn more here.

Updated 5:24 p.m. Oct 28

The Houston Health Department reported 626 new cases of Covid-19 today, 87 percent of which have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 83,815. Three newly reported deaths, dating as far back as July 31, bring the city's fatality count to 1,319. Another death has been removed from Houston's count and reported in a different jurisdiction.

Updated 4:03 p.m. Oct 27

The Houston Health Department reported 100 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 66 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total count is now 83,249. Two additional deaths, from August and September, bring the total fatality count to 1,317.

Both Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Health Department are warning folks to avoid Trick-or-Treating and parties this Halloween. Additionally, they're reminding people that costume masks are not a replacement for a Covid-19 face covering. Click here to see our guide on alternative Halloween activities and here to see our guide on how to incorporate your protective face mask into your Halloween costume.

The Houston Independent School District has changed its metrics for keeping schools open, per an announcement Monday night. According to several different reports, the district had planned to shut down if Houston's positivity rate climbed to a 14-day average of higher than 7 percent—over the past 14 days, the local average has been 7.4 percent. While the district has not released its new metrics, it did say it would be working closely with local health authorities.

HISD resumed in-person classes on October 19. One day later, the district had to temporarily close down 16 schools because of confirmed or presumed cases of Covid-19. On October 22, dozens of teachers from at least 35 campuses called in sick to highlight health concerns that they believe are being overlooked as Covid-19 cases in the state began to rise once again.

Updated 3:48 p.m. Oct 26

"We are encouraging people to forego" trick or treating or Halloween parties, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon. As cases soar across the country, the mayor said these sorts of traditional activities, including haunted houses, are too high risk for spreading the coronavirus. "In the haunted houses, not only will you find the ghosts, but also Covid-19."

Instead, Turner suggested folks leave out pre-bagged candy goodie bags for kids to pick up. And if you want to do something scary, get some candy, and watch reruns of the municipal channel, the mayor joked. "That's like a haunted house."

There 168 newly reported cases of Covid-19 in Houston today, the mayor reported, bringing the total case count to 83,158. Of the 168 new cases, 76 percent are from past two weeks. In some good news, there are no newly reported deaths today. The city's Covid-19 fatality count remains at 1,315.

The virus, though, is surging in other parts of the U.S. and in West Texas, like El Paso, Turner said. Based on these trends and the upcoming holiday season, "Houston could eventually be facing a third wave."

While hospitalization rates have remained relatively stable, said Houston's chief medical officer Dr. David Persse, other indicators showing an uptick in cases include neighborhood wastewater analyses, increased case counts, and a positivity rate that has been rising for the past two weeks. Today, the city's positivity rate was reported as 6.5 percent (two weeks ago it was 5 percent, the lowest it's been since the city began keeping track).

"This is our window of opportunity to slow down the virus," Persse said, before Houston's in the thick of a third wave. People must be diligent with wearing masks, as they protect the people around you and wearing one "[shows] respect and concern for the people around you." Persse reminded people that 40 percent of positive cases are asymptomatic.

Turner encouraged people to repeat the steps taken over the summer to drop the numbers, like social distancing; avoiding events, like backyard parties; and getting tested. "We have the power right now to stop this uptick before it becomes a trend," he said.

While both Turner and Persse were hesitant to outright state that Houston is in danger, the overall tone of the press conference was one of worry. Said Turner, "It's important for us to sound the alarm."

Updated 3:42 p.m. Oct 23

The Houston Health Department reported 483 new cases of Covid-19 today, 55 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's total count is now 82,194. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,302.

Beginning Saturday, October 24, through Thursday, October 29, METROHouston is offering free rides to the polls for registered voters. Learn more here. Free rides will also be offered on Election Day, November 3.

Quietly this week, the health department released its recommendations on Halloween activities. The short version: traditional Trick-or-Treating is strongly discouraged this year. Instead, the department suggests virtual costume parties, grab-and-go candy bags, or a scavenger hunt with family members.

“The City of Houston is not canceling Halloween this year, but we are discouraging people from gathering in large groups. It is important that we keep the COVID-19 numbers moving in the right direction. This requires us to be smarter about how we trick-or-treat,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner in a release. “Families and children can still have a ghoulish good time without jeopardizing their health and safety during the pandemic.”

Read more here.

Updated 5:20 p.m. Oct 22

The Houston Health Department reported 430 cases of Covid-19 today, of which only 37 percent have come from the past two weeks. Houston's total is 81,756. Five newly reported deaths brings the city’s total to 1,297.

Days after HISD resumed in-person learning on October 19, dozens of teachers from at least 35 campuses called in sick to highlight health concerns they believe are being overlooked as Covid-19 cases in the state begin to rise once again, according to an ABC13 report. The “call in” followed HISD temporarily closed 16 schools with confirmed or presumed Covid-19 cases on campus just one day after face-to-face classes resumed.

As of Thursday, HISD has reported 104 confirmed cases on its coronavirus dashboard; more than 80 of those are staff cases. The school district has 27,195 staff members in total.

In his State of the City address today, Mayor Sylvester Turner discussed the economic impact that Covid-19 has had on Houston. The city has lost more than $107 million in revenue this year because of the pandemic, Turner announced. In March and April, 350,000 employees were laid off. Of those losses, the city has only been able to recoup about 41 percent.

He also celebrated the city's response to the pandemic, extolling 35 million in rental assistance and $20 million in small business assistance programs, for example.

The Texas Supreme Court today ruled against the state GOP, allowing drive-thru voting to continue, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced via tweet. Previously, on October 14, a three-judge panel on the Texas's 14th Court of Appeals dismissed the GOP’s last-minute lawsuit trying to limit drive-thru and curbside voting in Harris County. The lawsuit was filed late October 12, the day before early voting began.

Updated 5:36 p.m. Oct 21

The Houston Health Department reported 570 new cases of Covid-19 today, 89 percent of which have occurred in the past two weeks. There has now been a total of 81,404 cases in Houston. Two new deaths brings the fatality count up to 1,292.

According to a report from the Texas Tribune, Texas is heading toward another Covid-19 surge. While the number of cases is still considerably lower than the peak in July, new cases have been steadily rising over the past month. “It’s true that the biggest increase in cases is in younger people,” saidDr. David Persse, the city of Houston’s chief medical office in the report. “It’s true that they tend to become less sick. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that those same people are at risk for spreading it to the 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-year-olds.” Read the whole report here.

On Monday, HISD resumed in person classes. One day later, on Tuesday, October 20, 16 schools had to temporarily shut down after possible Covid-19 exposures, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

Updated 5:35 p.m. Oct 20

The Houston Health Department reported 201 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 82 percent have occurred in the past two weeks. There have been a total of 80,857 cases of Covid-19 in Houston and 155,192 in Harris County as a whole since the pandemic began. Four new deaths, which have all occurred in October, bring the virus's fatality count to 1,291 in Houston.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Oct 19

The Houston Health Department reported 277 new cases of Covid-19 today, 77 percent of which have been from the past two weeks. The city's total is now 80,678. There are three new deaths, bringing the city's fatality count to 1,287.

The city's positivity rate had inched up 5.6 percent, a 0.6-percent increase from last week. Mayor Sylvester Turner in a press conference this morning used this data to implore Houstonians to continue to practice social distancing measures so our numbers don't jump as dramatically as we have seen the positivity rates increase in states like Wisconsin and Utah in recent weeks.

"Until an effective vaccine comes on the scene, these masks are our vaccine," Turner said. "And they do work."

Across the country violent crime is increasing because of the ongoing pandemic, said Turner and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo in a press conference this morning.

"Unfortunately major cities across the nation, including Houston, are experiencing an increase in homicides, shootings, and other crimes during the Covid-19 pandemic," said Turner.

In Houston, violent crime is up 11 percent. The mayor listed some of the efforts the city has made to counteract these trends including launching a mental health hotline, expanding the Anti-Human Trafficking Division to include domestic violence, and several rental assistance programs, but Turner said those programs alone aren't enough.

"HPD is anticipating an upward trend of Covid-19 in the City of Houston as schools and businesses begin to open and, quite frankly, as the hardship caused by this pandemic continues," the mayor stated.

To "dampen that crime increase," Turner announced the Covid-19-Related Crime Reduction Program, a $4.1 million overtime initiative for the Houston Police Department using CARES Act funds. Starting today through the end of the year, there will be an additional 110 police officers deployed "to saturate those areas with the objective of reducing crime and increasing our law enforcement efforts."

The police will be focusing on six hotspots: Midwest, Westside, North Belt, South Gessner, Southeast, and South Central, but the number and locations of hotspots could change as times goes on, Acevedo said. "We're going to be watching on a daily basis."

In addition to more boots-on-the-ground policing, Acevedo said the initiative would also expand the investigative and crisis intervention and response teams. Turner called the increased policing, in conjunction with other city programs, like rental assistance, a more "wholistic approach."

But, Turner said, "keeping a safe city is not up to HPD alone."

Updated 3:30 p.m. Oct 16

In colder weather, Houstonians should view wearing a mask "as a glove across your nose and mouth," said Mayor Sylvester Turner today, commenting the continued need to keep up social distancing guidelines. Although the city's positivity rate dropped to 5 percent this week, Turner, and Houston Health Department Executive Director Steven Williams, and health authority Dr. David Persse all warned that numbers are increasing across the state and Houstonians need to work to get the positivity even lower as our version of fall and winter weather approaches.

"The goal, quite frankly, is to get it down much, much lower," Turner said.

The Houston Health Department reported 138 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the total to 79,964. Three new deaths bring the total fatality count to 1,273.

The Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force has released new guidelines for faith-based organizations gathering as several churches and other organizations have announced resuming in-person services. The mayor emphasized that these are not mandates, but guidelines "that we offer for people to consider."

The guidelines, he continued, answer three critical questions:

"How can we protect congregants, staff, and volunteers who attend service?"
"How do we assure our communities we are doing all we can to protect them?"
"How do we minimize transmission risk?"

The result are the following "critical guidelines":

Reopen houses of worship at 25-percent capacity.
Offer pre-registration for services.
Clean and disinfect all surface areas, including doors and tables, before, during, and after services.
Avoid sharing AV equipment like microphones and spaces like pulpits.
Remove shared items like hymnals, pens, and offering envelopes.

Several local faith leaders, who are also members of the Task Force'sFaith & Community Leaders sub-committee, stressed the importance of following the guidelines, especially mask wearing.

"Worshiping is about caring," said UNION Houston lead pastor Rodrigo Vargas. "Worship is about protecting others."

When asked about the moral responsibility of faith-based leaders to protect their congregants, the leaders present, who were all Christian in spite of the nondenominational nature sub-committee, praised the guidelines as a way to worship safely.

Dr. Irishea Hilliard of New Light Church talked ensuring at-risk populations felt safe enough to come was a high priority of the committee. "We shouldn't have to risk our lives to lift up our faith," she said.

Vargas compared a faith's leader role to a shepherd leading and protecting his flock through danger. He also noted that while some in his congregation pushed back about wearing a mask, worship is about "having enough faith to care for people to be a little inconvenienced" to protect others.

City leaders, though, brushed off concerns that reopening houses of worship could lead to a super-spreader event. Mega church Lakewood Church is planning on having a 4,000-strong in-person service this weekend. A "super spreader event isn't identified until afterward," said Persse, stating that as long as the organizations keep people separate and spread them out—keeping the venue at a low density—things should be alright.

Considering the coronavirus is spread through airborne droplets, some at the conference expressed concerns over congregations singing, but Persse again said that should be alright, so long as people wore masks that covered their nose and mouth.

"Some people may be able to bellow a whole lot louder than others—and that's great," Persse said, "but if you're you're wearing the mask properly, it should catch all those droplets."

Updated 5:25 p.m. Oct 15

The Houston Health Department reported 294 new cases of Covid-19 today. Of those cases, 80 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 79,854. Seven newly reported deaths, dating as far back as July 1, bring Houston's fatality count to 1,270.

Updated 5:45 p.m. Oct 14

The Houston Health Department reported 464 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston’s total case count to 79,630. Of those new cases, 93 percent are from the past two weeks. There have also been nine new deaths today, bringing Houston’s total fatalities to 1,263.

On a different Covid-related note, a three-judge panel on the Texas's 14th Court of Appeals dismissed the GOP’s last-minute lawsuit trying to limit drive-thru and curbside voting in Harris County. In its ruling, the judges noted the lateness of the suit, which state GOP filed on Monday night, less than 24 hours before early voting opened, and that Harris County announced its plans back in September. The Texas GOP has stated its intent to seek an appeal from the state’s Supreme Court.

Updated 5:07 p.m. Oct 13

The Houston Health Department reported 222 new cases of Covid-19 today. Of that number, 25 percent have been cases from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 79,206. Since Friday, October 9, the health department has reported 1,387 new cases, but only about 65 percent of those cases have been from the previous two weeks.

The health department reported nine new deaths today, bringing Houston's fatality count to 1,253. Data indicates that the virus continues to disproportionately impact communities of color. Of the 112 deaths due to Covid-19 the health department has reported since October 1, 72.3 percent have people of Hispanic origin.

But, in good news, the health department reported yesterday that Houston's positivity rate is now at 5 percent, finally meeting the goal Mayor Sylvester Turner set for Houston months ago. "Thank you Houston for helping us achieve a positivity rate of 5% by wearing your masks, social distancing and washing your hands," Turner tweeted yesterday. "The new goal is to lower that number to 2.5% by mid November if not before. We can do this!"

In Covid-related election news, a three-judge panel on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Monday Gov. Greg Abbott's October 1 decision to limit mail-in ballot drop-off locations to one per county (Harris County previously had 12), according to various sources. The judges wrote in the formal opinion that Texas has plenty of ways for absentee voters to cast their ballots. "These methods for remote voting outstrip what Texas law previously permitted in a pre-COVID world,” U.S. Circuit Judge Kyle Duncan wrote. “The October 1 Proclamation abridges no one’s right to vote.”

Harris County has yet again been sued over 2020 election. On Monday night, the Texas Republican Party filed a lawsuit against Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins over expanded curbside—including drive-thru—voting, claiming the language of Texas Election Code, which includes provisions for those who are sick, disabled, or whose health could be endangered by voting indoors, did not include the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

"This lawsuit is not only frivolous, but it’s also a gross misrepresentation of the differences between curbside voting—for voters with disabilities, including illness—and drive-thru voting, which is available for all voters who want to vote from the safety and convenience of their vehicle,” Hollins said in a statement Tuesday, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

Temporary moves are up 27 percent from February to July 2020 because of the pandemic, according to a new Bloomberg CityLab report. Reasons for these temporary moves—about six months or less—include folks leaving large cities for vacation homes or young people moving back in with their parents during quarantine. According to the report, three Houston suburbs ranked in the top 10 cities that received the most movers (permanent and temporary) this year: Katy was first in the country with around 4,400 movers, and Richmond ranked second with about 3,000 movers. Cypress ranked seventh with about 2,100 movers. Houston itself ranked eighth in the cities that lost the most movers. According to the report, about 14,900 movers left the Bayou City.

Updated 4:20 p.m. Oct 9

The Houston Health Department reported 396 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 70 percent have been cases tested in the past two weeks. After the department deleted 43 duplicate cases, Houston's total case count is 78,317. There are 16 newly reported deaths, 10 of which occurred in September. Houston's Covid-19 fatality count is now 1,230.

Updated 5:52 p.m. Oct 8

The Houston Health Department reported 173 new cases of Covid-19 today, 54 percent of which have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 77,964. There are nine newly reported deaths—six in September, two in August, and one in July. The total fatality count is 1,214.

Updated 5:12 p.m. Oct 7

The Houston Health Department today reported 299 new cases of Covid-19. Of today's new numbers, 44 percent have come from cases tested in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 77,867. Three newly reported deaths (one from September, one from July, and one from June) bring Houston's Covid-19 fatality count to 1,205.

This afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order, allowing businesses currently operating at 50-percent capacity, like movie theaters, amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, and fine-art galleries, to move to 75-percent capacity. Additionally, bars and river tubing businesses, which have remained closed for months as other sectors of the Texas economy have reopened, can open their doors at 50-percent capacity on October 14. (Want to know the best places to float the river in Texas? Check out our guide.)

However, Abbott's orders don't immediately translate to smooth waters for these re-openings. County judges must opt their counties into these new openings. Also, hospital capacity must be considered, Abbott said. So hospital regions' Covid-19 patients must make up less than 15 percent of total hospitalizations, a standard the governor set for re-openings on September 17. Read more about that standard here.

The Texas Supreme Court today ruled that Harris County cannot automatically send out mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters. In August, County Clerk Chris Hollins announced he would send out applications to all 2.4 million registered voters in Harris County, prompting a lawsuit from the state of Texas. While lower courts allowed Hollins to continue with his plan—Harris County has already sent out applications to all registered voters over the age of 65—the state's highest court said he is overstepping his authority by doing so, according to a Texas Tribune report.

Also today, the Texas Supreme Court rejected a request from state Republicans to limit early voting to two weeks, according to another Texas Tribune report. Back in July, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered that early voting start on October 13, six days earlier than normal for the general election. In September the governor was sued by several prominent Republicans, including state party Chair Allen West and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, on the grounds that he was overstepping his authority. The governor acted under the powers granted to him by the current State of Emergency due to Covid-19.

According to the Texas Tribune, the state's Supreme Court rejected the suit because the plaintiffs "waited until the last minute to do so," and according to the court's majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, Harris County had already begun accepting absentee ballots.

"Moreover, the election is already underway," Hecht wrote. "The Harris County Clerk has represented to the Court that his office would accept mailed-in ballots beginning September 24. To disrupt the long-planned election procedures as relators would have us do would threaten voter confusion."

Updated 4:20 p.m. Oct 6

The Houston Health Department reported 287 new cases of Covid-19 today—of today's reported cases, 37 percent have been from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is 77,616. There are three new deaths; Houston's fatality count is now 1,202.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who was released from Walter Reed medical center Monday after being diagnosed with Covid-19 last Friday, announced today that he was halting negotiations on Covid-19 relief until after the 2020 general election in November. Read more here.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Oct 5

The Houston Health Department reported 319 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 36 percent have been from the past two weeks. Today's numbers, in addition to 1,080 cases reported over the weekend, brings Houston's total count to 77,355. Over the past three days, 101 cases have been removed as duplicates.

The health department also reported that the most recent 14-day positivity rate is 5.3 percent. This is lowest reported rate since the city began tracking. Around this time in early September, the rate was 6.6 percent, and at its highest in early July, the rate was close to 25 percent.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the coronavirus can be spread through airborne transmission. While you are still more likely to get contract the virus after close contact with someone, this means you can potentially get infected even if you are more than six feet away from someone, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Read more about CDC safety guidelines here.

President Trump, who announced in the early morning on Friday, October 2, that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19, will be released from Walter Reed medical center at 6:30 p.m. ET today. The president was admitted into the hospital on Friday evening, and, save for an unannounced motorcade trip on Sunday, has been there ever since.

Meanwhile, several White House officials, including Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, have also tested positive for Covid-19.

Updated 5:40 p.m. Oct 2

The Houston Health Department reported 2,518 new cases of Covid-19 today, but only 8 percent of those cases have been from the past two weeks. Regardless, the number is more than 11 times higher than the average new-case count for the past five days. Houston's total case count is now 76,057. There are 21 newly reported deaths, which brings Houston's fatality count to 1,154.

Gov. Greg Abbott today, with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, announced that $3.5 million in federal funding will be allocated to nursing homes to ensure safety during visitations. Back in March, Abbott basically shut down nursing facilities because of the pandemic. On August 6, he loosened some visitation rules, and on September 24, these facilities were allowed to let residents' loved ones visit once more. A nursing facility can apply for up to $3,000 as part of this program to purchase plexiglass barriers and tents to help facilitate in-person visits, according to Friday's announcement.

"As we open nursing facilities to essential caregivers and visitors, the State of Texas is working to protect the health and safety of both residents and their families," Abbott said. "With this funding, we will help keep nursing facility residents and their families safe while ensuring that residents can be with their loved ones and receive the support they need."

In other news about the governor, several groups filed a lawsuit against him Friday after Abbott's surprising October 1 order to limit mail-in ballot drop-off locations to one per county (Harris County had 12). "The State of Texas has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our elections," said Abbott in a statement about the order. "As we work to preserve Texans’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state. These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting."

However, lawyers in the suit say this order disproportionately impacts minority communities who have been hit the hardest by Covid-19, according to the Texas Tribune. Learn more here.

Updated 5 p.m. Oct 1

The Houston Health Department reported 300 new cases—56 percent of which have been from the past two weeks—of Covid-19 today, bringing the city total to 73,587. Additionally, 64 duplicate cases have been removed from the city's total. There are 12 new deaths, which brings Houston's fatality count up to 1,133.

Updated 3:21 p.m. Sept 30

There are 230 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today, 70 percent of which have been from the past 14 days. Houston's total case count is now 73,351. There are 14 new deaths, some of which date back several months, bringing Houston's total fatality count to 1,121.

The mayor reminded folks that the city's "Let’s Beat COVID-19: Health Education, and Support Services" initiative begins tomorrow, October 1. The program provides a mental health helpline—call 713-999-9442 to speak with a mental health professional—and other resources for people suffering from mental health issues due to the pandemic.

Updated 5:23 p.m. Sept 29

The Houston Health Department announced a new mental health initiative today called "Let’s Beat COVID-19: Health Education, and Support Services."

The initiative, which launches October 1 and will last through December 24, will include a helpline, as well as virtual support groups, toolkits, trainings, and other resources. The hotline will be available 1–11 p.m. seven days a week, and will connect people to a mental health professional. To talk to someone, call 713-999-9442.

"The stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is felt by millions of Houstonians every day,” said Stephen L. Williams, director of the Houston Health Department, in a statement. “These services are available to anyone but focus on parents and guardians of school-age children, childcare providers, teachers, and City of Houston staff on the frontlines of the pandemic.”

Updated 3:45 p.m. Sept 29

The Houston Health Department reported 175 new cases of Covid-19 today—the city's total is now 73,166. Of those 175 new cases, 89 percent have been from the past two weeks. Additionally, the health department has removed 14 duplicates from the total count. The total is still 73,166. There are six new deaths; this brings the city's fatality count to 1,107.

Updated 3:48 p.m. Sept 28

The Houston Health Department reported 215 new cases of Covid-19 today, with 65 percent coming from the past two weeks, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. There have been a total of 73,005 cases in Houston. Six new deaths bring Houston's fatality count to 1,101.

Houston's prospect in the face of Covid-19 continues to look better. Turner announced that the current positivity rate is 5.6 percent. Last week, the positivity rate was 6.8 percent.

Turner encouraged people to continue to wear masks and social distance. "Put the mask on," he said. "It really does work."

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams spoke at a forum Sunday at the Houston Health Museum. At it, he encouraged people to ignore politics to promote public health messages and encourage social distancing, mask wearing, and the science behind all of it, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

“This is fundamentally a public health crisis, more so than a health care crisis,” Adams said, according to the report. “But the science itself only gets you so far. The important thing is understanding how to get the science to those who most need it and how to get them to trust it.”

Updated: 5:40 p.m. Sept 24

The Houston Health Department reported 363 new cases of Covid-19 today, with 51 percent of those cases coming from the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is 72,518. The department also deleted 41 duplicate cases from this total. There are 10 new deaths, which brings the city's fatality count to 1,079.

The health department announced yesterday that results from its Wastewater Monitoring Project, which tests waste at 39 Houston facilities for Covid-19, show a downward trend of Covid-19, corroborating Houston's downward trending positivity rate. The project, officials say, is a cheaper way of monitoring the virus than mass-testing, and the data points are more reliable than voluntary Covid testing.

“At a time when fewer people are getting tested, this project helps us see what’s happening in the city,” said Dr. David Persse, health authority for the Houston Health Department, in a statement. “People still need to go out and get tested, but this project gives us data that serves as another tool to identify disease, slow the spread, and save lives.”

In big news, Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that more than $171 million from the CARES Act will be allocated towards rental assistance for Texans at risk of eviction. The money will "help renters stay in their homes, catch up on missed rental payments, and avoid an eviction on their records," according to a Friday press release.

The vast majority of the funds ($167 million) will go toward rental assistance, but $4.2 million is being used to help legal aid providers and pro bono lawyers provide basic legal services to those eligible.

"The Texas Eviction Diversion Program is crucial to our state's response to COVID-19, and it will help many families recover from the impact of the pandemic without the looming threat of eviction," said Abbott in the statement. "This innovative partnership, coupled with the renters assistance provided through CARES Act funding, will strengthen our economic recovery efforts and provide a lifeline to renters and property owners alike."

Updated 6:42 p.m. Sept 24

The Houston Health Department reported 416 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston's total to 72,196. There are seven new deaths; the fatality count is now 1,069.

"Houston has spent most of this year working to limit the spread of Covid-19 as much as feasibly possible," Mayor Sylvester Turner said today. The city announced today the Wastewater Monitoring Project, which is a collaboration between Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and the Houston Health Department, to monitor waste for Covid-19. Folks from this project have been testing wastewater from Houston's 39 treatment plants since May for the presence of the coronavirus, "because people with Covid-19 shed the virus in their waste, feces, even if they don't have any symptoms," Turner said. The goal is to develop an early warning system, "allowing the health department to identify the city's Covid-19 hotspots sooner."

This project could serve as another tool for the city to identify hotspots and put measures in place to prevent the virus's spread, Turner said.

Updated 4:30 p.m. Sept 23

The Houston Health Department reported 291 new cases of Covid-19 today, of which 15 percent were from tests taken in the past two weeks. Houston's total case count is now 71,849. There are eight newly reported deaths; the fatality count is now 1,062.

Updated 4:48 p.m. Sept 22

The Houston Health Department reported 316 new cases of Covid-19 today; from that count, 32 percent of these cases have been from the past two weeks. Additionally, the department deleted 26 duplicated cases from the total count; Houston's total count is now 71,591. Five newly reported deaths bring Houston's total fatality count to 1,054.

There has been a total 138,473 Covid-19 cases across Harris County, including Houston, according to Harris County Public Health. Countywide, there have been 1,734 deaths. The county positivity rate is 7.3 percent.

Updated 5:45 p.m. Sept 21

The Houston Health Department reported 270 new cases of Covid-19 today, 33 percent of which occurred in the past two weeks. Houston's cumulative case count is now 71,301. There are nine newly reported deaths, bringing Houston's Covid-related fatalities to 1,049.

Additionally, the health department announced today that it deleted 102 duplicated cases from the past three days of reporting: 42 on September 19, 49 on September 20, and 11 on September 21.

Houston's positivity rate continues to trend downward. Currently the 14-day average is 6.2 percent, down from 7.5 percent last week. However, because there is a lag in reporting, the 6.2 percent rate is likely to jump up some as more test results come in.

Due to Tropical Storm Beta and potential flooding, all Harris County and most of Houston Health Department testing sites will be closed tomorrow, September 22. However, Ibn Sina N. Shepherd Clinic (phone: 832-426-3760) and Ibn Sina Wilcrest Clinic (phone: 281-495-7462) will both remain open Tuesday, but appointments are required for testing.

Updated 4:10 p.m. Sept 18

The Houston Health Department reported 316 new cases of Covid-19 today, with 39 percent of those cases coming from the past two weeks. Houston's total number of Covid cases since the beginning of the pandemic is 70,380. There were 14 more deaths reported today, which officially leads the city's to top 1,000 cases (1,012 fatalities).

There have been 122,445 total cases of the virus and 1,658 deaths in Harris County.

Updated 6 p.m. Sept 17

Houston is reporting 267 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city total to 70,064, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon. There are seven new deaths, which brings the total fatality count to just shy of 1,000 at 998. One of those deaths includes Richard Sable, a 10-year City of Houston employee.

"The virus continues to be a threat to people in our city," Turner said. Numbers are better, but the city is taking a cautious approach to moving forward, like allowing a limited number of controlled live events, which was announced last week. Despite this, "I would caution anyone from claiming any sort of victory over this virus," he said.

The governor's reopening plan, which was announced earlier today, "is a little more aggressive than what I would have preferred," Turner said. "The state has taken approach that comes with risk." Turner said, especially as kids return to schools and the flu season approaches. Hospitalizations, which is the governor's metric for reopening, represent a lagging indicator.

Hospitalization numbers have a quick turnaround in terms of reporting, said Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, but it's a late indicator of what the virus is doing in the community because most people typically don't go to the hospital immediately after getting infected.

Persse said he would've preferred to wait until a few weeks into in-person schooling to see how that impacted community spread before considering reopening.

"We have been there before," Turner said, citing late April when hospitalizations were low before statewide Phase 1 reopenings began on May 1. Throughout May and June, cases skyrocketed resulting in the governor putting a pin in reopening plans in late June. "The results were horrendous," said the mayor.

As much as we want a return to normalcy, Turner said, "we are still not in normal times."

Our area has a 6.9 percent Covid-19 hospitalization rate, Persse said, but people cannot drop their guard because of these reopenings. There's no vaccine, and "what is changing numbers today is the behavior of Houstonians."

The city's current positivity rate, which measures the percentage of Covid tests that come back positive, is a little over 6 percent, but New York City is around 1 percent, Persse said. "We still need to crush that virus."

Updated 12:58 p.m. Sept 17

The spread of Covid-19 is steadily going down, said Gov. Greg Abbott in a press conference Thursday afternoon. Yesterday, the state saw the lowest number of hospitalizations in the past three months. "Texans are taking Covid seriously," he contended

The state is moving in the right the direction because of personal vigilance, like wearing a mask, social distancing, sanitizing hands, and staying at home when sick, Abbott said, noting that he believes "those safe practices remain the best defense" until a vaccine is available.

The goal has always been to contain the disease and minimize its harm, the governor added. Texas is scheduled to receive millions of the 15-minute Covid-19 tests per month, but as the state moves forward with reopening, it needs "a fair and reliable metric" to determine if we are on the right path. The solution? Hospitalizations.

Hospitalizations provide the most important information on the severity of the pandemic, and these figures are generally more accurate in assessing the state of the virus in various communities on a daily basis, Abbott said. The state will rely most heavily on hospitalizations to determine reopening. The standard will be 15 percent. If more than 15 percent of hospitalizations are from Covid-19 in a hospital region—Texas has 22—then that will serve as a warning, and the region will have to hold back on reopenings. However, if the region's hospitalizations are less than 15 percent for seven consecutive days, then that region can start moving toward reopening, Abbott explained during the Austin press conference.

Currently there are 19 regions, including Houston, that can move forward with further reopening based on these metrics. What does that translate to? Well, effective immediately, hospitals in these regions can begin performing elective surgeries again.

Then, beginning Monday, September 21, retail stores, restaurants, offices, gyms, museums, libraries, and manufacturing can expand occupancy from 50 percent to 75 percent.

Beginning Thursday, September 24, nursing homes, senior living facilities, and all other assisted living facilities can reopen for visitations and essential caregiver visits, provided they follow certain safety standards.

At this time, bars still cannot reopen as they are "known spreaders of Covid-19," according to the governor.

There are some Texans who believe the state should completely reopen and are behaving "as if Covid is no longer a threat," Abbott said. "The reality is Covid hasn't suddenly disappeared in Texas." However, he touted this new plan of basing reopening on Covid-19 hospitalization rates staying at 15 percent or less of total hospitalizations as a way to safely reopen the state and be a leader for the rest of the country.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, and Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt all praised the plan as well.

"Texans are respecting other Texans," Patrick said. Treatments have gotten better as doctors and nurses have learned more, and Texans are working together to allow for more reopening

Hellerstedt also emphasized personal actions like social distancing, mask wearing, and safe health practices as the best way to prevent further spread. "I have three health priorities," he said. "Prevention. Prevention. Prevention."

While Abbott and company once routinely appeared at these conferences sans masks, today Abbott came in wearing one, only taking it off to speak. Even as the governor further reopens the state, somehow the fact that his mask was there and ready to be put back on as soon as the conference was over spoke just as clearly as the measures he is currently allowing to go into place.

Updated 4:07 p.m. Sept 16

There are 230 newly reported cases of Covid-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. There have been 69,797 total cases of the virus in the city since the pandemic began. There are nine new deaths, bringing Houston's fatality count to 991.

"But Houston, we do have a problem," Turner said. "A PPE litter problem."

Cities across the nation, including Houston, have seen increased litter during the pandemic. Most of the trash, the mayor said, is coming from discarded PPE, garbage from home projects (like decluttering), and empty takeout containers. Almost half of Houston's litter comes from people throwing trash out of their car windows, said Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum.

Because of the increased littering issue, the city today launched a new public messaging campaign to combat, reduce, and extinguish the littering behaviors through cleanup and education. The slogan? Don't let Houston go to waste, because litter is trashy.

Castex-Tatum, who is leading the campaign, is working with a number of organizations and city departments, including (but definitely not limited to) Solid Waste Management, Keep Houston Beautiful, Houston Public Works, Houston METRO, Super Neighborhood Alliance, Houston Apartment Association, Parks and Recreation, and Houston First, which came up with the litter is trashy tagline.

Updated 5:21 p.m. Sept 15

The Houston Health Department is reporting 325 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston's total case count to 67,567. Because of some confusion of when those cases occurred, the department has started including added information in its daily report. Of the 325 new cases today, 52 percent were from the past two weeks.

The department is also reporting 12 new deaths; the city's fatality count is now 982. Of the 12 deaths, three passed away in September, six in August, and three in July.

Across Harris County, there has been a total of 117,568 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1,578 deaths, according to Harris County Public Health.

Updated 3:49 p.m. Sept 14

There are 329 new cases of Covid-19 being reported today, Mayor Sylvester Turner said this afternoon. There have been 69,242 total cases of the virus in the city. There are seven newly reported deaths, bringing the total fatality count to 970.

This week's positivity rate is 6.1 percent, which is an improvement, but there's still more to do. "We are in a downward spiral," Turner said, but the goal is to crush the virus and get the positivity rate to below 5 percent. The rate could easily go back up if people start to ignore social distancing.

Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, told people to not focus on individual positivity rate numbers, instead you should focus on the over all curve. This is because often as more data comes in, the individual numbers changes. For example, last week's positivity rate was originally reported as 6.6. percent, but after the city received more test results, that number grew to 7.8 percent.

He said there is some worry the decreasing number of people getting tested will impact the accuracy of the positivity rate. The more people who get tested, the more accurate the positivity rate will be. There is no "magic number or dial" that tells us the situation in Houston, but the positivity rate in concurrence with other numbers, like the results of the city's antibody study, will give us a better view, Persse said.

Turner said that he's been getting some reports that bars are getting crowded again. He asked people to obey occupancy requirements. Otherwise, "you run the risk of delaying the opening even further."

Both Turner and Persse asked people to continue to maintain good hygiene, practice social distancing, and wear face masks. Persse also warned people to not take shortcuts. He said that some people have taken to only wearing clear visors. That, he said, is "almost useless." The visor works in collaboration with face masks, but "the visor alone does very little help."

Updated 4:30 p.m. Sept 11

The Houston Health Department is reporting 692 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 67,415. Of those 692 newly reported cases, 180 are from the past two weeks. The health department is also reporting eight new deaths; the city's total fatality count is 924.

Across Harris County, there have been 114,761 total cases. However, only 14,769 cases are currently active. In regard to fatalities, the virus has claimed the lives of 1,519 people in the county since the pandemic began.

This morning, a state district judge ruled that Harris County can send out mail-in ballot applications for the general election this November, according to the Texas Tribune. State officials claimed that Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who has said that he would mail out applications for mail-in ballots to all registered voters in the county, "was acting outside of his authority by sending out the applications and that the move would harm voters." In his decision, Judge R.K. Sandill wrote that voters must submit an application to vote by mail, but the law does not specify where the voter gets that application. According to the Tribune, Sandill's decision is expected to be appealed. Read more here.

Updated 4:14 p.m. Sept 10

The Houston Health Department is reporting 235 new cases of Covid-19 today and 10 new deaths. This brings Houston's totals to 66,723 cases and 916 fatalities respectively.

On Monday this week, Gov. Greg Abbott extended the state's disaster again. Originally issued on March 13, the governor has extended the declaration each month since,.

Updated 3:57 p.m. Sept 9

The Houston Health Department is reporting 223 new cases of Covid-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. The total case count is now 66,488. There are eight newly reported deaths, bringing the fatality count to 906. "The daily numbers are a sobering reminder of Covid-19," Turner said.

So far, six municipal employees and three firefighters have succumbed to the virus. The Houston Fire Department announced yesterday the death of Captain Tommy Searcy, an 18-year veteran of the department who was only 45 years old, due to Covid-19. "Our firefighters are hurting," Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said, "but I want to thank this community for your prayers and thoughts."

The city's positivity rate dropped to 6.6 percent this week, and as a result, Houston will begin cautiously allowing live, in-person special events. However, this is not a return to normal, Turner warned. "There is nothing normal about Covid-19."

Events will be allowed on a case-by-case basis in "controlled environments." There will be small audiences—up to 25 percent of a normal venue occupancy—and there will be protocols that both venues and event goers must follow. For example, event goers must wear masks, maintain social distancing, fill out a questionnaire, and get their temperatures taken upon entry.

Humans are social creatures, so this year has been especially hard, said Susan Christian, director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "I am thrilled we're making these small steps."

Special events applications must still be submitted to the Mayor's Office of Special Events, and there is a two party approval process. You can learn more here. So far, the city has approved three events: Houston Texans will hold a tailgate on Thursday, September 10, allowing only 100 cars with no more than four people in each. The Houston Symphony will be allowed to stage concerts in Jones Hall with only 150 guests (that is less than 25 percent—they can hold a max 3,000 people). Additionally, the Houston Dynamo and Dash will host their game series with less than 25 percent of stadium seating.

However there are some events that just won't be able to happen in 2020. Events like parades, fun runs, and festivals will be on hold for the rest of the year. Sadly, this means the possibility of a Thanksgiving Day Parade is looking doubtful. "Those are crowds we cannot control," Turner said. But that doesn't mean the city won't do any sort of event in November, it would just be "reimagined" like the virtual Freedom over Texas celebrations on July 4. "We will still have some sort of event that lives up the meaning of Thanksgiving," Turner said.

Halloween, on the other hand, is not a city-sponsored or produced event. While he cautioned safety, and joked about leaving your lights off, Turner did say he didn't think there is anything he could do to stop trick or treating.

Updated 4:45 p.m. Sept 8

The Houston Health Department is reporting a two-day total of 333 new cases of Covid-19. Since the pandemic began, the city has seen 66,265 total cases. There are 13 newly reported deaths, which brings the city's fatality count to 898.

Additionally, Houston's positivity rate is 6.6 percent as of September 4, according to the health department, which is about a 50-percent drop from where our city was three weeks earlier. At the summer's apex in early July, the positivity rate was close to 25 percent. While today's news is good, city officials have been saying for weeks that the positivity rate needs to be less than 5 percent in order for the virus to be manageable.

In other news, officials in Japan announced that the Summer Olympics will happen in 2021 whether the pandemic is over or not, according to a Chron report. The Games, which were postponed this year because of Covid-19, will begin on July 23 of next year.

Updated 4:04 p.m. Sept 4

Today, Mayor Sylvester Turner warned people to not "misbehave" over the Labor Day weekend. Avoid larger crowds, wear a mask, and follow safe practices. "The virus doesn't take off just because it's an extended weekend or holiday."

There are 510 new cases of Covid-19, he announced, bringing the city's total to 64,985. According to the mayor, that number needs to be 200 or below each day for the virus to be manageable. There are 13 new deaths; the fatality count is now 862.

City testing sites will remain open Saturday and Sunday, but on Monday the only testing site that will remain open is the site at Minute Maid Park, Turner said.

After viral videos emerged this week of evictions across Houston, Turner encouraged tenants and landlords to apply to the Covid-19 Rental Assistance program, which is distributing a total of $60 million between the City of Houston and Harris County. Each tenant is eligible for up to $2,112. There had been previous deadline for both categories of aid (tenant and landlord), but as of Tuesday, less than half the number of people the program can assist had actually applied.

"There is no longer a deadline to apply," Turner said. They will keep it open until all funds are expended. Turner also encouraged people to contribute to the program; people can do so by visiting Baker Ripley's website.

Additionally, the CDC has blocked evictions through December 31, 2020, however Turner encouraged people to take advantage of the program so they don't get further behind on their rent payments.

As a response to the videos, Turner showed a bar graph of Houston evictions in 2020, stating there had been fewer evictions in August than there were in February before the pandemic. He once again encouraged people to apply to the rental relief program to receive aid on rent payments, stating, "Any one eviction is one too many."

Updated 5:20 p.m. Sept 3

The Houston Health Department reported 338 new cases of Covid-18 today, bringing the city's total to 64,475. There are eight new deaths; the fatality count is now 849.

Updated 4:15 p.m. Sept 2

There are 176 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said today, bringing the city's total to 64,137. There are 18 newly reported deaths; the fatality count is 841. The positivity rate is 7.8 percent, but it needs to lower, Turner said. "This is not the moment for people to think we have reached our goals," he said. "Because we have not."

He reminded people to wear masks, especially over the coming Labor Day weekend, and to get a flu shot. He lamented the number of people who have appeared to tune out warnings about the virus, which is waiting for people to let their guard down. Turner said he didn't want to frighten people with numbers but, "If I have to scare you to get you to put on your mask, I will do that."

The Houston Health Department, in partnership with Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also announced on Wednesday afternoon that it is launching a two-phased Covid-19 antibody testing survey. The first phase will take place September 8–24, and the second will occur in early 2021. According to Dr. David Persse, the health department's health authority, the first phase of the trial will randomly select addresses across the city and show up to ask residents to fill out a survey. The workers will be wearing a "Better. Together." shirt, Persse said, and there will also be a City of Houston paramedic with them.

The survey consists of a simple questionnaire for every member of the family, and it will ask Covid-19-related questions. After that, Persse said they will ask for a voluntary blood sample for every member of the household to test for Covid-19 antibodies. "Your immune system knows what is you," Persse said, and attacks anything that comes into the body, like a virus. Antibodies are the immune system’s memory, he explained. "This is a test to see if, sometime in the past, you have been infected." Folks will receive the results of their antibody testing after about two weeks. In Phase 2, the surveyors will return to the people who tested positive for antibodies and test them again, in addition to continuing to test new people.

The goal of this survey is to map out how many people have been previously had Covid-19, Persse said. "It may give us a clearer view of where the virus has been." Currently, the city is already doing this with Covid tests results, however Persse explained that there is a bias in the mapping because they are relying on voluntary tests. The survey, in addition to giving the city a better idea about how antibodies impact immunity, will get rid of that bias.

On Monday, Gov Greg Abbott hinted at potential reopening plans on Twitter, writing "I said last month that Texas wouldn’t have anymore lockdowns—despite demands from mayors & county judges insisting on lockdowns. Since my last orders in July, Covid numbers have declined—most importantly hospitalizations. I hope to provide updates next week about next steps." Additionally, today Fort Bend County lowered its Covid-19 threat level from "high community risk" to the "moderate to significant community risk" category.

However, Turner this afternoon cautioned that it is still too soon to entirely reopen here in the Houston area. The reproduction rate of the virus in Houston is still too high, he said. "I think we just need to be very careful." Turner contended that if re-openings were to begin again, they should not be unilateral across the state. Instead they should be on a case-by-case basis. "You don't bring these numbers down just with a dictate from Austin or D.C."

Meanwhile, yesterday the CDC issued a nationwide moratorium on evictions for people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The CDC is implementing this moratorium on behalf of the White House administration. You can read more about it here. (It doesn’t offer any financial offsetting for landlords unable to collect the rent.)

The city's Covid-19 Community Health Education Fellowship (CHEF), which recruits young adults, age 18–24, from Houston's hardest-hit communities and trains them in community health education and advocacy, is accepting new applications, which was highlighted in the Wednesday press conference. The program, which received a $100,000 from JP Morgan Chase, is a paid internship and also provides training for Community Health Education Worker and Contact Tracing certificates. Those interns then go back into their communities to help with Covid-19 efforts. The city has recently graduated 35 "chefs" and plans to train a total of 100 people by the end of the year.

It is of the upmost importance to have the chefs be able to communicate with communities in their own language, said Dr. Keila Lopez of Texas Children's Hospital, who works with the interns. The program "is key to helping reduce Covid-19 and other disparities in communities of color."

Fall applications are still open. Email [email protected] for more information.

Updated 5:40 p.m. Sept 1

The Houston Health Department reported 127 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 63,961. Three new deaths brings Houston's fatality count to 823.

The deadline for the city's second rental assistance program has been extended due to a lack of applicants. The program, which is to distribute $20 million to landlords and tenants in need across Houston, can support up to 45,000 families. Apparently, less than half that number have applied, according to ABC13. The application was originally open for tenants to apply for up to $2,000 August 24–30. Tenants now have until tomorrow to apply.

Updated 3:36 p.m. Aug 31

There are 158 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, bringing the city's total to 63,834. There are eight new deaths; the total fatality count is now 820.

Hospitalizations are down, Turner said. Additionally, positivity rates are "moving in the right direction." Local hospitals' current seven-day average is 5.6 percent. In terms of the general population, today's positivity rate is 7.8 percent. "It's good news, but it's not the time to stop," said Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department. The goal is to get the positivity rate below 5 percent and keep it there, Turner said.

Both Persse and Turner encouraged people to tested, especially as local testing sites have the capacity to test more people than who are currently showing up. Turner also warned people to be wary during the approaching Labor Day weekend. He reminded people about the uptick in cases after Memorial Day and July 4 weekends. "You cannot relax while you are taking these days," he said. "The virus is still looking for you."

He also encouraged people to get their flu shot.

Updated 4:47 p.m. Aug 28

The Houston Health Department reported 335 additional cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 62,722. Currently, the city has 17,884 active cases. The health department is reporting nine new deaths, bringing the city’s total to 790. Of those 790 deaths, 52 percent have been Latino.

In Harris County, outside Houston, there have been 40,366 total cases of Covid-19 and 492 deaths.

Updated 5:41 p.m. Aug 27

The Houston Health Department reported 290 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 62,387. There are 13 newly-reported deaths; the city's total fatality count is now 781.

Harris County testing sites reopened today, and Houston Health Department testing sites will reopen tomorrow.

Updated 5 p.m. Aug 26

During a press conference this afternoon about Hurricane Laura, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department, discussed today's lower numbers of new Covid cases, warning Houstonians to not get complacent.

“The pandemic is not taking a break. The virus is still in our communities,” Persse said, reminding everyone to keep their masks on hand and to be vigilant about taking precautions against contracting the virus if anyone does have to go out into the community during the storm.

Persse also said that we're doing well in Houston—on Monday, the Houston Health Department announced the city's positivity rate had dropped to 9.2 percent—but the goal is to get our infection rate to five percent or less. It's come down from more than 30 percent, and we're making progress, he said, but we're not there yet.

Updated 2:54 p.m. Aug 26

The Houston Health Health Department is reporting 367 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston today, bringing the city's total to 62,097. The total fatality count is now 768 with 18 new deaths reported today.

Because of Hurricane Laura, city and county testing sites are closed today and tomorrow, August 27. Keep up with storm updates here.

Updated 6:03 p.m. Aug 25

The Houston Health Department is reporting 384 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 61,730. There are eight new deaths, bringing the city total to 750 fatalities. Harris County broke 100,000 cases today, reporting a total of 100,171 cases in the area.

The Harris County Public Health Department's clinics in Humble, Southeast, and Harwin will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to the threat of Hurricane Laura. They are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Friday, pending weather and road conditions.

Updated 5:30 p.m. Aug 24

The Houston Health Department is reporting 403 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 61,346. Harris County is nearing 100,000 cases—Harris County Public Health reported 99,290 total cases today. In Houston there are 12 new deaths, bringing the city total to 742 fatalities; there have been 1,210 total fatalities across the county.

The city's positivity rate is 9.2 percent; however in order for contact tracing to be able to manage the virus, the positivity rate must drop to below 5 percent and stay there. Countywide, the positivity rate is 11.5 percent.

Updated 3:37 p.m. Aug 21

There are 467 new cases of Covid-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon, bringing the city's total to 59,871. There are 17 newly reported deaths; there have been 696 total deaths.

"There are far too few people who are getting tested," Turner said. He talked about how a couple months ago there weren't enough tests for everyone who wanted to get tested. Now the city has increased capacity, but people aren't going. He especially encouraged people to go get tested before the tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico make landfall early next week. It is critical during hurricane season, when possibility of people having to go to public shelters is high, for folks to get tested, he said. "As the storms come, the virus does not take a break."

For people who are concerned that the test takes too long, "that is simply not the case anymore," said Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department. Persse, who went yesterday to get tested at Minute Maid Park, said the whole experience took 15 minutes and his contact with others was minimal. "They [the testing sites] are extremely safe," he said, "and extremely fast, and easy, and free."

He encouraged people to go to the hospital if they feel sick, but he warned people to take care during the upcoming storms. "Hospitals are not shelters," he said, and they will not admit people who aren't sick during a potential storm because of the Covid-19 risk. Instead, people should make a hurricane kit and create plan should the weather worsen.

Updated 5:30 p.m. Aug 20

The Houston Health Department is reporting 501 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 59,404. The total fatality count is now 679 after the city reported 14 more deaths today.

In a press release today, Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that the Texas Education Agency has procured 1 million personal devices and WiFi hotspots through the state's Operation Connectivity initiative, which works to get technology in the hands of students in need. "Securing personal devices and WiFi hotspots will help meet the connectivity needs of students across the state," said Abbott in the release. "As school districts delay in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year, it is critical that the State of Texas close the digital divide and ensure access to virtual education for students who are learning at home."

Updated 3:35 p.m. Aug 19

There are 349 new positive cases of Covid-19, Mayor Turner announced this afternoon, bringing the city's total to 58,903. There are 10 more deaths; the total fatality count is 665.

The Small Business Economic Relief Program, which will dole out up to $50,000 to local small businesses and chambers of commerce, opened for applications this morning at 8 a.m. There were 475 applications in the first hour, Turner said, and 2159 applications by 3 p.m., with 957 pending. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. September 4.

The Office of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs will also be giving $2 million to creative businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic. Both individuals and non-profits can apply for help through the Cultural Affairs office.

The hospital situation continues to improve with the number of people who are becoming hospitalized, are currently hospitalized, and are in the ICU dropping steadily, said Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department. The city's current positivity rate is 15.9 percent, which is slightly higher than last week, but Persse said folks shouldn't be too concerned, as the state reports positive cases before they report negative cases, so that number could go down. The overall slope of the positivity rate is going down, which is good. However, Persse warned people to not fixate on any one measure, even the positivity rate. Regardless, Turner reiterated that the city's goal is to get the positivity rate to 5 percent or less, and keep it there, by the end of August. "That will give everyone that added comfort," he said. "We need to crush that curve."

Both Turner and Persse encouraged people to go get tested, especially as 40 percent of the people who are infected are asymptomatic. Persse explained that while the positivity rate is getting better, if no one gets tested, then we won't know what the real numbers are. "There won't be a sample to know what's going in the community." Everyone, including all city employees, teachers, parents with their kids, and college students, should go get tested, Turner said. "There's nothing that will hinder you, and it won't take very long."

Updated 5:06 p.m. Aug 18

The Houston Health Department is reporting 382 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 58,554. There are six newly reported deaths; the city's fatality count is now 655.

Across the county, there have been 64,723 recovered Covid-19 cases. As of August 1, "recovered cases include presumed recovered cases, defined as 28 days or more since the case was reported, or released from hospital and not deceased," according to the Houston Health Department and Harris County Public Health.

Updated 3:43 p.m. Aug 17

"If you haven't gotten tested, then you're being irresponsible," Mayor Sylvester Turner said this afternoon. Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department, encouraged people to go out and get tested, and if you've already been tested this year, get tested again. He said it is quick at the city's megasites, like the ones at Butler Stadium and Minute Maid Park. "You could do it on your lunch hour, for example."

The health department is announcing 354 new cases of Covid-19 today, Turner announced. There have been 58,172 total cases in Houston. There are 10 new deaths; the total fatality count is now 649. There have been 189 death so far in the month of August. There were 226 in July.

Today through August 26, landlords can start applying for the city's second rental assistance program, which will distribute $20 million to landlords and tenants. Landlords must meet certain criteria, like units within the City of Houston, and must make certain promises to receive the money. For example, they must halt evictions through September 2020 and implement a payment plan for tenants over the next few months.

Tenants can apply for assistance August 24–30. Those who live inside the City of Houston but in Fort Bend County can still qualify for aid, Turner said. Money will be distributed on a need-basis, not who applies first. The city's rental relief program is running concurrently with the county's rental relief program, which opened for applications today. Together, there is about $45 million of rental assistance between the Houston and the Harris County, Turner said.

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, small businesses and chambers of commerce can apply for the Houston Small Business Economic Relief Program, which will dish out $15 million from the CARES Act. Applications close September 4; submit online at www.cityofhouston-sberp.org. The money (up to $50,000 per business) won't be distributed on a first come-first serve basis. Instead, there will be a weighted system, and businesses must display a dire need for funds and "a high likelihood on surviving the pandemic," the mayor said.

Turner emphasized the importance of these programs frankly: "People simply need help."

Updated 4:16 p.m. Aug 14

The Houston Health Department is reporting 438 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston’s total to 56,803. There are 12 newly reported deaths; of these deaths, 41 percent were Black, and 33 percent were Hispanic. The city's total fatality count is now 616.

Updated 6:05 p.m. Aug 13

The Houston Health Department is reporting 425 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing Houston’s total to 56,365. There are 19 newly reported deaths, almost 50 percent of whom were Hispanic, which has been one of the hardest-hit groups in the pandemic. Houston's total fatality count is now 604.

Updated 4:07 p.m. Aug 12

There are 431 new cases of Covid-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. The total count is now 55,940. There are 12 newly reported fatalities; the total number of deaths is now 585. Of the 12 new deaths today, 11 were Hispanic. "There are still way t0o many people who are dying as a result of this virus," especially people of color, Turner said.

As of today, Houston's positivity rate is 14.3 percent, which is "trending in the right direction," Turner said, but the city needs to get down to less than five percent by the end of August for contact tracing to work. The mayor encouraged people to go get tested, especially as 40 percent of people who test positive are asymptomatic. "Until there is a vaccine for this virus, please go and get tested." The number of people getting tested for Covid-19 is too low, said Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department. He discussed five mega testing sites, including Delmar, Butler, Darrell Tully stadiums, Kingwood Park Community Center, and Minute Maid Park, as well as more than 15 other smaller sites, all of which are free. "You need to know if you become infected," Persse said. "In a perfect world with a magic wand, I would have everyone in the city tested once a week."

Houston police has only written two tickets for folks not wearing a mask (a citation will cost you $250). Police chief Art Acevedo encourage people think of patriotism of working towards the community good and wear a mask. "Do you want to be a patriot and think of others?" Acevedo asked. "Or do you want to exercise your views of your right to get other people sick?" If the city has compliance is 90 percent or greater of people wearing masks, then the positivity rate should drop, Turner said. "Put your masks on, please."

There are 558 new cases of Covid-19 in Harris County outside the city of Houston and 14 newly reported deaths, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced earlier today. In total, Harris County has had more than 87,000 cases of the virus and 900 deaths.

"The countdown to the first day of school in-person is like a ticking time bomb, unless we do this right," Hidalgo said. Despite the state removing local health authorities' ability to close schools because of Covid-19, "we have a responsibility to provide our community and school leaders with well-informed and clear guidance." The Office of Emergency Management is launching a Roadmap to Reopen Schools, which provides guidance, as well as a set of indicators, on when schools should reopen based on numbers and the Harris County Threat Level System. Currently Harris County is at a severe (red) threat level, meaning schools (and gatherings) should not occur right now face-to-face. If the county gets to lower threat levels—orange yellow, and green—then schools can open up at scaled capacities. However, reopening is contingent on schools being able to implement safe practices such as co-horting and social distancing.

We all want to get back into school, said Dr. Umair Shah, the executive director of Harris County Public Health, but "it is simply not safe to do so at this time." Kids can get the virus, he said; 338,000 children have diagnosed with Covid-19 across the country since the pandemic began. More than 97,000 children and young adults ages 0–19 were diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last two weeks of July, One in three kids who are hospitalized end up in the ICU, Shah said. Furthermore, he said there wasn't any proof across the globe that school reopening works when the Covid numbers are as high as they are in Harris County. "We can't ignore this," Hidalgo said. "We can't tap our heels together and wish the current numbers away."

Updated 5:45 p.m. Aug 11

The Houston Health Department reported 311 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the city's total to 55,509. There are eight more deaths; the city's fatality count is now 573.

Earlier today, the Harris County Commissioners' Court approved the Digital Access for Students Support Program. The program, costing $32.1 million, will provide more than 250,000 devices and 120,000 hotspots to children in need for school.

Updated 1 p.m. Aug 11

If the state is able to get to a positivity rate of 10 percent or less (and maintain that rate), see less hospitalizations due to Covid-19, and bars were able to ensure that groups sat separately at tables in these establishments, then that could provide an environment where bars could reopen, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference today in Beaumont. Basically, he wants the state to get back to where it was in early May when Texas began its phased reopening. However, "it requires extra vigilance," by bar owners to ensure patrons follow guidelines.

The governor reiterated today that when and how schools should reopen is best left to the decisions of local school boards because this provides "the local school districts the flexibility they need." There's been plenty of confusion surrounding school reopening over the past month as the Texas Education Agency has changed its guidelines multiple times. Read more here.

For schools that are reopening for in-person instruction, the TEA has provided best protocols and policies to maintain health and safety, including staggered openings so not all students are arriving at the same time, mask wearing, and spacing out desks in classrooms. "We expect school districts to follow those policies," Abbott said.

Rapid testing will increase across the state, the governor also said. Texas is getting more supplies to do rapid testing in nursing homes and other locations. However, Abbott warned that not all positive tests are considered equal. If someone takes an antigen or antibody test and tests positive, then their result will be categorized as a probable positive by the state. Only viral Covid-19 tests will be counted as true positives.

Updated 4:35 p.m. Aug 10

The Houston Health Department reported 449 new cases of Covid-19 today. The city's overall total is now 55,198. The health department reported eight new deaths; Houston's total fatality count is now 565. The city's positivity rate is down to 14.6 percent; last week it was 17 percent, which had dropped from 23 percent the previous week. Today's rate is the lowest it's been since June 1. While this is progress, both Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, have said repeatedly that the city's positivity rate needs to be at 5 percent or less to keep the virus at a manageable level.

Updated 11:43 a.m. Aug 10

In a release from Austin on Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott extended the state disaster declaration, which will allow Texas to continue to receive resources to fight Covid-19. Abbott first made the declaration on March 13, and has renewed it each month since.

Updated 3:15 p.m. Aug 7

The Houston Health Department is reporting 652 new cases of Covid-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. The city's total is now 53,304. There are 17 newly reported cases, bringing the fatality count to 543. "This virus is insidious," the mayor said, "and it is disproportionately impacting communities and people of color."

U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee spoke about the necessity for Congress to pass the Heroes Act, which would provide additional financial assistance to Americans. "We are in a crisis," she said. "We don't have moments to waste."

Updated 4:55 p.m. Aug 6

The Houston Health Department is reporting 332 new cases of Covid-19 today; the total count is now 52,652. The city is reporting 23 more deaths, bringing the official fatality total to 526.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that the Texas Division of Emergency Management has partnered the Astros to set up a new testing site at Minute Maid Park, which will open on August 8. The site, which will be able to conduct 2,000 tests per day, will feature eight drive-thru and four walk-up lanes. It will be open seven days a week 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We’re pleased to partner with the state and local health departments to provide another testing option in our city," said Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane said in a release. "We are happy to continue to assist our community as we collectively fight this pandemic." Learn more about the site and how to sign up here.

The governor also encourage people to get their flu shot early this year, as the symptoms between the flu and the coronavirus are very similar and a bad flu season could be disastrous. “With a flu season that could be prolific, if that leads to greater hospitalizations, coupled with the hospitalizations they’re seeing for COVID-19, you could easily see how hospitals in this region as well as across Texas will be completely overrun with an inability for hospitals to take care of the medical needs of everybody in the entire region,” Abbott said, according to a Chron report.

Updated 3:20 p.m. Aug 5

The Houston Health Department is reporting 709 new cases if Covid-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. The total case count is 52,320. There are 14 new deaths; there have been 503 total fatalities.

Turner noted that there has been a decrease in the number of people getting tested. The start of the decline happened around the same hospitals began seeing less Covid-19 hospitalizations, said Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department. He expressed concern that people are thinking that the virus is letting up. It's not, he said. The positivity rate is still 17 percent. "This is not the time to become lax," Turner said.

You do not have to sign up for a test at the city's testing sites now, Turner said. You can just show up. The mayor encouraged people to get tested again if they were tested a month or more ago. Also, Persse said, if you think you were exposed and got tested too early, you could've received a false negative. "If you develop symptoms, go get tested again."

On Monday Mayor Turner announced that citations will now be given out for people not wearing masks. To monitor this, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced that starting Thursday, August 6, police will track how many times they issue warnings and citations are written. Acevedo encouraged people to wear their masks, saying he does not want to be forced to give you a citation. "Our number one goal is for people is to simply do the right thing."

City Council today passed a second $20-million rental relief package, which Turner first announced last week. A quarter of that money comes from private donors, like the Houston Endowment and the Kinder Foundation. Turner encouraged people to keep donating.

As part of this package, individual tenants who qualify for the relief package must live with in the city of Houston, are behind on rent payments, and are unable to pay rent. For participating landlords, if one tenant on their property qualifies for this package, then all tenants on the property will be safe from evictions through September 20. "This is extremely important because it keeps people in their homes," Houston City Council member Edward Pollard said.

Updated 5:41 p.m. Aug 4

The Houston Health Department is reporting 715 new cases of COVID-19; there are 51,611 total cases. There are 11 new deaths; there are 489 total fatalities.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Aug 3

A Houston firefighter, Jerry Pacheco, has passed away from the coronavirus. He is the second Houston firefighter to succumb to the virus. "I wanted offer my deepest and sincerest condolences to the Pacheco family," Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said. Six Houston municipal employees have passed away from the virus as well. The tragic deaths are a reminder that community spread is still a problem in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

There 1,104 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today; the total count is now 50,896. There are six new deaths—all of whom were Hispanic. The total fatality count is now 478.

In good news, Houston's positivity rate has dropped from 23 percent to 17 percent. "It proves when we work together, we can do better," said Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department. However, both Persse and Turner said 17 percent is still too high. In order for contact tracing to be feasible, the city's positivity rate needs to be 5 percent or less.

Hospitalizations are also decreasing. Technology is getting better, and doctors are understanding the virus better," Persse said. Another reason for fewer hospitalizations is the average age of people testing positive is almost 20 years younger than it was several years ago—34. "My fear is that everybody is seeing good news and take their foot off the break," Persse said. If the average age increases again, then the number of hospitalizations will likely increase.

To help lower the positivity rate, the city of Houston will officially begin issuing citations to the statewide face mask order. "When we started this process it was about educating," Turner said, but now tickers will be given. Houston police won't respond to 9-1-1 calls of people not wearing masks, but while out on patrols, they'll issue citations if they see you. You'll first get a warning, but after that you'll get a $250 fine.

"Don't waste $250," Turner said. "Put your mask on, and keep the money in your pocket."

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo encouraged people to wear masks, even if you think it's a violations of your rights. "What we need is people to stop thinking about selfish interests and start thinking about the collective interest," he said.

Updated 3:59 p.m. July 31

There are 1,554 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced. The city's total count is now 46,969. In the last three days, more people have test positive than the entire month of May, Turner said. There are 18 new deaths, a new record for Houston; the fatality count is now 450. "In the month of July, we have lost nearly half of that number." Turner urged people to social distance and avoid large gatherings. "We have squandered already all of the gains we made" in March and April.

There's been a decrease in the number of people testing, said Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department. Part of it has been due to all of the recent rain, but he said he's concerned people think the situation is resolving itself because there are less hospitalizations. "I'm concern that the message is getting mixed." He said the decreasing hospitalizations could be attributed to health care workers better understanding the virus. Also, the average age of people testing positive is getting younger, and those people aren't getting as sick. But, Persse said, the number of people in ICUs—around 600—has remained steady. And remember, he said, "if you wind up in the hospital, you're very sick."

Turner announced the city is launching a second rental assistance package of $19 million, distributed by Baker Ripley again. Of that money, $15 million will come from CARES Act funds, and $4 million came from private sources, which was raised in the past 36 hours, the mayor said. The goal, though, is to grow the fund to $25 million.

The mayor said this program will take the place of an eviction moratorium, which people have been calling for in recent weeks. Turner said a moratorium would only postpone and exacerbate the problem people are in now. "What we are attempting to do is not to place renters in a deeper hole, but remove the liability," he said.

The money won't be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis like the first package earlier this year—the money ran out in 90 minutes—instead aid will be given out in accordance to need. "Our objective is to help the most vulnerable," Turner said. "We intend to provide a lifeline for those who face immediate eviction." Aid from this package can be accessed by leasers as well as renters. Some of the money will be given to Lone Star Legal Aid and for those who need assistance but don't qualify for Cares Act help. Dana Karni, managing attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid, said they are launching eviction-right-to-counsel to provide support to tenants who cannot afford legal representation.

Turner admitted that this aid is not enough. "Cities cannot do this alone," he said, calling on the state government, Congress, and even President Donald Trump, for help. "Congress, if you are listening, Mr. President, if you are listening, people need your help, and they need your help now."

Turner also said as we enter into August, COVID-19 numbers have to get better if schools can reopen. Earlier this week Attorney General Ken Paxton said county closure of in-person schooling is not be legal. According to Paxton, the TEA guideline that allows health authorities to shut down schools is meant to curb a current outbreak, not to prevent a future one. After he said that, the TEA said districts would lose funding if they closed due to local health authorities' mandates. Today, Gov. Greg Abbott backed up Paxton and the TEA, releasing a statement saying the authority on how schools reopen comes from the school boards, although they can base their decisions on the recommendations from local health authorities. He also said health authorities may close a school building during the school year if there is an outbreak.

"With all due respect to the attorney general," Turner said, "there is no way under the sun that I would send even my child to school if the numbers are the same or worse by the end of August."

Updated 3:21 p.m. July 30

There are 1,304 new cases of COVID-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced; the total count is 45,415. "These are just not the type of numbers we want to report." There are 15 new reported deaths; the total fatality count 432. In July alone, 200 people have died from the virus, "and we still have one day to go," Turner said.

The Houston Hispanic community has been disproportionately hit by the pandemic. About 40 percent of cases and 45 percent of deaths are Hispanic. Because of this, the city is launching Better Together, a multilingual public health campaign, targeting high-positivity communities. Turner said the campaign is about promoting the four pillars in fighting the virus: wearing a mask, social distancing, hand-washing, and testing. The campaign will be multi-platform, including radio and television ads. Additionally, the city will conduct door-to-door canvasing in badly hit neighborhoods. "The public health crisis needs more direct communication," he said.

Turner said the goal in August is to lower the city's positivity rate, which is currently about 23 percent, to less than 5 percent. "This is the month to turn this around."

Updated 5:35 p.m. July 29

The Houston Health Department reported 1,045 new cases of COVID-19 today; the city's total is now 44,111. There have been nine new deaths; the fatality count is now 417.

Harris County has the most total cases in the state—67,660—according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, almost 20,000 more than the next highest county, Dallas, which has 48,028. In our region, Montgomery County has 5,852 total cases, Liberty County has 813, Chambers County has 850, Galveston County has 8,367, Brazoria County has 6,032, Fort Bend County has 6,772, and Waller County has 388. In short, our region contributes around 24 percent (almost 100,ooo people) of Texas's total cases.

Updated 5:40 p.m. July 28

The Houston Health Department reported 864 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the city's total to 43,066. There are eight new deaths; the fatality count is now 408.

In other news, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday Harris County's closure of in-person schooling until September might not be legal. According to Paxton, the TEA guideline that allows health authorities to shut down schools is meant to curb a current outbreak, not to prevent a future one. After Paxton spoke out, the TEA reversed its guidelines: Now school districts won't receive state funding if it remains closed because of a local mandate, according to the Texas Tribune. Districts can remain closed for up to eight weeks if they receive permission from the TEA.

Updated 4:43 p.m. July 27

In a press release today, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that STAAR testing requirements would be waived for the 2020-21 academic year. The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness is required to determine whether or not a student passes their current grade and can continue on to the next. While the exam will still be taken this year, the grade promotion requirement for students in grades 5 and 8 will be waived.

"Parents deserve to know how well their children have learned grade level knowledge and skills in reading and math, especially in a time when education has been substantially disrupted," said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath in the release. "And educators use this valuable information to make adjustments to support students the following year. But there is no benefit to our children by requiring them to repeat a year based on a single test score given the disruptions of COVID, so we are waiving the grade promotion requirements from STAAR this year for our students."

Additionally, the governor extended early voting in the November election. Early voting will now begin on October 13—before it was October 19—and it will end on October 30.

Updated 3:12 p.m. July 27

While all public schools in Harris County must postponed in-person classes through at least Labor Day, the 10th annual Back-to-School Fest, which passes out school supplies and other necessities, is still on, although it will look different. "We have reimagined the event as a drive-through distribution," Mayor Sylvester Turner announced. Instead of bringing 25,000 people to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the event will take place outside over a two-day period—August 7–8—at NRG as a drive-by event. The fest will distribute 25,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and the Houston Food Bank will be on location to provide food. Parents must register ahead of time on the city's website to receive supplies.

There 325 new cases of COVID-19, the mayor announced today. The city's total is now 42,202. Even though today's number is relatively low, "you have to really look at that seven-day total," Turner said. He listed off the numbers of diagnosed cases in Houston each month since the pandemic began: 377 cases in March, 3236 in April, 3793 in May, 12,885 in June, and 21,911 so far in July.

There are nine new deaths; the fatality count is now 400, 89 of which are associated with nursing homes. "It almost sounds sterile," Turner said when listing the numbers, but he went on to discuss how each person who died had people who loved them. "Nine families that will be permanently impacted."

Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department announced that the city's positivity rate has dropped slightly. On June 28, the rate was 25.9 percent. As of last Friday, it was 23.3 percent, "which is extremely high." He talked about positivity is high across the city, and while some zip codes have less than 20 percent positivity, there are some zip codes that have positivity rates of more than 30 percent.

He said the dip in positivity means that social distancing and healthy hygiene practices (i.e. wearing masks, washing hands) are working, but haven't worked yet. Turner also encouraged people to continue these practices and continue to avoid gatherings. "It is about changing behavior," he said.

"These are challenging difficult times," he said. "We're going to have to assume personal responsibilty. Just because we're tired and bored, and want to get out, but the virus wants to get out too."

Updated 5:50 p.m. July 24

The Houston Health Department is reporting 651 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today; the total case count is now 40,086. There have been 13 more deaths. The city's COVID-19 fatality count is now 370.

Updated 12:20 p.m. July 24

Today, Harris County and City Houston health officials will sign an order shutting down in-person schooling for public and non-religious private schools countywide through September 8, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced this morning. "More likely than not September 8 is too soon," she said, "but we're going to aim for that goal."

Across the county, there are all most 1 million students, including more than 210,000 students in HISD alone. Hidalgo said she doesn't want to shut down the schools, but the county needs to get the virus in order. "I owe everything in my life to public schools," she said. "The last thing I want to do is shut down a brick and mortar representation of the American dream."

"We do not want children to fall behind," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "But we must keep them safe, our teachers safe, janitors, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and so many more." The COVID-19 positivity rate is at an unacceptable level, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Just inside Houston, July has seen 19,139 new cases. There have been 133 deaths in Houston in July. "These numbers reflect an uncontrolled virus," he said. The positivity rate needs to be below five percent, like in Boston or New York, he said, to move forward. Currently, the positivity rate varies between 20–25 percent. Turner expressed concern that social distancing and safe hygiene practices will be enough to bring the positivity rate down quickly enough.

"We know that kids are precious to all of us," said Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health. Kids are having a much different childhood than adults have had, he said, but with 900,000-plus students, "it is not safe" to send them back to schools. "Those very children are dependent on all of us as adults," Shah said, to make the right choice and ensure they can have the same sort of childhood their parents had.

"We also hear that children don't get COVID-19," Shah said, addressing rumors that children aren't severely affected by the virus. "That is not true." Kids can get the virus, and they can spread the virus, even if their symptoms are mild. Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, reminded people how often they get sick when their children get sick. He talked about getting a cold several times a year when his daughter was in school. Even if a child does get a mild form of the virus, they can unknowingly infect their family members. Shah also mentioned a condition Inflammatory Syndrome, a rare side effect of COVID-19 found in children. There have been 186 cases across the country.

"Closing the schools is really a strategy to buy us more time," Persse said, using a school bus analogy for getting the virus under control. "This school bus right now is no longer accelerating," he said. "Maybe it's not accelerating."

"But either way, this school bus is going 100 miles per hour, and there's a curve ahead."

Updated 4:28 p.m. July 23

The Houston Health Department is reporting 919 new cases of COVID-19 today; there have been 39,435 total cases in Houston and 61,416 in Harris County as a whole. There are 11 new deaths in Houston; the city's total fatality count is 357, and Harris County's is 596.

Updated 3:15 p.m. July 22

The Houston Health Department is reporting 773 new cases of COVID-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced. Houston's total case count is 38,516. There are eight new deaths; the count now totaling 346. Turner said it was important to note that the all of the deaths announced today were people of color, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus.

We're are seeing a slight dip in the positivity rate and number of new hospitalizations, Turner announced. He said that people need to continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, and maintain healthy hygiene. "The goal is to drive that progression all the way down such that positivity rate is five percent or less," he said, so that contact tracing can work without getting overwhelmed. "We still have a long way to go."

There has not been a peak, Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department, said. "The virus is still spreading throughout the community," despite some slight dips. There are several ways to get the numbers down: shut down the economy—which Gov. Greg Abbott has said he won't do yet—or a vaccine or herd immunity, neither of which are very feasible, he said. The fourth thing "is those things we keep harping on," like social distancing, wearing masks, compulsive personal hygiene, and "being smarter" than the virus. "If I had my preference, I would do a two-week shut down," Turner said. However, he said the social distancing practices are things Houstonians can do without waiting for a mandate.

Updated 6:11 p.m. July 21

There are 758 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, the Houston Health Department reported today. There have been 37,743 total cases. The health department is also reporting 10 new deaths. There have been 338 total deaths.

Updated 3:35 p.m. July 20

There are 884 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. The total case count is now 36,985. There have been seven new deaths; the total fatality count is now 329. Of today's deaths, six were Hispanic.

The mayor discussed the several hundred municipal employees who have tested positive for COVID-19. Two people from the Public Works department succumbed to the virus in a 24-hour period last week. Public Works director Carol Haddock said statistically she knew her department might lose someone. "When those statistics become names, it's personal," she said. "They were essential employees providing essential services, but they are more than that." Currently, more than 5 percent of Public Works employees are out of the office because of a diagnosis or are in quarantine after exposure.

There are 190 police officers in quarantine; 142 have tested positive, and 48 are awaiting results, Turner said. Fire Chief Samuel Peña said 162 firefighters are currently in quarantine. There are currently 38 firefighters with COVID-19; there have been 189 total who've tested positive. Despite these numbers, Peña emphasized that fire stations and ambulances are still being staffed. "We are being challenged regarding staffing," he said, "every department in the city is."

Dr. David Persse, health authority of the Houston Health Department, said the city's positivity rate is around 24.5 percent. This means that 24.5 percent of the tests come back as positive. "There's still a lot of virus in the community."

Most city held, sponsored, and promoted events will be cancelled throughout the rest of July and August, Turner said. One notable exception: the Mayor's Back-to-School event, scheduled for August 7–8, has been moved from the George R. Brown Convention Center to a drive-by event at NRG. Food, masks, backpacks, and other school supplies will be given out.

The mayor and Persse discussed the lag of test results—due to the testing company and a surge of cases—and how it impacts the contact tracers. The more people who test positive, the harder it is to contact trace. Persse suggests you do your own contact tracing. If you have symptoms develop, then reach out to anyone you interacted with in the past 48 hours, he said.

Turner said he wants for children to get back into schools and for people to go to Astros games, but he said we have to beat down this virus first. There aren't any shortcuts while there isn't a vaccine, he said. "There are no quick ways to do it."

Last week Turner and nearly 100 other Texas city mayors signed a letter to the federal government asking for more aid. Turner said that this is so the cities can get help to make up loss revenue because of the virus. "We are the infrastructure" that supports public and private enterprises, he said.

Updated 3:35 p.m. July 17

Two municipal employees have past away from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced. There have 286 municipal employees have tested positive overall. There are 986 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today; the total is now 34,681. There are 11 more deaths; the fatality count is now 315. The mayor reminded people that the virus kills indiscriminately. "The insidious virus is striking younger individuals as well."

Just because Gov. Greg Abbott has said he's not planning to shut the state down again, that doesn't mean you cannot take personal steps to reduce the risk, Turner said. Wear your mask, stay home, and avoid gatherings like backyard barbecues and swimming pool parties. "I'm simply asking you to stand down."

Houston's rate of positive cases per 100,000 is almost neck and neck with Los Angeles County, said Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department. He reported that there are 700 people in Harris County hospitals' ICUs because of COVID-19, and an additional 1,600 who are hospitalized. Persse explained that Houston hospitals can room 0.3 percent of the city's population. So, if 1.5 percent of the Houston population had COVID-19, then every hospital bed in the city would be taken because of the virus. He emphasized that people shouldn't become complacent because they don't know people with COVID-19. "You may not know anybody who's sick," he said, "and you may not know anyone who's died...yet."

Turner thanked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for sending a 20-person testing team to Houston. They will be at Fallbrook Church and Higher Dimension Church for the next two weeks. He also announced that there will be a mass food and mask distribution on July 25 from 9–11 a.m. at Notre Dame Catholic Church.

Updated 4:43 p.m. July 16

The Houston Health Department is reporting 1,002 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, bringing the city's total to 33,695. There have been nine additional deaths; Houston's total fatality count is 304.

In his opening address to the state GOP Convention—which is being held virtually after Mayor Sylvester Turner cancelled the in-person event and the Texas Supreme Court upheld that decision in a lawsuit—Gov. Greg Abbott defended his face mask order to convention attendees. “Now I know that many of all you are frustrated—so am I," Abbott said in a video message to the delegates, according to a Texas Tribune report. "I know that many of you do not like the mask requirement—I don’t either. It is the last thing that I wanted to do." Statewide, there have been 292,656 case of COVID-19 reported.

Meanwhile, the TEA told the Texas Tribune today that schools can remain closed for in-person lessons for the full fall semester without losing state funding. The caveat: A local health authority must order it.

Updated 4:35 p.m. July 15

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that there are 703 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 32,693. There have been 16 new deaths; the fatality count now totaling 295. This is the highest daily report of deaths since the pandemic first hit, Turner said.

One way to slow the spread of COVID and consequently reduce the number of deaths, Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, said, is for people to work with contract tracers. He shared the HHD contact tracing number: 713-853-8700. "And no, we're not trying to sell you a time share," Persse said.

Turner said he spoke with several school districts to about the start of the 2020-21 school year. "I want to commend all of them for carefully weighing the risks" of reopening, Turner said. HISD will reopen virtually on September 8, and will continue online coursework through October 16. Several other school districts have announced a virtual start to the new year: Alief will start on August 6, and Aldine and Spring on August 17. Spring Branch will also start on August 17, but will give parents the option of in-person classes.

The mayor said the governor would be making an announcement later this week about how long schools can hold virtual classes before they lose their funding.

Turner urged people to continue safe hygiene practices and to wear masks. The city needs 90-percent compliance over an extended period to get the needed results. "What we do now in the month of July, heading into August, will be critically, critically important," he said. "I'm asking the people in this city to take their destiny into their own hands."

FEMA will be in Houston through July, Turner said, although he noted we might need them through August. Starting tomorrow, Fall Brook Church and Higher Dimension Church will open testing centers on their properties.

U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee announced she is working to pass a "Heroes bill" in Congress that would give $700 billion to schools. The money would reimburse schools for sanitation and PPE expenses.

After receiving several reports, Turner said that some people are dressing up as city employees and asking to enter people's home to test the water for COVID-19. The mayor said city employees will never do this, so if someone knocks on your and says they need to test the water, do not believe them. "That is not true, and do not allow them to enter your home."

In other news, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will be distributing $41 million in COVID-19 response aid. There will be $7 million given out in the first round of distributions to more than 60 cities and counties. Both Austin and San Antonio will receive aid, receiving 1,243,557.54 and 2,688,293 respectively, but Houston is not currently set to receive anything.

Updated 4:26 p.m. July 14

The Houston Health Department reported 1,025 new cases of COVID-19 today. Our city's new total is 31,990. Countywide, there have been 49,027 cases. Statewide, there have been 275,058 cases.

Fort Bend ISD announced yesterday that it would gradually start in-person instruction in the new school year.

Updated 3:23 p.m. July 13

There are 1,544 new cases of COVID-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon. There have now been 30,965 cases of the virus in Houston. There are eight more deaths; our fatality count now totaling 277. Of these deaths, 73 are associated with nursing homes and three with Harris County jail.

Earlier today, Houston Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook announced he has tested positive for COVID-19. "This virus doesn't care who you are," Turner said.

The mayor encouraged Houstonians to follow social distancing guidelines, wear masks, and stay home. "I want the economy to remain open like all of you," Turner said, but people have to work to slow the spread. Avoid large parties, such as pool and house parties, he said. "People are going to take these masks seriously." What we do in the month of July will determine what happens next month, Turner said, speaking about schools reopening.

The positivity rate of the virus has drastically increased since March. Then, it was 14.7 percent, Dr. David Persse, the head of the Houston Health Department, said. A week ago it was 25.2 percent, and today it is 26.8 percent. The U.S. military arrived today to assist COVID-19 treatment. The third medical resort—taking over an unused nursing home—has also been approved, Persse said.

"Let's work together, let's make it happen," Turner said. "I just know that you will."

Turner was questioned about his comments over the weekend that the city needs a two-week shutdown. "We're going to need a shutdown for a period of time," he said, or at a minimum, a return to Phase 1. The mayor said that while he has not yet talked to Gov. Greg Abbott, the governor's office is aware of Turner's request. "I do think we need to reset," he said.

The mayor thanked the Texas Supreme Court for denying the Texas Republican Party's lawsuit for cancelling the state convention scheduled for later this week. He said that to fight the virus, everyone has to work together. "It's painful for everyone," he said. "Everyone has had to change course and pivot."

Updated 5:20 p.m. July 10

The Houston Health Department today reported 670 cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 26,682.

There have been nine more deaths. The city's death count is now 259. Of these deaths, 25 percent were white, 28 percent were Black, and 36 percent were Hispanic. More than 60 percent have been male; almost 95 percent had underlying health conditions. In terms of age, 162 were age 70 and older; 47 were in their 60s, 29 in their 50s, nine in their 40s, 21 were in 30s, and three in their 20s. A quarter of the deaths occurred in June, and around 29 percent occurred in May.

Despite growing numbers, Gov. Greg Abbott told multiple news stations today he is not yet ready to shut the state down again, but he did say he expects the situation to get worse as the death toll rises. In recent weeks, the governor has paused re-opening plans, scaled back occupancy, and issued a state-wide face mask order, although dozens of counties across Texas have refused to accept the order. However, Mayor Pat Hallisey of League City in Galveston County told NPR this morning that he's welcomed Abbott's orders, calling them practical.

"I think that there's been some resistance to how serious we're going to take this. And at the end of the day, personal responsibility to your own actions is really the bottom line of this," Hallisey told NPR. "We can have all the rules and laws but people have to wake up and realize this is a serious threat to their personal health and nobody seems to be exclusive."

Updated 3:45 p.m. July 9

There are 412 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, totally 26,012, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. "The numbers are moving in the wrong direction for us," the mayor said, calling the state's situation's "out of control." The goal is to bring the daily new case count to below 300 over a seven-day period to ease the strain on local hospitals and making contact tracing more "practical," Turner said.

There are five new deaths, now totaling 250. Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, said there is a distinct possibility that there is an undercounting of the COVID-19 deaths. According to the Health Department, the number of people who have died in their homes before EMTs can arrive have been steadily rising. Persse warned people to not dismiss the seemingly low death rate because of this. "Any death is tragic," he said. "One is too many."

Fire Chief Samuel Peña said this week the Fire Department had its highest one-day count of "dead on arrival" cases this year at 18. He urged people to call for help if needed. "Do not wait to call 9-1-1,"

There is a new testing site in the Second Ward at the Felix Fraga Academic Campus at the Houston Community College location on Navigation. The site will open on Monday, July 15. There will be a mobile testing site on July 18 at Collins Elementary School in Alief.

Some of the reasons there are in delays in testing results is that some tests are processed in Houston, but others are processed in other parts of the country, like Lawrence, Kansas, Persse said. After the tests have been processed, then the numbers are reported to the CDC, who in turn reports the data to the Texas DSHS, who then reports to local authorities.

The WHO is leaning in the direction that the coronavirus could be spreading in the air, Persse said. If this is the case, then the city will adjust guidelines locally.

Earlier today, several lawsuits were filed against Turner for cancelling the state GOP convention next week. While the mayor did not speak much on the lawsuits, he did suggest the GOP move their convention to Montgomery County.

Turner also encouraged people fill out the U.S. Census. Houston loses about $1,500 in federal money for every person who doesn't fill out the form each year for the next 10 years. The mayor said the city could stand to lose $250 million.

Today, Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the number of counties that cannot perform elective surgeries at this time, including many counties in the greater Houston region. The counties include Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.

Updated 3:47 p.m. July 8

There are 204 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the city's total to 25,600 cases. This number is most likely lower than the actual number, Mayor Sylvester said, due to a potential computer glitch at the state level. So today, the number is 204, "but put an asterisk." There is one new death; the total fatality count is now 241.

According to the mayor, more Hispanic people are getting sick with the virus. As a result, the city has launched a bilingual outreach campaign to provide info about testing. Turner emphasized that no one will be asked for immigration status and documents.

After receiving pressure from Turner and other city officials, including Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department, Houston First has cancelled the state's GOP convention, scheduled to take place in Houston July 16–18.

The convention presents "a clear and present danger," according to a letter Dr. Persse sent to Houston First. As mayor, Turner said he cannot ignore the warnings from Persse, Dr. Peter Hotez, and from Dr. Deborah Birx, who has said that hot spots should avoid large gatherings. "None of that can be ignored or disregarded."

"Our destiny is in our own hands," Persse said. As Houston works to flatten the curve, people cannot start engaging in the behaviors that would cause spikes in numbers. "We cannot have thousands of people gathering inside the George R. Brown."

Nearly 6,000 people were expected to attend the event. Despite public pressure and requests from Turner and others, and despite the fact the speakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, would be speaking virtually, Republican officials refused to cancel the convention.

Turner has been hesitant in the past to cancel the event for fear of politicizing the move—he would be a Democratic mayor cancelling a Republican event. However, in recent days he's been increasingly vocal on the potential dangers for not just the conference attendees, but the hundreds of people who would be working the event. The lynch pin for him, he says was the reminder that his own mother was a maid, and if she were alive, would he be comfortable putting her in this position.

The bottom line for him, he said, was "I am still the mayor." He said he would exercise his right to protect Houstonians by cancelling the event, like when he cancelled RodeoHouston. "This convention is no greater or better" than the rodeo, Turner said.

In regard to the TEA's announcement yesterday that public schools must open for in-person classes in the fall, Turner said it's too soon to be discussing it. "Right now the forest fire is blazing," he said of Texas's COVID-19 situation. He said we needed to get the situation under control before talking about opening schools.

"Right now the hospitals are not low on PPE. They are monitoring it very carefully,” Persse said, and he noted that they are looking at recycling PPE if the situation does lead to a shortage of the equipment.

There are also COVID-19 homeless teams going from one location to another cleaning homeless camps up, with the goal of also getting the homeless into housing structures to help prevent the spread of the disease in the encampments and combating homelessness in the city, Turner explained. The City of Houston is working with Harris County on this initiative, which has more than $60 million in funding over the next few years.

Updated 4:45 p.m. July 7

The Houston Health Department is reporting 1,060 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the city's total to 25,396. There have been five more deaths due to the virus; the fatality count is now 244.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 10,028 new cases statewide today. Our state's total case count is now 210,585, with Harris County attributing for about 18 percent of that number.

In a set of guidelines for the 2020-21 school year, the TEA announced today that public schools must offer in-person classes in order to receive funding. Parents can request for their children to receive virtual coursework. For a the full set of guidelines, click here.

Updated 3:46 p.m. July 6

There are 963 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, Mayor Sylvester Turner said today, bringing the total to 24,226. The numbers have fluctuated over the holiday weekend, but "we still have a lot of work to do," Turner said. There are no new deaths.

There are more currently 500 people in local ICUs, and there have been around 1300 people admitted into local hospitals today, said Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the Houston Health Department. Competing hospital systems have been coordinating patients to ensure care, he said. "They are not in competition now."

Persse said it appears that the virus has mutated again. It is now more easily spread, although not necessarily more dangerous. As part of the mutation, there has been a push for the WHO to change the classification of the virus. Right now, it is classified as droplet transmission, which means it is spread through tiny droplets in the air. This is why there has been the six-foot distancing rule. However, with the potential mutation, there is a push to change its classification to airborne transmission. This means the virus is so light, it can float through the air on its own. "That would be a game changer for us," Persse said, because that would make spread much faster and widespread. It would also make a super spreader event, like the GOP convention scheduled later this month at the George R. Brown Convention Center, triply dangerous, he said.

Turner announced he is sending a letter to state GOP leaders to cancel the in-person state Republican convention. "I do not think it is wise or prudent to hold an in-person convention of 6,000 or more at this time," he said. Last week, Turner refused to cancel the convention for fear that it would look like he, a Democratic mayor, was making a political statement. Today, he said that all other conferences or conventions at George R Brown this year have been cancelled or rescheduled to 2021. He urged GOP leaders to cancel the convention or move it online, especially as many of the delegates are in an at-risk age demographic. "I've not yet talked to a medical professional who has said this is a good idea at this time," he said. He then proceeded to list a series of health safety protocols that the convention must follow, such as the wearing of masks and multiple entrances and exits. If any of the protocols are violated, then the health department will shut the event down.

The Wall of Shame had been renamed the "COVID-19 Accountability Wall," Turner said. There are no new updates to the list.

The new antigen test, is the next most accurate virus test after the nasal swab, Persse said. The result for finger tests vary. For the Abbott test, the positive result is reliable, but the negative result is not. For people who have tested positive, he also recommends a clinical test to see if you are no longer sick with the virus instead of taking a test away from someone else.

Updated 3:45 p.m. July 2

While Mayor Sylvester Turner was giving his update in Houston, Gov. Greg Abbott made a surprise move and issued a statewide order requiring masks to be worn in a commercial space or public space, or any outdoor space that does not allow for at least six feet of social distance between people in any counties where 20 or more COVID-19 cases are present as of 12:01 p.m. Friday. This is a sharp reversal for Abbott who has previously avoided issuing any state-mandated mask orders and has not been wearing masks himself in recent press conferences, even the ones where he re-closed the bars due to the increase of COVID-19 cases.

People are allowed to go without masks while exercising outdoors and swimming, but otherwise must have their nose and mouth covered. Children under 10 and anyone with health conditions that would prevent them from wearing masks are exempt, but all others must follow the executive order. The first violation gets a warning, but if you continue to go without a mask in businesses, public places or crowded outdoor areas, you risk incurring a $250 fine. "Local law enforcement and other local officials, as appropriate, can and should enforce this executive order," Abbott wrote in the order.

Updated 3:10 p.m. July 2

Mayor Sylvester Turner pleaded with Houstonians to stay home during his press conference on Thursday. As we rolled into the long holiday weekend on Thursday afternoon, he reported 763 new COVID-19 cases, and more than 7,000 in the city so far. "As mayor I cannot force you to change your behavior but I am strongly encouraging to take the virus very seriously and make some changes in your behavior," Turner said. "We are at the point with this virus where we are going to need to pull together as a community in order to blunt the progression of this virus."

He noted that he is still unable to actually require Houstonians to comply with any behaviors beyond what Gov. Greg Abbott has allowed (so far, only requiring masks in businesses has been allowed by the governor's office) but Turner asked that people where masks when out, that they give people proper social distance if they must go into the office and that they work from home wherever possible. He also asked that businesses go back to only allowing 25 percent occupancy, that faith-based communities go back to offering online services, and that people keep their social gatherings to 10 people or less. "What we know is that in the last month or so, this virus has really taken off," he said. "We have to disengage in order to keep this virus from further taking off."

So far, there are more than 32,000 confirmed cases in Harris County, and there have been 384 deaths. Dr. David Persse, head of the City of Houston Health Department, warned that the notion that "young folks get sick and get over it" is not accurate because 15 percent of the people admitted to local hospitals due to complications from COVID-19 are under 50 years old. He noted that there have been 500 people admitted to the ICU in Houston today due to COVID-19 and more than 1,200 have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. "The virus is very much out there, and for those who think that it's not, I'm sorry but they're wrong," Persse said. "We all control our own destiny. The mayor has made some good recommendations. You control whether you get this virus, whether you bring it to your family, or your coworkers."

When asked about the recent changes to how the Texas Medical Center has been tracking how much capacity their hospitals have to treat COVID-19 patients, Turned reminded people to see the whole picture of the situation, rather than obsessing over the numbers. "Whatever the number may be today, we are on an unsustainable course, and we need to take action today, right now, to blunt the curve of this virus," Turner said, noting that he is also not urging that any businesses—other than the bars and clubs already closed by Abbott—be required to close, only asking that they reduce occupancy. "The reality is if we stay on this dangerous trajectory, all of us will lose."

Updated 3:18 p.m. July 1

The city's homeless situation has been amplified by pandemic, Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press conference today. City and county officials gathered to announce a $65 million initiative to house members of the homeless community, permanently housing 5,000 individuals over two years.

There are three aspects of this initiative. One, a bridge to permanent supportive housing. Two, rapid rehousing, providing rental assistance 1700 individuals and families. Three, diversion. There will be a range of case management services, to prevent 2,000 more from becoming homeless. "This is an emergency response to an infectious disease," Turner said, but one will have a permanent impact. "We want, we need, and we will achieve a significant reduction in homelessness."

"This is truly a moonshot," said Marc Eichenbaum. It's a complicated process with 11 buckets of funding from six different sources, he said, but all of the programs are based on local solutions, and will do permanent good. "This is truly taking a crisis and turning it into an opportunity."

The City of Houston is contributing $40 million to the project. Yesterday, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to contribute $18 million. This is an issue that does not stop at the city lines, or the county lines," said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who was at the conference via video chat—a member of her staff has tested positive for COVID-19. "It is a paradigm shift in the way you address homelessness," she said.

This is the smart thing to do, said Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia. Typically, it costs the city $40,000 to leave someone homeless on the street or to jail them, he said. But this initiative will cost $17,000 for people. "This is not the end," he said, "but a very very specific example of what can happen when you collaborate."

There are 832 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, now totaling 21,123, Turner announced. There are four more deaths, and fatalities now total 228.

Even though there have been some fluctuations in reported numbers from day to day, the mayor reminded people that the virus is still here. "This is an equal opportunity abuser," he said. One of today's reported deaths was a woman in her 20s with no underlying health conditions.

What takes place over the holiday weekend will be important on our case count, Turner said. "I encourage everyone as much as possible to maintain your physical distance." He announced the city's July 4 Freedom over Texas celebration will be virtual, and he encouraged people to practice safe health processes. "Lady Liberty wants you to wear a mask with a smile."

It was also announced that city parks will be kept open for active activities only. So, if you want to have park picnic this weekend, think again. "The parks will be open, but we want it to be a kinetic experience," Turner said. Sam Houston and Eleanor Tinsley parks will be closed on Saturday, though, to safely put on the digital and fireworks shows.

Updated 5:27 p.m. June 30

The Houston Health Department is reporting 280 new cases of COVID-19 today. The city's total is now 20,291. The countywide total is 31,422.

Earlier today, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to extend the the local disaster declaration until August 26. The face mask order will extend to that day as well.

Updated 3:25 p.m. June 29

There are 1,317 new cases of COVID-19 between Sunday and Monday, bringing the city's total to 20,0011, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon. There are five new deaths, now totaling 224. Of the total deaths, 64 are associated with nursing homes. "Each day I start with the numbers as a reminder that we are still in a global health pandemic," Turner said.

Our goal is to bring the numbers now, the mayor said and to "blunt the progression" of the virus. Tomorrow both Delmar and Butler testing sites will be increasing their capacities to 650 tests per day as opposed to the previous 500.

Turner thanked everyone who followed the new bar and restaurant restrictions, but he said that some did not. He then announced the first three businesses on his "Wall of Shame," which he has been threatening to do for a week now. The three businesses are: Spire nightclub, Pour Behavior, and Prospect Park sports bar. He told people that if they go to a place and it looks unsafe or overcrowded, "You shouldn't be walking into the doors."

For the young people who think they won't get as bad a case of COVID-19 as others, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, says think again. About 15 percent of people in the ICU for COVID-19 are in their 20s and 30s "Think twice before you go out," he said.

All city sponsored, permitted, and produced events are postponed through July, the mayor announced.

Updated 3:10 p.m. June 26

The Houston Health Department 879 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, totaling to 18,056, announced Mayor Sylvester Turner. there have been eight new deaths, bringing the city's total fatality count to 216. Of the 216 deaths, 63 have come from nursing homes and three from jails. "Our community's infection rate is three times higher than it was three months ago," Turner said.

The mayor said he supports Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to close bars and reduce capacity at restaurants and other businesses. Turner said that locally, outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people will be cancelled. Earlier today, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo made a similar pronouncement for the county.

Also earlier today, Hidalgo issued an advisory to stay home. While it is not an order, Turner and Hidalgo encouraged everyone, including businesses, to stay home. People who violate occupancy rules will receive the WOS!—Wall of Shame—award. The WOS! will be posted on social media and will be displayed during the mayor's press conferences, he said. He says this will help people know where they are safe."I think in the end it's hard for any business to survive if it doesn't have customers."

City pools, splash pads, and basketball courts have not reopened, Turner said. Libraries will postponed their next phase in re-opening.

"This virus is out of control in Houston," said Marvin Odum, the city's recovery tsar. What people can do is simple, he said. Wear a mask. Social distance. Wash your hands. "There's nothing political about this." It's about respect and returning to a strong economy, he continued.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said that the rollbacks today are good. He described the recent climb in cases a vertical rise. If our area's rates continue to grow as they have been, Hotez said Houston/Harris County could see 4,000 new cases a day in the next few weeks.

He rejected the term "hotspot" because many of the cities that are seeing the largest number of cases are the largest cities in the country. "These are not hotspots," he said.

Dr. David Persse said he hopes the governor's order today will help the situation, but "this virus is breaking every rule," he said. "The virus is so insidious that we aren't seeing the impact until three to four weeks sometimes." We are likely to see large case counts each day for the next few weeks.

The federal government has extended its support for testing sites for another two weeks, Persse said. The city's positivity rate is a little more than 10 percent of tests are positive, he said. A few weeks ago, it was about three positives for every 100 tests. He also said that there's been about a 30-percent shift downward in the average age of people contracting the virus. Now the average age is 40.

We have become the focal point of people all over this country and the world, the mayor said. He encouraged Houstonians to be an example to the world of how to come together and beat the virus. "What a story it will be," he said.

Updated 11:57 a.m. June 26

Harris County is now under a "Stay home, work safe" advisory, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced today. However, this is not an order—the governor has still not allowed local governments to put out new stay home orders.

The definition and the recommendations of the advisory are the same as the original stay-home order. Under that order, people were still allowed to go to the grocery store, gas stations, medical centers, banks, farmers markets, parks, etc. Hidalgo urged the community and businesses to stay home and repeat the actions that Houston did during the shut down in March and April. "We are in a worse situation than we were back then," she said.

Hidalgo said that people must work to lower the curve, not flatten it, as currently hospitals are close to surge capacity. The emergency medical center at NRG is ready for use if hospitals are overfilled. Yesterday, Gov. Greg Abbott has suspended all elective surgeries in surgeries at hospitals in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis county hospitals to free up beds, and earlier this week, Texas Children's Hospital announced it would accept adult patients.

Hidalgo said people must buckle down in order to lower the curve. "It's not going to come down on its own," she said. She said that people must be responsible and work together to get us into better shape. People wanted to open up too soon and that has been detrimental. "Wishful thinking got us here," she said.

Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, said what we do in the summer is going to be essential to protect ourselves in the fall. "There is no magic bullet" for COVID-19, he said, no vaccine, only prevention. He said we need to get a handle on this before flu season comes back in the fall.

Updated 9:00 a.m. June 26

After three days of back-to-back record high numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the state of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has reversed course. On Friday morning the governor issued a new executive order closing bars back down and capping restaurant capacity at 50 percent. He has also shut down river-rafting and tubing businesses, and banned all public gatherings of 100 people or more unless the gatherings have been approved by local government officials.

The restaurant occupancy reduction goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. June 29, giving restaurant owners the weekend to reconfigure everything. Bars are ordered to close as of 12 p.m. today, but will be allowed to offer drive-thru, pick-up and delivery services, as they were before the reopening, as long as they are following all TABC guidelines, according to the order.

“At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars," Abbott stated in the release announcing these measures. "The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health."

The 50 percent occupancy requirement does not include hair salons, nail salons, massage establishments or other personal care services providing the work stations at these places are the required six feet apart. There is also no current occupancy limit on religious services, child-care services, youth camps, or recreational sports, according to the order. Theme parks, museums, libraries, zoos, water parks, swimming pools, natural caverns, rodeos, and professional and college sport events are all required to only operate at 50 percent capacity as well.

"We want this to be as limited in duration as possible," Abbott stated, as he called on Texans to do their part by wearing masks, washing their hands, staying six feet apart in public, and just staying home when possible. "I know that our collective action can lead to a reduction in the spread of COVID-19, because we have done it before, and we will do it again.”

Updated 4:35 p.m. June 25

The Houston Health Department is reporting 924 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston today, bringing our city's total to 17,177 cases. There are four additional deaths, bringing the total fatality count in Houston to 208.

Updated 1:27 p.m. June 25

In addition to pausing reopening, Gov. Greg Abbott has suspended all elective surgeries in surgeries at hospitals in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis county hospitals to free up beds.

“As Texas faces a rise in COVID-19 cases, we are focused on both slowing the spread of this virus and maintaining sufficient hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients,” Abbott said in a statement. “These four counties have experienced significant increases in people being hospitalized due to COVID-19 and today’s action is a precautionary step to help ensure that the hospitals in these counties continue to have ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

Updated 10:55 a.m. June 25

While Texas Medical Center CEOs were reassuring Houstonians about their capacity to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients, Gov. Greg Abbott has just announced that he is now putting the state's reopening phases on "a temporary pause" due to the rapidly rising number of cases across Texas. This isn't an indication that the state will ultimately roll back some of its phased reopening in the face of this massive increase (Texas now has the fifth most COVID-19 cases in the country), he cautioned in the issued statement.

“As we experience an increase in both positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we are focused on strategies that slow the spread of this virus while also allowing Texans to continue earning a paycheck to support their families,” Abbott stated. “The last thing we want to do as a state is go backwards and close down businesses. This temporary pause will help our state corral the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business. I ask all Texans to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and socially distancing from others. The more that we all follow these guidelines, the safer our state will be and the more we can open up Texas for business.”

He has previously indicated that if the numbers kept increasing he might look into giving some authority to act back to city and county officials in hotspot areas like Houston. However, he has not done so, even as Texas has reported more than 5,000 new cases two days in a row.

Updated 10:15 a.m. June 25

CEOs of Houston's hospitals provided an update on the state of hospital capacity in the Texas Medical Center and across the entire hospital system on Thursday morning via a video press conference with KHOU. While ICU capacity is currently at 97 percent in the TMC, Houston Methodist President and CEO Dr. Marc Boom cautioned against assuming this means that the hospitals are about to be unable to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients. He noted that Methodist and the other hospitals often operate at these capacity levels, and they all are used to being flexible and working with each other to ensure that people are being treated.

"Running major health systems is an art as much of a science," Dr. Douglas Lawson, president and CEO of CHI St. Lukes, said. "The reality is all of us have the ability to significantly expand our capacity on a day to day, week to week, and month to month basis."

However, they all noted that the surge in COVID-19 numbers is troubling, and that people need to be doing everything they can to slow the spread of this disease, including staying home when they can, and wearing masks and washing hands frequently when they do go out.

Updated 4:45 p.m. June 24

Today, the Houston Health Department reported 987 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the city’s total to 16,253. Of today’s newly reported cases, 91 percent were conducted between June 14–22. In addition to that number, the mayor reported seven additional deaths due to COVID-19.

In an afternoon press conference to address our state and city’s drastically escalating COVID-19 outbreak—with ICUs and other hospital beds beginning to fill up in Houston, and Houston Methodist now reporting its number of COVID patients has tripled since Memorial Day—Mayor Sylvester Turner emphasized that he will tap the Houston Police and Fire departments to monitor local businesses as the weekend approaches, especially bars and restaurants. They’re hoping to identify businesses that are not complying with limited occupancy rules or making sure people are wearing masks. They will then provide that information to TABC in the hopes that these establishments will have their license pulled for a 30-day period.

Turner also plans to roll out a Board of Shame to identify the businesses that are working against the rules. “We’re not jailing anyone,” he said. “But it’s important for us to know who’s been a good citizen or not.”

Turner said he hoped that Houstonians will do their part to once again flatten the curve, by wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing good hygiene. He also encouraged folks to get tested.

To date, more than 60,000 people have received free testing in Houston, in particular at two FEMA-supported megasites, Butler and Delmar stadiums, both of which have been reaching maximum capacity by noon every day. With the federal support set to end on June 30, the city is currently saying with certainty that the sites will remain open and operational after that date, but that maintaining them would likely put a strain on opening more sites around the city, which it wants to do over the next month. Houston currently has 100 testing sites. The city also has contact tracers, but not nearly enough to keep up with the rate of infection, says Mayor Turner.

“It’s past time for people to take this situation very seriously,” he urged. “The numbers are moving in the wrong direction.”

He said if he had to push the envelope and “assume even authority that some say I don’t have” to get on top of the worsening crisis, he indeed would.

“If things are out of control in the month of July,” Turner warned. “That will dictate what the limitations are in August, September, and beyond.”

Earlier in the press conference, Mayor Turner also announced that a new 45-member Taskforce on Policing Reform will present a report in 60 to 80 days to address the growing concern over policing and accountability.

Updated 2:40 p.m. June 24

Texas is expected to record another 5,000 new COVID-19 cases, Gov. Greg Abbott announced in a series of interviews this afternoon, while more than 4,000 people have been admitted to hospitals across the state to be treated for COVID-19. This comes after Texas previously recorded more than 5,000 new cases on Tuesday as well. “There is a massive outbreak of COVID-19 across the state of Texas," Abbott said in an interview with KFDA-TV in Amarillo.

The governor, who oversaw an aggressive reopening of the state starting in May, stated that some sort of measures may need to be put in place, although he has not been more specific than that. "We are looking at greater restrictions and some could be localized,” he said.

This is particularly true with hospital space, as ICUs and other hospital beds are beginning to fill up in Houston and in some areas around the state. Texas Children's Hospital, the largest pediatrics hospital in Texas, has started accepting adult patients to help relieve some of the pressure on the hospital system. Abbott previously ordered all hospitals to cancel nonessential surgeries to make room for COVID-19 patients, but allowed that ban to lapse when the state started reopening. Abbott has not said whether he is considering reinstating the nonessential surgery ban or taking other measures to help take the pressure off the hospital system, but he has indicated that he is looking at doing something. “There are some regions in the state of Texas that are running tight on hospital capacity that may necessitate a localized strategy to make sure that hospital beds will be available," he said.

Updated 5:25 p.m. June 23

Today, the Houston Health Department reported 944 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 15,266. There have been 197 deaths. There have been 24,421 total cases in Harris County.

Earlier today, Texas Children's Hospital announced it would start admitting adult patients to free up hospital beds. Currently, Harris County has 460 operational and surge ICU beds available, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced today in a tweet.

Applications for the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund opened today. Approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court in May, the fund will give $1,200 to households of up to four people and $1,500 to households of five or more families to spend as needed, whether that's on rent, food, medical care, utilities, or other necessities.

Updated 3:15 p.m. June 22

Today is the first day of the new face mask order. "It's critically important for everyone to mask up in this city," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. He encouraged people to wear masks anytime they were out and about or in the company of someone else, besides just at businesses, as masks protect others. "Quite frankly, it's a sign of respect for other people as well."

"We cannot become lax within our city," Turner said. Today, the Houston Health Department is reporting 1,789 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 14,322. "We are moving very fast in the wrong direction." On Friday, the city reported more than 900 cases, and more than 800 cases on Saturday. "During this entire pandemic, we never reported those kinds of numbers," Turner said.

Turner said he is disappointed that all of the work done during the shutdown appears to be for naught. "We are wiping away the success that we collectively achieved." He said that our city's numbers will be determined by people's refusal to do the responsible thing.

He also expressed frustrations that the local government's power to make decisions on a shutdown had been stripped away by the state government. In April, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a plan to reopen the state, while also saying local orders could not supersede his own.

Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, said there has been 2.8-fold increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since May 31. Currently, 13 percent of hospital beds, and 24 percent of ICU beds, are filled with COVID-19. Several hospitals are already at capacity. The positivity rate of COVID-19 has increased from 3 percent to 9 percent.

Currently, Houston's testing capacity is maxed out, Persse said. He said that people who get tested will get results about whether or not they have the virus the day they were tested. He said the key is self isolation as well as the isolation of the people you have come in contact with. Persse also spoke about the different types of tests. Currently, the nasal swap is the most reliable test, the Abbott quick test has a lot of false negatives, and the finger-stick test is a "completely unreliable result."

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña Peña echoed Turner's and Persse's pleads and asked people to wear masks. He said that their 9-1-1 calls have increased by 20 percent, which he said could cause problems down the line as first responders and police officers will continue to test positive for COVID-19. Currently, there are 88 firefighters with the virus. "It is going to impact public safety," he said. "We're already understaffed."

He said that enforcement of the new order will be about education, not penalization, something that both Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Turner have both already said. "It's about the safety of this community."

Turner ended the planned portion of the press conference with a statement: "This virus loves company, and closeness, so we need to separate."

With County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s mask order in effect as of today, mandating that businesses require customers and employees to wear face coverings, and our state’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spiking since Memorial Day, Gov. Greg Abbott today held a press conference on efforts Texas can take to stop the spread.

After presenting several charts concerning our state’s rise in positive cases and hospitalizations, Abbott said that COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas, and “it must be corralled.” He announced that we can reduce our numbers without shutting Texas down.

To do so he requests all individuals stay home if sick, sanitize hands, and most importantly, to wear a mask in public. He says that agencies will be stricter in enforcing safety protocols— i.e. bars not in compliance with occupancy rules will be shut down by the TABC—and that surge testing will be happening in suspected hot spots. The state is also working with hospitals to make sure they have the availability they need to treat those admitted with COVID-19.

“Together we will keep Texas wide open for business,” Abbott said. He also announced that closing down the state will remain the last option, though during a Q&A with reporters, he stated that if current numbers double again in the next few weeks, that would suggest that we’re in an urgent situation where tougher actions are required.

With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, Abbott explained that his executive order does indeed allow for gatherings, but also for local flexibility, so it will be up to local officials to decide how to limit capacity at upcoming events or to cancel them.

Updated 5 p.m. June 19

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has signed an order mandating businesses in the entire county to require workers and customers to wear face masks, she announced today in a joint press conference with Mayor Sylvester Turner. The order, which is almost word-for-word the same as those already implemented in Bexar and Travis counties, will take effect Monday, June 22. Read the order here. The order ends on June 30, when the county disaster declaration expires on June 30, but Hidalgo said she is prepared to extend both for the foreseeable future.

There is an enforcement provision authorized by the governor, Hidalgo said. No fines will be issued for the first five days. There is a potential $1,000 fine per violation for businesses who don't comply, but the county judge said that their focus is on education. They will watch how other counties handle violations before making decisions on how to enforce the order in Harris County.

For businesses who aren't sure how to implement the order, Hidalgo suggested using the "No shirt, no shoes, no service" policy. "No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service," she said.

As for people who don't want to wear masks, the county judge asked people to take the politics out of the situation. "I'm asking folks to be adult about this." The evidence is clear, she said, that masks prevent the spread. This isn't the time to find a work-around, she said.

As businesses reopen and people are going out and about, said Bob Harvey, the president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, "we are in close proximity with our neighbors, and we have to do our part to protect each other." He said the Greater Houston Partnership supported all regulations local government has put in place regarding face mask.

There are 972 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Turner said, bringing the city total to 11,689. There are 19,739 total cases in the county. There are more than 300 people in Harris County ICUs with COVID-19.

"The pandemic remains," said Umair Shah, the executive director of Harris County Public Health. "COVID-19 remains a serious, serious disease." He warned people that although individual action may feel like it only impacts the individual, "there is an incredible effect on the rest of the community."

Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, said that people should not call the recent rise in numbers a second wave. "It's not a second wave. We didn't get a first wave, it was a ripple." He reiterated that it is essential for people to understand the concept behind the order. It's not just the mask, he said. It also physical distancing, not going to large gatherings, avoiding unnecessary contact.

Turner ended the press conference by repeating "This is a health care crisis" three times in a row. He reiterated that the order is going to save lives, and that it's "the least we can do." He urged people to not treat the pandemic like yesterday's news.

"And the virus, every single day, is showing us it's still here," he said. "And if you treat it like it's not here, the numbers will speak for themselves."

Updated 5:25 p.m. June 18

The city is reporting 210 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths. Houston's totals are now 10,715 cases and 175 deaths. Harris County's totals are now 18,552 cases and 305 deaths. Texas's totals are now 99,851 cases and 2,105 deaths.

Earlier today, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that public school students will be returning to the classroom this fall, and school districts to not have to require students and faculty to wear face coverings. This decision was met with some resistance from leaders, as Texas's COVID-19 numbers keep rising.

Updated 5:11 p.m. June 17

There are 189 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in a press conference this afternoon; our total case count is now 10,507. There are seven more deaths, bringing the total to 169. Of the seven newly reported deaths, four of those people passed away in May and one in April.

"Wearing a face mask is critically important as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Houston and Harris County," Turner said, encouraging people to #MaskUp to protect themselves and others.

Earlier today, the Greater Houston Partnership passed a resolution supporting any rules and regulations that increased the wearing face coverings that might be put in place in the future, the mayor said. Yesterday Turner and eight other Texas mayors sent an open letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, asking for the governor to allow local governments to make their own regulations on facial coverings while the state continues to reopen.

"The damage done to our economy by the pandemic is severe and reopening is essential to every Houstonian," Turner said. "That being said, the reopening must be sustainable."

Turner said he's not asking for another stay-home order, but to ensure a successful reopening, all Houstonians should follow CDC, local, and state guidelines to wear face coverings in public venues. It must be a community effort, Turner said, like when the city was able to flatten the curve in March and April. "We don't want to undo the significant progress we made earlier."

The Ismaili Council for the Southwestern US and Focus Humanitarian Assistance USA has donated 500,000 reusable face masks to the city, Turner announced. The city will distribute the masks to at-risk populations, community organizations, and first responders.

Turner encouraged anyone who has been in close proximity to a lot of people, especially those who were not wearing masks, to go get tested. The mayor got retested last weekend after attending the protest for George Floyd, as well as Floyd's public viewing and funeral.

In just the first two weeks of June, there has been the same amount of people checking into the emergency departments at local hospitals as the entire month of May, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department said. The 18–44 age group has increased nearly 8 percent.

Persse also said that people aren't answering the phones when contact tracers reach out to them, so he announced the caller ID information for the Houston Health Department's contact tracers: The telephone number is 713-853-8700, and the email is [email protected]. Text messages could come from one of three numbers: 35134, 73940, or 39242.

Today, Bexar County announced that businesses must require employees and customers to wear face coverings starting June 22, a move that Gov. Greg Abbott has tacitly given his blessing, according to reports. While Harris County and Houston currently has no plans to do so, Turner said in the Q&A portion of the conference that he is entertaining the idea.

The mayor ended his planned remarks asking people to social distance, wear masks, and get tested. He quoted Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health: "We may be bored of the virus, but the virus is not bored of you."

Updated 11:20 a.m. June 17

Yesterday, Mayor Sylvester Turner, along with eight other mayors around Texas, sent a signed letter to Gov. Greg Abbott asking him to allow individual cities to place rules and regulations regarding face masks based on local COVID-19 levels. "A one-size-fits-all approach is not the best option," the letter read. "We should trust local officials to make informed choices about health policy."

The letter was signed by the mayors of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, El Paso, Arlington, and Grand Prairie. Together, these cities make up around 39 percent of the state's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; these cities' counties make up about 58 percent of the total cases of COVID-19 in Texas.

In a press conference yesterday, the governor placed the blame on the recent rise of cases in Texas on minor errors in small cities and on young people celebrating on Memorial Day weekend and going to bars. He did not mention how reopening the state played into the numbers. For context, on May 1, the first day of the Phase 1 plan, the state reported 29,229 total cases. Yesterday, the state reported 93,206 total cases.

In his address, the governor encouraged people to continue to wear face coverings when out and about, but reiterated that cities cannot penalize people for not wearing them. Abbott has previously blocked local governments, including Harris County, from doing so. The mayors in the letter yesterday asked Abbott to let up.

"We think you would agree that a healthy economy starts healthy people," the letter read. "If you do not have plans to mandate face coverings statewide, we ask that you restore the ability for local authorities to enforce the wearing of face coverings in in public venues where physical distancing cannot be practiced."

Updated 5:42 p.m. June 16

The Houston Health Department is reporting 233 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the city's total to 10,318. There are two more deaths, bringing the local death toll of the virus to 162.

According Harris County Public Health, the county total is now 17,707 cases with 7,105 of the cases recovered.

Updated 1:44 p.m. June 16

Texas has abundant hospital beds available for people sick with COVID-19, Gov. Greg Abbott said today. The state is reporting 2,5218 hospitalizations of COVID-19 currently. "That is really a small percentage of all the beds that are available," the governor said.

He told Texans to not worry about hospitalizations for COVID-19. "There is no reason to be alarmed." Hospitals have more PPE, new treatments (such as treating patients on their stomach to reduce the need for a ventilator), and more space for patients. "There is a hospital bed there for them." The governor called out Houston as an example. Today, our city has 65 new cases of the virus that required hospitalization, but we also had 183 more hospital beds become available.

Across the around 15,000 hospital beds, 1,675 ICU beds, and nearly 6,000 ventilators available for COVID-19 patients, said Dr. John Zerwas, Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Texas. Most counties are reporting that less than 10 percent of hospitals beds are taken up by COVID patients. A notable exception is Galveston County, which has 12 percent of its hospital beds taken up by COVID-19 patients.

Zerwas also walked through the surge capacity of different regions of the state. Overall, Texas, is at a Level 5, meaning hospitals currently can maintain the current number of COVID-19 cases.

Still, "COVID-19 still exists in Texas," Abbott said. Today, there are 2,622 new cases of COVID-19 in Texas.

However, he said the reasons before the statistics are more important than the statistics. He called out several small counties that had data errors or aggregate batches of reporting on June 10, when the state reported 2,504 new cases. He did not talk about the impact of re-opening the state has had on the case count. On May 1, the first day of Abbott's Phase 1 plan, the state reported 29,229 cases. Yesterday, the state reported 89,108 total cases.

A large number of people in Texas who are testing positive are under the age of 30. While we don't know exactly where all these cases are coming from, the governor suggested that it could have been coming from Memorial Day celebrations and bar-goers. He praised the TABC, which issued a warning yesterday that anyone who violated the occupancy orders would temporarily lose their liquor license.

Although we are seeing an increase in cases, we are seeing the increase at a manageable level, said John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. But, he warned that the vast majority of Texans did not get COVID-19 in this first wave, and therefore did not gain immunity. In order to keep businesses open, he encouraged people to maintain social distancing measures and healthy practices.

Abbott also encouraged Texans to continue to wear masks, wash hands, and "maintain safe distancing practices." If you do not need to go out, then you should stay home, the governor said. "The more that Texans protect their own health, the safer our state will be."

Updated 4:02 p.m. June 15

The city is reporting 376 new cases of COVID-19—this total includes yesterday and today—according to the Houston Health Department. Houston's total count is now 10,085. Additionally, there have been seven more deaths; the death toll of COVID-19 in Houston is now 160.

On May 1, the first day of Gov. Greg Abbott's Phase 1 reopening, Houston reported 3,720 total cases in the city and 60 total deaths. Since that reopening, our city's case count has almost tripled, and our death toll has increased by 100 people.

Mayor Sylvester Turner has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time. He got retested last Saturday after attending the June 2 protest for George Floyd as well as the funeral and public viewing for Floyd last week.

Updated 5:21 p.m. June 12

There are 150 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, according to the Houston Health Department, bringing the city's total to 9,534. There have been a total of 149 deaths in the city.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus today, which included advising event organizers to strongly encourage attendees to wear face coverings. Read more here.

Updated 3:27 p.m. June 12

Harris County has launched a new COVID-19 Threat Level System, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced yesterday in a joint press conference with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. There are four threat levels, and currently Harris County is at Level 2.

Level 1

Stay Home
There are severe and uncontrolled levels of COVID-19 in Harris County.

Level 2

Minimize All Contacts
There is a significant and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in Harris County.

Level 3

Stay Vigilant
There is a moderate, but controlled level of COVID-19 in Harris County.

Level 4

Resume Normal Activities
There is only a minimal and controlled level of COVID-19 in Harris County.

This new system presents clear data-based info to help residents understand the current danger of the virus in the county, Hidalgo said. It's a longterm solution for residents, and "this eliminates the system of lurching from one order to the next."

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Harris County was the highest it's ever been this week, Hidalgo said. Hospitalization rates have been increasing a statistically significant rate since Phase 1 reopening began across Texas on May 1. "We need to focus on the future right now, and we need to take control of this."

"I want the reopening to be successful, she said. "I want the economy to be resilient. But I am growing increasingly concerned that we may be approaching the precipice of a disaster."

The number of cases have been increasing over the past two weeks. Yesterday, there were 102 new cases of COVID-19 in Harris County outside of Houston and 210 new cases within Houston. In total, the county has reported 15,552 cases total. The county is prepared to open the temporary hospital at NRG, but, Hidalgo said, all costs associated with that hospital will be paid for by FEMA or CARES Act funding.

Both Hidalgo and Turner stressed the importance of people continuing to practice social distancing. All of the things we did to flatten the curve back in April are the things we need to do now, the mayor said. He urged people to be mindful, to wear masks, and to protect themselves and others. "This is just a reminder that the virus is still here," he said. "And if we want a decent fall, so to speak, a lot will be determined by what we do now and through the course of the summer."

"We have to accept that life as usual probably won't be happening anytime soon," Hidalgo said.

Updated 10:15 a.m. June 11

More than 320,000 people in Harris County have filed for unemployment and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely be felt for a long time to come, particularly for families in the lower income brackets, the Houston and Harris County COVID-19 recovery czars noted as they announced the formation of a Housing Stability Task Force on Thursday morning. State Rep. Armando Walle, Harris County's Recovery Czar, and Marvin Odum, the City of Houston's COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar, are calling for a moratorium on evictions due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Walle pointed out that there was already a lack of affordable housing in the Houston area before

"The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is still forming and it disproportionately effects low-income families," Odum said. "The creation of this task force is the first step in developing a cohesive, coordinated initiative, essential to developing our longterm stability."

Last week Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner asked the Justices of the Peace not to evict anyone until July 25, which would mean no one would actually be required to leave their homes for not paying rent until August 24. The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that evictions can proceed, so the JPs are proceeding with evictions on their docket but the evictions currently being dealt with are concerning those who were behind on their rent from the first months of the year before the pandemic hit, Judge Jeremy Brown said during the press conference.

Updated 5:25 p.m. June 10

There are now 9,174 cases of COVID-19 in Houston, with 2,285 recovered cases. There have been 146 deaths. In total, Harris County, including Houston, is reporting 15,552 cases of the virus.

Updated 5:30 p.m. June 9

The Houston Health Department is reporting 163 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 9,008. There are no new deaths. Harris County, including Houston, has reported 15,238 total cases of the virus, with 5,830 recoveries and 262 deaths.

Updated 1:30 p.m. June 9

Harris County's new COVID-19 cases, per day:

June 5: 129
June 6: 169
June 7: 22
June 8: 7

Updated 5:15 p.m. June 4

The Houston Health Department reported 180 more cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the new total to 8,231. There are two more deaths, now totaling 136.

Updated 4:59 p.m. June 3

In a press release this afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Phase 3 re-openings. Effective immediately,

All businesses currently operating at 25-percent capacity can expand their occupancy to 50 percent, with some exceptions.
Bars and similar establishments can increase their capacity to 50 percent, if patrons are seated.
Amusement parks and carnivals in counties with less than 1,000 confirmed positive cases can open at 50-percent capacity—So if you were gunning to go to Hurricane Harbor Splashtown, you still can't go.
Restaurants can expand their maximum table size to 10 people.

Effective June 12, restaurants can expand to 75-percent occupancy. On June 19, amusement parks in counties with more than 1,000 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 can open at 50-percent capacity—Now you can go to Hurricane Harbor.

There will also be special provisions for outdoor events, like Independence Day celebrations. Learn more here.

The Houston Health Department is reporting 145 new cases of COVID-19. The citywide total case count is now 8,051. Harris County's total is now 13,027. In comparison, Dallas County (Dallas) has 10,719 cases, Tarrant County (Fort Worth) has 5,623, Travis County (Austin) has 3,433, and Bexar County (San Antonio) has 2,882.

Houston is also reporting three new deaths; the city's total death count due to COVID-19 is 134. Harris County's total death count is 236. Although Harris County leads Texas in the number of COVID-19 cases, it does not lead in the number of deaths; Dallas County has more with 245 deaths.

Updated 4:21 p.m. June 2

There are 163 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, bringing our city's total to 7,906, according to the Houston Health Department. Across the county, there have been 13,027 confirmed cases, with 5,078 recoveries, according Harris County Public Health.

Updated 3:20 p.m. June 1

There are 337 new cases of COVID-19 being reported today in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. This is a two-day count from this past weekend.There have been 7,743 total cases of the virus in the city. There have now been 131 total deaths.

"With so much happening, let me remind everyone that the virus is still present," Turner said in regard to protests over George Floyd's death last week in Minneapolis. He encouraged anyone who had been in large crowds or participated in protests to get tested.

There is a trend of some people appearing to be afraid to go to the hospital when they need to go, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department said. "Hospitals are safe places," he said. If you have a critical illness, like having a heart attack, and need to go to the emergency department, you should go without fear of contracting COVID-19.

Fire Chief Samuel Peña also encouraged people to call 911 if they need it. "Rapid assessment and rapid transport is going to save lives," he said.

Updated 5:17 p.m. May 28

There are 106 more cases of COVID-19 in Houston, the Houston Health Department reported today, bringing the city's total to 7,116. There are no additional deaths.

Updated 4:22 p.m. May 27

There are 107 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, according to the Houston Health department, and one additional death. In total, Houston has had 7,010 cases of the virus and 127 deaths. The total case count in Texas is 57,921 as of 4 p.m. this afternoon, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Harris County has more cases than any other county in the state, accounting for 19.5 percent of Texas's total cases. If you combine Harris County with its surrounding counties, then that number jumps up to 27.2 percent.

Updated 4:21 p.m. May 26

After the holiday weekend, Houston has 261 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the city's total to 6,901, Mayor Sylvester Turner reported on Twitter this afternoon. There are no additional deaths.

The City of Houston received more than 250 complaints of people not social distancing this weekend, after videos of packed bars and clubs went viral on social media. As a result, fire marshals have been directed enforce the governor's 25-percent occupancy limits. Fire Chief Samuel Peña tweeted yesterday that enforcement of the oder has been focused on informing businesses on current restrictions and compliance with the state's emergency health declaration.

Turner expressed his frustrations with the large crowds in a press conference on Saturday, stating that the rules apply to everyone. "But the reality is that there are too many people who are coming together, going to some of our clubs, to our bars, swimming pool parties," the mayor said. "No social distancing. No masks. And then after this Memorial Weekend is over, they are going to be on somebody's job, in close proximity to somebody else."

Gov. Greg Abbott announced more services and businesses that can reopen during Phase 2 today, including water parks, mall food courts, drivers education, and adult recreational sports. Click here to learn more.

Updated 12:22 p.m. May 22

There have now been 6,342 cases of COVID-19 in Houston, according to Mayor Sylvester Turner this morning.

This morning's press conference thanked Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes for feeding first responders, hospital workers and other essential employees. The organization has raised more than $3 million for COVID-19, and has donated thousands of meals to frontline workers.

"We are a very resilient city," says Houston Police Assistant Chief Henry Gaw. "We all come together to help each other out."

Turner criticized any prejudice or abuse directed at the Asian American community because of COVID-19, which originated in China. "This COVID-19 is a virus. Period, "the mayor said. "It has no ethnicity on it."

Keith Wade, special advisor to several Houston mayors, including Mayor Turner, has died of the novel coronavirus. When it came to issues of fairness and equality, Turner said, "Keith was out there."

"We cut our teeth together in politics on the campus of University of Houston," Turner said of his longtime friend. "I would not be standing where I am without his support in my 2015 campaign."

"Keith was the man."

Updated 3:15 p.m. May 21

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the City Health Department is reporting 141 new cases of COVID-19, and four additional deaths, bringing the total of those confirmed to have the disease to more than 6,000 and the number of deaths to nearly 200. "The pandemic has not ended." Turner said. "This is the time we need to double down to prevent the virus from spreading."

Turner noted that he has been standing before the public reciting these numbers for weeks now, a process that can make the numbers seem more clinical than personal. So Turner opted to spotlight the loss of Tony Pierce, a member of the Houston Fire Department that died from the virus recently. He asked Tony's wife and daughter to come to City Hall on Thursday to speak about what they have lost in losing Tony. "COVID-19 has impacted the life of my daughter and I deeply. Who knew that when I took Tony to the ER that day that it would be the last time I would ever speak with him face to face," Gayle Pierce, his wife, stated. She recounted how he fought for his life for 25 days, sedated. "COVID-19 is real, regardless of what we hear on the television," she said. "It makes me mad every time I go to the store and see dozens and dozens of people unmasked ... I understand that we need to support our businesses, that we need to work, but why can't you do that while wearing a mask to protect yourself and others?" Her husband will not be there to walk their daughter down the aisle, she said, he will never meet his grandchildren. "Is this what you want for yourself" she asked. "Stop being macho, stop being cute. Please put the mask on. I beg you. I don't want anyone else to have to go through this struggle."

The mayor and COVID-19 Recovery Czar Marvin Odum also asked that Houstonians maintain social distancing and take hygiene precautions through this Memorial Day Weekend calling on Houstonians "not to let our defenses down" as we pay tribute to servicemen and servicewomen this weekend. Odum asked that anyone who is feeling sick or who is living in a residence where someone else is showing signs of illness to please stay home. He also warned that some people are asymptomatic and thus won't be showing any signs of the disease but can be responsible for spreading it, so everyone should continue the precautions we've all been taking since the virus was first confirmed to be in the area.

Turner also announced that this weekend usually marks the opening of the city swimming pools and splash-pads but those openings will be held off until it becomes more clear how these places can be reopened safely. The city parks will be open this weekend, but there will be park monitors in place to keep an eye on things and to encourage social distancing. However, on June 1 all three of the city golf courses, the tennis courts, and disc golf courses will be allowed to open, with restrictions in place.

This comes as Gov. Greg Abbott has just announced that he is allowing all air travel restrictions previously put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to lapse, while also announcing that he has directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to expand COVID-19 testing to all patients, residents, and staff at the 23 state-operated inpatient psychiatric hospitals and living centers throughout Texas.

Updated 12:47 p.m. May 21

There have been 10,095 cases of COVID-19 in Harris County, and more than 200 deaths, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced this afternoon.

The county released two sets of guidelines today to ensure the safety of essential workers in public-facing businesses and in manufacturing/construction. "It's not enough to call essential workers our heroes," Hidalgo said. "We have to create an environment where they are safe."

The intent is to provide to take the guesswork out of safety decisions for employers, the judge said. Examples of guidelines would be to wear face coverings and following sanitization guidelines from the CDC. Manufacturing/construction companies should stagger start times for workers and provide 15-minute rest breaks every 4 hours so workers can wash their hands. Businesses interacting with the public should allow breaks every hour for employees to wash their hands.

Hidalgo said today's extension of the county's stay-home order to June 10 was made so the public knows where Harris County stands in relation to the pandemic. We're no safer than where we were in March, the judge said. The virus is still out there, so people must still be vigilant. "I don't want the community to get the impression that we're done."

She said she will sign the order later today and release it on ReadyHarris.org.

Updated 10:10 p.m. May 21

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is expected to extend the county's stay-home orders to June 10 today, according to several reports. Her previous order extension expired yesterday. On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Phase 2 plans to reopen more of Texas, including summer camps, tattoo parlors, and sports. Hidalgo's new order will not be a mandate and will conform to the governor's Phase 2 plans.

Updated 3:15 p.m. May 20

There are 146 new cases of COVID-19 today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today, bringing the city's total to 6,047. There are two more deaths, totaling 119. Of those 119 deaths, 27 were associated with nursing homes. "We are very much concerned with what's taking place in our nursing homes," the mayor said.

A new drive-thru testing sits will open tomorrow at the Walgreen's at 8301 Broadway St. This site will have 15-minute tests.

Aramco has donated $600,000 to the city to help with COVID-19 testing and $500,000 to Houston Methodist for COVID-19 research.

Turner once again emphasized the necessity of covering your mouth and nose to prevent to spread of COVID-19 whether you are wearing a mask or face covering. "We wear them to protect people from ourselves," he said. Turner noted that while people were heeding these warnings in March and April as Houston was flighting to flatten the curve of the infection rate, people have begun to slack off. "It's on and off," Turner said. "People are not wearing them as much, which is unfortunate." What we needed to do to flatten the curve are the same things we should be doing now, Turner said.

Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, agreed. If you want to do your part, he said, "then you need to be wearing a mask."

Updated 3:30 p.m. May 19

The Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $30 million COVID-19 relief fund today. The fund was tentatively approved three weeks ago, but today's vote doubled the amount of money going in, multiple sources reported.

The fund will give $1,200 to households of up to four people and $1,500 to households of five or more families to spend as needed, whether that's on rent, food, medical care, utilities, or other necessities. Expected to help 20,000 to 25,000 low-income, struggling families, the fund is meant to support those who are ineligible for federal aid or the CARES Act, or who need more assistance beyond the federal stimulus checks, according to multiple sources.

In a tweet this afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said money from this fund will begin to be distributed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation as soon as next week.

Houston is reporting 106 new cases of COVI-19, bringing the total to 5,901 cases. There are two more deaths being reported, bringing the Bayou City's total death count to 117.

Updated 3:22 p.m. May 18

"Today Texas is aggressively moving forward in reopening businesses in phase two of their plan," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "Since March Houston has taken steps and made sacrifices ... our efforts have saved lives and prevented our healthcare system from being overwhelmed." He reminded Houstonians, however, that the virus is not gone yet, and as of today the case count is 5,795, while 115 in Houston have died from the disease.

Turner also pointed out that wearing masks should not be a political statement, noting that Gov. Greg Abbott just advised wearing them in his press briefing earlier this afternoon and that the Republican mayor pro tem, David Martin, is also wearing a mask. "The reality is that this virus has no respect for persons whether you are a Republican or a Democrat," he said. "If anyone questions that just continue to get in large groups with no face mask. This virus is not going to skip over you."

He also noted that wearing face masks and practicing good hygiene will be crucial in keeping people safe and preventing further spread of the disease. The mayor also announced that the goal is to open 24 new testing sites across the city offering free testing by the end of this month.

Dr. David Persse, head of the City Health Department, reported that there is now a complication doctors are seeing in children who have COVID-19: multi-organ inflammatory syndrome. If a child becomes ill with a fever and other unexplained symptoms, Persse advises contacting your pediatrician to ensure that your child isn't experiencing a complication from COVID-19 (the disease tends to not show up via symptoms in children.) Persse noted that this complication is very rare, and that no patients have been identified with it in Houston so far, but it's something for parents to watch out for.

Turner also commented on the governor's just announced plans to continue reopening the state. "From the vantage point of the City of Houston we're going to do everything we can to make this work," Turner said, stating that he would probably choose a different pace than what the governor has chosen, because now the bars and music venues and summer camps are going to be opening up. He also noted the claims that virus positive testing ratio has gone down, but he explained that this is likely more because Houston started testing more and allowing anyone, whether they had symptoms or not, to be tested. So people shouldn't get overly confident about the situation based on the percentages being reported right now. "Have we flattened the curve? Yes. Have the things we have done made a difference? Yes. Is the virus gone? No. Do we have a vaccine? No," Turner explained succinctly.

Persse echoed Turner, explaining that while the information out there is confusing, the main takeaway is that people need to continue to be vigilant, because the virus is still present in the community. When asked if it was safe to go to a gym again, Persse stated that he wouldn't be going to one anytime soon, because he still doesn't feel comfortable.

"I hope things will go well and that a month from now we won't look back and start second-guessing anyone," Turner said. "What I will say to you now is that the wearing of these face coverings, the social distancing, the personal hygiene, are as important today as they have been since this started."

Updated 2:10 p.m. May 18

COVID-19 is still in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference this afternoon. "Our goal is to find ways to coexist with COVID-19 as safely as possible."

Texas is going to begin Phase 2 of reopening today, Abbott announced. For a full list of Phase 2 re-openings, click here.

Businesses than can reopen today:

Childcare services can reopen today, including YMCA programs
Personal service businesses
Office building businesses at 25 percent capacity

Businesses that can reopen this Friday, May 22

Restaurants at 50 percent capacity
Bars, breweries, wine rooms at 25 percent capacity
A wide range of other businesses, from drive-in concerts to bowling alleys, at 25 percent capacity

Businesses that can reopen on Sunday, May 31

Youth sports camps, including Little League
All summer camps, including daytime and overnight camps
Pro sports, including golf, football, baseball, basketball

School districts can reopen for summer school as soon as June 1.

Theme parks, such as Six Flags, cannot yet reopen.

In the three weeks since the governor announced Phase 1 of reopening Texas, he said the state is now distributing around 1 million face masks per day and conducting an average of 25,000 tests per day.

Most COVID-19 hotspots cases have been in nursing homes, jails, and meat-packing plants, Abbott said. He has deployed surge teams to go into those hotspots to sanitize the areas and test people. More than 35,000 people have been tested through this program, the governor said.

In order to begin Phase 2, the state must follow two main metrics: positivity rate and hospitalizations and hospital capacity. Positivity rate means that of the people who have been tested, the percentage of people testing positive. "The past month has seen a downward trajectory of the positivity rate," Abbott said. It is currently at 5 percent.

Hospitalizations and hospital capacity is another metric. Abbott said the state has plenty of ventilators and open beds.

"Texans have always faced diversity," Abbott said, "and Texans have always prevailed."

Updated 4:30 p.m. May 15

The city is reporting 164 new cases of COVID-19, bringing Houston's total to 5,350. There are six new deaths, totaling 114.

Due to inclement weather, all city testing sites will be closed Saturday, May 16. There is a flash flood watch for the area from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Yesterday, the city hosted two virtual job fairs to recruit 300 temporary new positions in the fight against COVID-19. The positions include community coordinators, call center personnel, and contact tracers. According to the Houston Health Department, 2,683 people participated.

Updated 3:10 p.m. May 14

The Houston Health Department reported 147 new cases of COVID-19 today. The city's total case count is now 5,177. Additionally, there have been 109 deaths, with five more being added to the count today.

This morning, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced on Twitter that he had tested negative for COVID-19. Turner, along with members of his staff, got tested on Tuesday after City Councilwoman Letitia Plummer announced Monday that she has tested positive for the virus.

"Thanks @KelseySeybold Main Campus nurses and staff for assisting us," Turner wrote on social media after being tested. "#COVIDー19 is still prevalent and getting testing is more important than ever."

The Texas Education Agency has recommended an adjusted calendar for the 2020-21 academic school year to make up for the closures of this year and to include provisions of future flare-ups of COVID-19. "Students could return nearly a full year behind what normally occurs," the TEA wrote in an online presentation.

The adjusted calendar proposes an "intersessional" schedule, which include earlier starting dates, later ending dates, and longer school breaks to provide flexibility. There would be six weeks of break built into the schedule that could be used for bad weather make-up days; breaks for COVID-19 outbreaks; and remediation, acceleration, or enrichment, according to the presentation. Additionally, the TEA recommends built-in remote learning times and staggered in-person learning.

The upcoming school year "is likely to include short-term disruptions to instruction and high-student absenteeism, with some students consistently physical absent," the TEA wrote. "Building a calendar that plans for and anticipates these scenarios help minimize disruptions — short term disruptions in instruction are likely and need to be planned into the calendar."

Download the TEA powerpoint here.

Updated 3:10 p.m. May 13

There are 117 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said today. In total, there have been 5,030 cases in the city. There have been 104 deaths—24 have been associated with nursing homes.

The entire $15 million set aside for the city's new rental assistance program, which opened this morning for renters, was exhausted in 90 minutes. Beginning at 10 a.m., more than 11,000 renters applied and met the requirements. Last week, more than 6,000 landlords applied in a different section of the program.

The city is hosting job fairs for 300 temporary new positions in the fight against COVID-19. The positions include community coordinators, call center personnel, and contact tracers. The fairs will take place on Thursday, May 14, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.

There is expected flooding this weekend, so Turner encouraged people who want to get tested to go before Saturday afternoon, as inclement weather might shut down the different testing sites.

Updated 2:30 p.m. May 13

There 88 new cases of COVID-19 in Harris County outside of Houston, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. In total, there have been 8,416 cases of the virus in the county, including Houston, and 183 deaths. "These aren't just numbers," she said.

Hidalgo welcomed the first round of county contact tracers to training today. By the end of this week, the county will have on-boarded and trained 200 tracers and their supervisors, Hidalgo said. There should be 300 by the end of next week. "That should be right on time for when we start to see symptoms and hospitalizations of folks who've been out and about since the governor's reopening started."

The training is conducted by the epidemiology department of Harris County Public Health. Contact tracers are trained on topics like tracing and HIPAA. Tracers are of all ages, and speak many languages, including Vietnamese. "We've got folks from all walks of life," Hidalgo said. "They are us."

In order for the public to discern real contact tracers from fraud, Hidalgo said that Harris County employees will never ask for information like social security numbers, PINs, bank accounts, custody issues, or immigration status. They will never ask for any type of payment, she said.

Contact tracers will be asking people who they've been around, where they've been, and when, said Dr. Umair Shah, the executive director of Harris County Public Health. Some examples of questions that could be asked include: "When did your symptoms start?" "Did you isolate at home in your own room?" "Have you traveled anywhere?" "When did you travel?" "Are there coworkers you've been around?"

These questions are meant to track exposure and viral spread. "It really starts to give us a picture of this overall puzzle of what's happening in that individual's life," Shah said.

Contact tracing is not a new technique, he said, it's been around for years, used for diseases like cholera and tuberculosis. This time around is different because there is no proven treatment for COVID-19 yet. The ultimate goal for COVID-19 tracing, Shah said, is to get people tested.

"We've been moving heaven and earth to do everything possible to contain the spread of this in light of the state's reopening, which I still believe is a bit too fast," Hidalgo said. She encouraged people to continue social distancing and working from home so the contact tracers can keep up with the virus's spread.

Updated 5:05 p.m. May 12

In a release from Austin this afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott extended the state disaster declaration, which will allow Texas to continue to receive resources to fight COVID-19. Abbott first made the declaration on March 13 for 30 days, and then renewed it for another 30 days on April 12.

Updated 1 p.m. May 12

Beginning in July, around 3,000 City of Houston employees may be furloughed for up 10 days as part of the city's proposed budget cuts, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today.

COVID-19 has hit the city hard, and any part of our economy that wasn't directly impacted by the epidemic has likely felt the downturn in the oil industry. With so much of the economy shut down in the face of the pandemic for the past two months, Houston is now expecting a $107 million sales tax loss between this fiscal year and the next, which begins on July 1. This means the city will start the new fiscal year with a $169 million revenue deficit, Turner said, as he explained his proposed solutions to help the city fill in that enormous gap in funds. The furloughs, if approved, will save the city $7 million, according to Turner.

He told the Houston City Council he believes the city should prepare to tap the city's budget stabilization fund (the rainy day fund). The city had just replenished the rainy day fund, previously cleaned out due to Hurricane Harvey, earlier this year. But now Turner is proposing that the city empty out the $20 million fund once again. With these measures in place, Turner's budget proposal would see the city spending $2.53 billion this fiscal year. This only a one percent decrease from spending for the current fiscal year, but would still see the city's general balance fund dipping below the amounts required by city ordinance. However, Turner explained that the ordinance allows city officials to allow the general funds to get below the usual required amounts “in the event of economic instability beyond the City’s control.”

While shocking, the proposal shouldn't come as a surprise. Turner has been hinting about potential furloughs for several weeks now, and has warned Houstonians about slashed budgets. On April 24, he said that the five police cadet classes, among other programs, would be cancelled due to lack in funding, and city workers would be potentially furloughed.

Houston has received $404 million in COVID-19-related stimulus money but officials are waiting for Congress to clarify whether the funds can be used for less specific purposes, like, for example, closing the enormous gaps opening up in the city budget. Turner's proposed budget is subject to City Council approval.

Updated 4:45 p.m. May 11

Houston's COVID-19 death count has hit triple digits—there have been 100 deaths in the city, reported ReadyHarris at 4 p.m. today. There have been 4,760 cases of COVID-19 in Houston since the pandemic started, with 3,542 currently active cases.

City Councilwoman Letitia Plummer announced today that she has tested positive for COVID-19. Representing At-Large Position 4, Plummer sent a letter to Mayor Turner on Twitter, explaining her diagnosis and that she will not be attending city council meetings until she tests negative.

Also today, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered for all residents and staff in nursing homes to be tested for COVID-19. Testing will be conducted by Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. "This important collaboration among HHSC, TDEM, and DSHS will ensure that any potential clusters of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes are quickly detected and contained," Abbott said in a release.

Late last week it was announced that jury service has been suspended through June 30. If you've received a summons for a date on or before June 30, you don't have to show up, nor do you have to reschedule. Learn more here.

Updated 3:15 p.m. May 7

About 2,700 landlords have already applied for the city's rental assistance program, which opened this morning at 10 a.m. Tenants can begin applying on May 13.

There are 88 new cases of COVID-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. Houston's total case count is now 4,227. There are 3 deaths, bringing the total to 85.

Tina Knowles-Lawson joined the press conference to talk about her #IDIDMYPART campaign that she launched with her daughter Beyoncé. Knowles-Lawson said that although she and her daughter don't live in Houston anymore, "It's our city, too."

Their campaign, aimed at increasing mobile coronavirus testing among Houston’s African American community, will donate 1,000 testing kits and other PPE to mobile testing sites this weekend. "If we can play some part in keeping those numbers down," Knowles-Lawson said, "that would make me really happy."

Recovery Czar Marvin Odum announced that the city is planning to open 24 more testing sites by the end of the month. The sites will be located in high-risk neighborhoods "where access intersects with equity."

Currently, the city has about 125 people who are working as contact tracers, who track the spread of the virus and reach out to people who might have been exposed to get tested. Odum announced the city will be adding 300 more contact tracers.

Dr. David Persse, head of Houston Health Department, praised the increase of contact tracers. "We've talked about the public health army we need to build," he said. Although, he did say people had an individual responsibility to go get tested or self-isolate if they are contacted by a contract tracer. That's the only way this is going to work, he said.

Earlier today, Gov. Greg Abbott amended his executive order to remove any punitive repercussions for people who violate stay-home ordinances, after a woman in Dallas was jailed for opening her salon. Mayor Turner criticized the move, saying now the governor had a statement, not an order. "Once you take the enforcement mechanism out of the order," Turner said, "you really don't have an order anymore."

Updated 3:25 p.m. May 6

Mayor Sylvester Turner started this afternoon's press conference updating the numbers. There are 77 new cases of COVID-19, and Houston now has 4,139 confirmed cases in the city. So far there have been 82 deaths. "Coronavirus is not yesterday's news yet," Turner said.

Turner went on to announce plans for a city-wide 2020 high school graduation celebration for June 5. On that evening seniors and faculty will be allowed to go to their campuses for an outdoor, socially distanced ceremony that will be conducted simultaneously across the city in honor of more than 25,000 graduates. Family and friends will be able to watch the ceremony virtually.

Updated 10:50 a.m. May 6

Houston City Council passed a $15 million rental assistance program this morning. Local nonprofit Baker Ripley would distribute the money, which comes from the 2020 CARES Act fund, to low-to-moderate income individuals who haven't been able to pay rent because of the coronavirus crisis. Qualifying individuals will receive up to $1,056 in rental assistance a month. Some of the qualifications for tenants include: not have been able to pay their April and/or May 2020 rent, be current on rent payments before this time period, and be a Houston resident. This program is anticipated to help 6,818 households. Both tenants and landlords can apply for assistance. Read the ordinance here.

Updated 4:50 p.m. May 5

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo encouraged people to continue social distancing practices this afternoon. She also reiterated that in order to not have a resurgence of cases, reopening businesses and the county must be slow.

As businesses begin to reopen, she strongly encouraged people to reconsider whether or not they should at this time. "Those who can open, shouldn't necessarily reopen."

Hidalgo brushed aside questions about whether or not the county is doing too much. “Politics, polling, protests have no space in my mind,” she said. "Folks who want their 15 minutes in the spotlight—I'm not going to give it to them."

She also repeated that Harris County is not a police state. Law enforcement is not actively seeking out violators of her order. They only respond to reports submitted by residents—so far, the county has only had 480 submitted reports.

Updated 2:50 p.m. May 5

As of today, 427,210 Texans have been tested for COVID-19, with 33,369 people testing positive, Gov. Greg Abbott announced this afternoon. Currently, there are 15,672 active cases of the virus in the state, and there have been 906 deaths.

Abbott said that testing in the state will continue to ramp up. From March 1 to April 20, around 190,000 Texans were tested for COVID-19. Since then, more than 220,000 people in the state have been tested, and "that is demonstrative of the rate of increase that we'll have going forward."

The governor emphasized that the vast majority of people who were tested, tested negative. The positive test rate is going down, he said. He also emphasized hospitalization rates have been remaining steady or declining. "Texas is fully capable of being able to manage the healthcare needs of all of the people who contract COVID-19," Abbott said.

He said these numbers are the results of Texans following social distancing guidelines, claiming individual people have the ability to ensure that they themselves do not contract the virus. Basically, because of this, Abbott says nonessential businesses can open while the spread continues to slow. "It's up to Texans whether or not we remain open, or open up even more."

Abbott clarified some points from his April 27 order:

Funerals, memorials, burials, and weddings will all be treated the same as church services. So, they can occur so long as they follow guidelines, such as six feet between household parties and alternating rows. Wedding receptions must comply to the same standards as weddings.

Regulations for beaches, lakes, rivers, and river rafting are the same as parks. There should be six feet of separation between groups, and groups cannot exceed five people or the number of people in the family unit.

Outdoor seating at restaurants has the same distancing requirements as indoor seating.

Cosmetology, hair, and tanning salons and barbershops can open this Friday, May 8, under these guidelines: One customer per stylist. People can only wait inside if six-feet distancing can be maintained. It was strongly recommended that customers and employees wear face masks.

On May 18, gyms can open at 25 percent capacity within the gym. Showers and locker rooms must remain closed at this time. Equipment must be disinfected after each use, and customers must wear gloves and maintain six-feet distancing between other people.

Nonessential manufacturers can reopen on May 18 as well, with a 25 percent occupancy, a staggered workforce, and social distancing practices between employees.

Office building businesses can reopen on May 18 under certain circumstances. They can open up to the greater of five employees or 25 percent of workforce, provided they can maintain social distancing.

Hybrid ceremonies and vehicle ceremonies are approved for graduations, and outdoor ceremonies if there is appropriate distancing between people and between family groups.

"We have managed to keep COVID-19 at bay, but the war is not over and the battle is still going on," said Dr. John Hellerstedt, the head of state health services.

In Houston, there are now 4,062 total cases of COVID-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner said. There have been 79 deaths, 19 of which have come from nursing homes.

As businesses begin opening up, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, encouraged people to look inside establishments before entering. If it doesn't look safe, don't go in. You don't have to be elderly or have chronic health conditions to be concerned or be careful, he said.

Turner said he was concerned with the number of people at beaches this weekend and the number of people not wearing face masks. "Opening up our city and opening up our state does not mean things are normal," Turner said.

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman appeared at the afternoon's press conference and encouraged people to continue to donate to the Houston Food Bank. He and his fiance have raised more than $1.7 million through their Feed Hou campaign. Text "Feed Hou" to 41444 to donate money.

Tomorrow, the city will vote on a $15 million rental assistance program. "I am hopeful that it will pass tomorrow," Turner said. The program could help between 7,000 and 13,000 Houstonians. Baker Ripley and the Houston Apartment Association have been working with the city on this program. Baker Ripley will distribute funds. Meanwhile, Houston Apartment Association have pledged no evictions during this time. Legally, there can be no eviction proceedings in Texas through May 18.

The city will also vote tomorrow to add $8 million of hud funds for rental assistance. The point to all of this is to make sure families don't become homeless, Turner said. "That's the goal—to provide some sense of security."

Updated 11:15 a.m. May 1

Between Harris County and Houston, the entire county has crossed into more than 6,300 cases of COVID-19, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. Yesterday, Texas saw the worst increase in number of deaths in three weeks with 50 deaths reported. While one day doesn't mark a trend, Hidalgo is wary of a resurgence, especially as Texas reopens today. "This virus doesn't respect dates on a calendar."

Hidalgo warned "Not so fast" to people who think today marks a return to normal. If you are not essential, as defined by Hidalgo's or Gov. Greg Abbott's orders, and your business was not included in Abbott's Monday order, then your business should be closed. The judge said she would re-release her order to conform with the governor's order later today.

Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, CEO of the Harris Health System, warned people to be mindful of the continued danger of the virus and to maintain healthy habits and social distancing. "Please do not let your success slip away," he said. We still have a long way to go before the pandemic will be over, said Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of the Harris County Public Health Department. "This is the first quarter of a football game."

Officials at the press conference warned that we wouldn't see a potential new spike in cases because of the state reopening for another two weeks. Remember, COVID-19 has an incubation period of 2–14 days.

Both Porsa and Shah encouraged public support of contact tracing. Keep track of who you are around, Shah said, so if you get sick, the health department will have an easier time figuring out who might have infected you and who you might have infected. He did say with contact tracing that all information shared with the health department would be confidential and would not be shared.

Dr. Paul Klotman, President of Baylor College of Medicine, said there might be antiviral treatments for COVID-19 on the horizon. In the meantime, he also encouraged people to get care if they need it and to seek out medical institutions for facts and not Facebook.

Updated 3:15 p.m. Apr 30

There are 98 new cases of COVID-19 being reported today, totaling 3,613 cases in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. There are four new deaths, bringing 56. Of the total cases, 132 are coming from the Harris County Jail.

The city's stay home order will be modified to fit Gov. Greg Abbott's order to reopen tomorrow, Turner said. All city-permitted and sponsored events will continue to be cancelled or rescheduled through May. City employees will continue to work from home, and the Houston Public Library will remain closed during that time as well.

"I do not want people to think they can immediately stop social distancing," Turner said. Houston's numbers are relatively low, but the virus is still here. "You could say that the virus is like a fire," Turner said. The city's attempts to flatten the curve appear to be working, but "like a fire, you can extinguish the flames, but often it continues to smolder."

After the state begins to reopen tomorrow, Turner said it's more important than ever to wear face masks. The city has already 120,000 face coverings since this past weekend, and the mayor predicts they will distribute another 50,000–70,000 masks by Monday. "Individual behavior is the key to reopening," said Marvin Odum, the city's COVID-19 Recovery Czar. People should continue to practice good hygiene and safety measures.

Odum said testing is key, and there will be more testing mobile sites and facilities opening up in the next week. Contact tracing is also key, and Houston will work closely with the county and the state to do so. Testing identifies cases, and contact tracing will contain the spread, he said.

For businesses looking to reopen, Odum suggested business owners to follow the Greater Houston Partnership's list of 15 safe practices principles. Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, also warned business owners of stagnant water in the pipes. He suggested to run water for several minutes before use. Just to be clear, restaurants, malls, retail stores, and movie theaters are the only businesses that are allowed to reopen, Turner said.

Updated 12:15 p.m. Apr 29

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the opening of a mobile test site at Worthing High School in Sunnyside, aimed at providing tests to the populations being found to be most impacted by COVID-19. This site will be operating by appointment, offering up to 150 tests a day, with those tests intended to community members who are more vulnerable to the disease.

He also announced that there are now 96 more cases of COVID-19 in Houston. "Yes, we are beginning to flatten the curve, but we aren't done yet," Turner said, cautioning the public to not take for granted that Houston is out of the woods with this epidemic yet.

The site will be running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until they have completed 150 tests a day, whichever comes first) through May 3, Turner explained. You can go to Txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400 to be screened and get an appointment.

U.S. Rep. Al Green thanked Turner for getting this site set up in Sunnyside, a part of his district that is a low-income, historically black neighborhood where the city has been seeing a large portion of the outbreak occur.

"I am honored that we would have members of this community accorded the opportunity to be tested," Green said. "This is really bigger than Sunnyside, because what happens in Sunnyside can effect what happens in the north, south, west and east sides. ... We are all in this together and we will all come out of this together. United we can. It's not, 'United we stand,' it's united we can."

Dr. David Persse also weighed in on the city's progress in dealing with this disease, reminding everyone that we have been seeing a decline in cases because we are social distancing, because we are staying home, and because we have been wearing masks when we do go out.

Turner noted that Houston was already under a revenue cap, and that the city will have to dip into the reserve fund, drawing on it to the point that it will likely dip below the required 7.5 percent reserve, pending Houston City Council approval, of course. "These are hard times," Turner said, pointing out that the city has lost revenue across the board from sales tax to parking fees. The Houston City Council will be working on the budget next month.

Updated 3:15 p.m. Apr 28

The city is opening another mobile testing site tomorrow at noon at Worthing High School in the Sunnyside area. There are 61 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, bringing our total to 3,419. There are four new deaths, Mayor Sylvester Turner reported, bringing our city's total to 50 deaths.

"We in Houston are really really fortunate that we started early," said Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, in regard to how Houston is doing in comparison to other large metropolitan areas like New York City and Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to begin reopening the state Friday. "That doesn't mean we can drop our guard," he said, urging the public to wash their hands, wear face masks, and social distancing.

While he is hopeful Houston won't see a spike when businesses begin to reopen, Turner urged Houstonians to be very cautious. Just because something has opened, that does not mean you have to go, he said. All city programs and events will be not be held through the end of May, and city employees will continue to work from home through the end of next month as well, Turner said. The Houston Public Library and the city's golf courses will also continue to be closed through May.

In regard to Gov. Abbott loosening restrictions on faith-based gatherings, such as church, Turner said he wouldn't tell people what to do, but, yet again, he encouraged cautiousness. "You can pray from wherever you are," he said.

This afternoon's press conference was held at Fonde Recreation Center, which the Salvation Army has turned into a homeless shelter as part of the city's initiative to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Houston's homeless populations. Fonde has a capacity of 150 people as an ancillary shelter. The recreation center is renown for its basketball courts that have been the training ground for many NBA players, such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.

The city's initiative has three prongs: prevention, emergency response, and recovery, Turner said, which includes providing information and PPE to area homeless and homeless shelters, ensuring social distancing at the shelters, and testing. The city also has a quarantine facility for homeless Houstonians who have nowhere else to go to quarantine.

Marc Eichenbaum, the special advisor to the mayor on Homeless Initiative, said the impact of COVID-19 on the city's homelessness is a tsunami that has yet to fall. The true impact, he said, will be felt not in the next few weeks but in the years to come.

Updated 10:15 a.m. Apr 28

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is unsure the county can contain the COVID-19 virus by Gov. Greg Abbott's May 1 (this Friday) timeline to start reopening businesses. She says she appreciates all that the governor has done, "But as the epicenter of COVID-19 in Texas, we in Harris County can't take our eye off the ball."

The county's timeline to reopen has to be expedited, she said, when presenting a new framework.

The approach begins with testing. Beginning this week, the county will be able to test 1,600 residents a day, with six testing locations opening by Thursday. A strike team also begins today—the team will go into nursing homes to tests residents there and evaluate practices.

"For us to be safe, it's imperative to keep the new cases per day below 100 new cases," Hidalgo said.

The second piece of the approach involves contact tracing. The county will recruit 300 contact tracers, with the ability to recruit more if necessary. This is about containment of the virus, Hidalgo said.

The final piece is treatment. "This one is tougher," she said, concerned the hospitals were not necessarily at the levels they need to be. The county is working on a backup shelter in case the virus comes back and overruns the hospitals.

"I know that both lives and livelihoods are important to the people of Harris County, and that's what this is about," Hidalgo said. She encouraged people to continue social distancing, wearing face coverings, and getting tested as the virus is still in the county. "This is a war that is very much still going on."

Updated 3:45 p.m. Apr 27

Mayor Sylvester Turner responded to Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order at his 3:30 p.m. press conference. "It is my hope that with the measures being put in place that the numbers will not spike. That is my hope," he said. "I understand the need to reopen. It has always been the intent that, based on the data, based on science, that we make decisions to best protect the people we serve." The governor has taken control of this matter out of local hands, Turner acknowledged, and so now the timeline for reopening is up to Abbott.

He also noted that we still don't have a vaccine and while the state's response has helped mitigate the spread it will be seen how the virus does as the economy is allowed to reopen. "I know the numbers are favorable, but every day almost we are adding to the numbers of those who are testing positively for COVID-19 and sadly we are adding four who have lost their lives to this disease," he said. "As steps are being taken to reopen I want to put forward a cautionary note that the virus is still prevalent, and we need to take precautions."

He went on to say that the city will focus on testing to keep an eye on what is happening with the coronavirus, especially for the more vulnerable low-income communities in the city. "For me this is personal," he said, his voice growing husky as he noted that he grew up in a community like the ones that are proving most vulnerable to the disease. "For decades these people have lived on the margins and they suffered through the Tax Day Flood and they suffered through Hurricane Harvey and now they are suffering through this virus."

Meanwhile there are currently 177 cases of coronavirus in 21 facilities across Houston, Dr. David Persse, head of the City Health Department, stated. He said this is a reminder that the virus is very stealthy and spreads easily so people need to take all possible precautions when interacting with others.

HPD Chief Art Acevedo also warned that businesses are allowed to require you to wear a mask, and you can be asked to leave any business if you don't have a mask on.

Updated 2:55 p.m. Apr 27

Gov. Greg Abbott has unveiled his plan for gradually reopening the state which has been shut down in some form since the COVID-19 outbreak reached the state more than a month ago. "Millions of Texans have sacrificed their livelihoods as well as so many cherished moments in a heroic effort to protect their fellow Texans," Abbott said. "Well, because of your efforts, the COVID-19 epidemic has been on a steady decline." He went on to note that while every life lost is tragic, the numbers of those who died from the disease in Texas is lower than the numbers seen in other states, as he geared up to announce how and why he is okay with taking away some of the restrictions placed on the public last month as part of efforts to keep this disease from overwhelming our hospital systems.

The National Guard will be operating mobile testing sites while there will continue to be some set testing sites in various parts of the state, including one in Houston, Abbott stated. This was all the warmup, leading up to the fact that he is going to let the stay-home order expire on April 30, as scheduled. However, he noted that all businesses cannot reopen at once, as reports have come out that China, Singapore and other parts of the world are seeing new outbreaks as they have attempted to reopen. "A more strategic approach is required to ensure that we don't reopen only to have to close again," he said.

Phase one begins this Friday, May 1, and phase two can start as early as May 18 if there is no evidence that the reopening has not caused any flareups of the disease. During phase one there will still be requirements in place to protect seniors and other members of the most vulnerable populations to the disease. All restaurants and retail centers, including malls, movie theaters and shopping centers, are allowed to reopen on May 1 if they keep their occupancy to just 25 percent.

If the measures are successful, businesses will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity. He also noted that this order allows businesses to reopen but does not require them to reopen if the business owners do not feel safe or do not wish to reopen right now for other reasons. Phase one also allows libraries and museums to reopen under the same requirements, although all areas where people are most likely to get infected, like interactive stations at museums, are still required to be closed. Outdoor sports including golf and tennis--aka any sports that only have four or less people--are also to be allowed as of this Friday. Dentists and doctors will be allowed to return to work, even though hospitals will still be required to keep 15 percent of their beds available to treat COVID-19 patients.

Abbott has opted not to reopen bars, hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and gyms for right now because experts told him these spots are still too likely to spread the disease. The same goes for summer camps, which will not be allowed to open at this time.

Meanwhile, Texas now has a goal of running 25,000 tests a day to get enough data to understand where the disease is at and if the measures allowed by Abbott's executive order have caused any spikes in the spread of the virus.

Abbott previously has said that his executive order supersedes any local or county stay-home orders. In other words, Houston and Harris County are about to be officially opened up this Friday. He also stated that Harris County's mask fines are void.

Updated 10:39 a.m. Apr 27

A new COVID-19 testing site opened this morning at 6800 Fairway Dr. Opened in partnership with United Memorial Medical Center and the city, the site is free and will test anyone, regardless of symptoms or documentation.

There have been 42 deaths in Houston, as of yesterday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Almost 75 percent of the people who have died from COVID-19 have been African American and Hispanic, and 41 of those 42 had underlying health conditions.

While COVID-19 is an equal opportunity virus, some populations are more vulnerable than others, Houston Health Department Director Stephen Williams said, which is why it is essential to get testing into those neighborhoods where those populations live. He said that mobile sites are planned to open in the next few weeks, and Turner said that in the next week, the city is planning on opening more testing sites in other at-risk areas of Houston.

Officials at this morning's press conference have reiterated the need for testing before Houston can fully recover. “The curve is indeed flattening,” Turner said, but every day there are new cases of COVID-19.

"If we don't have the testing, we can't open up the businesses, we can't go back to the classrooms," State Sen. Carol Alvarado said. "We can't go back to work."

In a separate press conference, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that there are now more than 5,700 positive cases of COVID-19, and Texas is approaching 25,000 cases.

The county is sending a strike team into at-risk nursing homes and facilities to access the facilities and to assist with testing and maintaining CDC guidelines. "Folks are like sitting ducks right now, and we can't allow that," she said.

This is important because there has already been more than 50 cases in local nursing homes, and there are more than 500 nursing facilities in the county, Harris County Public Health Executive Director Umair Shah said.

They are doubling the number of pop-up locations of COVID-19 testing, bringing the county total to six testing sites, two fixed and four pop-up sites.

Hidalgo's order for mandatory face masks went into place today. However, the county judge said she does not expect to hear about citations being issued. While not wearing a mask can be punishable up to $1,000, Mayor Turner has previously said that Houston police would not actually issue citations.

Hidalgo said the order had to be made enforceable, like seatbelt laws or laws regarding handicap parking, but "this is not a police state." Similar to what Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said last week, she said that people would not be sought out for not following the order.

In response to pushback from people not wanting to wear masks, Hidalgo said, "This is not the time for political acrobatics." She emphasized that wearing masks protects others from you, if you have the virus. She encouraged those who did not want to wear masks to just stay home. "It's not your right to be getting everybody else sick just to get a little attention," Hidalgo said.

Updated 3:10 p.m. Apr 24

There are 74 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston. There is one new death, breaking a four-day streak of no deaths and bringing the total count to 35, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today.

Houston might be hitting its peak, though. "It does appear that things are flattening out," Turner said. However, the mayor and Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, are still cautious. "We're not coming down yet, we've plateaued," Persse said.

Persse encouraged people to continue social distancing efforts. The virus is still not under control, Turner said. The city should be testing 3,000–5,000 people per day, but has only been able to test a little more than 1,000 a day, he said. He emphasized the importance of widespread testing before the city can fully reopen.

Whether or not the county will extend stay-home orders is out of Turner's and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's hands, the mayor said. It is now the decision of Gov. Greg Abbott, who announced last week plans to slowly reopen Texas, and any decision of his would supersede any locally made decision.

The Health Equity Response Team received a shipment of 50,000 face masks today, which have already been distributed across the city. Mayor Turner said the city will be giving out 200,000 masks through various distribution efforts.

Turner reiterated that punishments will not be given out for failure to follow Hidalgo's order for everyone to wear face coverings, which begins Monday. Instead, police will be handing out face masks. "It's masks over citations," Turner said. The police will not be out "hunting down" people without masks, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said. "We are about relational policing. "

The Houston Health Department have partnered with the Houston Police and Houston Fire Department to go into area nursing homes and ensure these centers are following CDC guidelines and are getting tests. "We have to protect the most vulnerable in our community, " Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is asking people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma for COVID-19 patients in intensive care. Learn more here.

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill. The bill would provide more funding for the small business loan program, as well as for testing and hospitals, but doesn't not include financial assistance for cities and states.

Acevedo said he and police chiefs across the country have sent a letter to Congress and President Donald Trump to provide money to cities for public safety to make up for loss of city revenue. Turner said next year's budget will be the worst yet, and as the city cannot go into debt, it must balance the budget, meaning city workers will be furloughed and police cadet classes, among other programs, will have slashed budgets.

Updated 3:07 p.m. Apr 23

There are 71 news cases of COVID-19, bringing the total cases to more than 3,000 in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this afternoon. Today is the fourth consecutive day of no new deaths.

Houston METRO is still giving more than 100,000 rides a day, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Carrin Patman said. Park & Rides for the region have been cut except for trips to the hospital. Seating on city buses have been reduced by 50 percent to enforce social distancing, and passengers now enter from the back of the bus. Fares have been also been temporarily suspended.

People are encouraged to wear masks while on the bus, but Patman announced that there are plans for buses to have a supply of face masks to provide to passengers who do not have a covering.

Houston Police have been instructed to not give out citations to those out without a mask. Instead, the police will give you a mask, Turner said.

Houston is launching a Mask Up campaign. At today's announcement, Simone Biles, Carlos Correa, and Slim Thug appeared to encourage Houstonians to #MaskUp. Per the effort, the city will distribute 100,000 masks, plus disposable gloves, hand sanitizers, and EPA-registered household disinfectants to those ages 55 and older, particularly in senior and low-cost housing.

Susan Christian, the director of the mayor's office of special events, reported that the city has distributed more than 200,000 masks, "targeting complete communities and at-risk neighborhoods."

Also, 1,000 churches in the Houston area are being called upon to make 1 million masks for Houstonians as part of the Masks For All campaign.

When asked about retailers and, specifically, restaurateurs like Matt Brice defying orders—albeit in another municipality—and re-opening business in full, Turner said Houstonians should exercise patience and unity.

"We have done so well. As a community we have worked together," said Turner. "I know people are anxious, but it's important that we be governed by the science as much as possible to be able to do it together."

Updated 3:45 p.m. Apr 22

Harris County's case count has exceeded 5,000, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced today. This afternoon, Hidalgo ordered all Harris County residents to wear a face covering when out in public, beginning April 27. Learn more about the order here.

Officials emphasized that the order is for face coverings and not masks. Turner said he will announce an initiative to donate 70,000 face coverings to in-need populations tomorrow.

Today is the third day in a row with no deaths in Houston, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, said, but we should continue to be wary and we are not done. "The peak is not an event, it's not an occurrence," he said. "It's a phenomenon."

Face covering are essential to protect people from yourself, especially as Houston moves forward, Persse said. "The virus is not gone, it is still here."

Hidalgo went on to touch on the county's decision to build a temporary hospital at NRG Stadium to deal with patient overflow from when it was first projected that the amount of COVID-19 patients would overwhelm the hospital system. "And I challenge anyone to say that this wasn't the right thing to do at the time," Hidalgo said.

Updated 10:07 a.m. Apr 22

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is expected to order all residents to wear some sort of face mask when in public this afternoon during a joint press conference with Mayor Sylvester Turner, according to several reports. The order will be in in place for 30 days, beginning Monday, April 27, and will apply to any person over the age of 10. Residents may wear a mask, handkerchief, bandana, or scarf, and exceptions to the rule include eating and exercising.

Updated 9:10 a.m. Apr 22

At the Wednesday morning Houston City Council meeting Mayor Sylvester Turner warned that because of the closures enacted due to COVID-19 Houston's budget for 2021 is expected to be the worst the city has seen since 2016 (the previous record-holder for the worst budget situation ever seen in the city's history.) He estimates that the city has lost more than $100 million in sales tax revenue as the pandemic has played out here in the Bayou City. Turner noted that he is talking with the area representatives in Congress to see about making the money from the federal government more flexible since right now it can only be used for things not budgeted, directly related to COVID-19, and must be used by the end of this year. "The model fits more of a New York City model where they set up a bunch of field hospitals, but that's not what our situation is," he said.

He also reminded anyone in need that the city has organized a food pantry at the municipal center on West Gray. "We don't want to overlook anyone or any group that might be suffering during this crisis," he said.

Updated 5:10 p.m. Apr 21

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated that the county saw more than 100 new cases on Tuesday, and noted that while it is disheartening to see any increase in those testing positive for COVID-19 the county is still doing well at containing the outbreak better than some other areas of the country. She said the county will soon have two mobile testing sites so that those who don't have the means to get to a testing center can have access it without having to find a way to travel. There have been 5,143 cases of COVID-19 in Harris County and 74 deaths so far. While experts say the peak is probably a couple of weeks away for the state, so far 1,260 people in Harris County have recovered from the disease.

Earlier today Gov. Greg Abbott had a similarly cautiously optimistic view on the state of the epidemic in Texas when he held a briefing earlier this afternoon, but stated that this still is not quite the time to reopen the state economy. Instead, people need to keep doing what they've been doing to help slow the spread of this disease. “It’s not because COVID-19 is suddenly dispersed from the geography of the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “The reason why it is leveling off is because our fellow Texans have done such a great job of reducing their interactions with others.”

Updated 4:10 p.m. Apr 21

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that today the city has only seen 20 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest increase we have seen in recent weeks since the epidemic saw the city and Harris County go into stay-at-home orders. There were also no more deaths from the virus on Tuesday. "Let me encourage people to do social distancing, to keep staying home. The face coverings are important, I cannot put enough emphasis on that, especially throughout the month of April," Turner said.

When it came to the question of when the city will be reopened, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, said that there's not a clear number of cases that will signal when it's time to lift the orders. Instead, it will be a question of whenever the curve of the spread of coronavirus is showing enough of a downward slope. When it comes to the plans Gov. Greg Abbott has announced about reopening the state, Turner noted that it is important that leaders, both local and state, try and have coordinated plans for reopening based on medical science and advice so that there are not conflicting messages being sent out to people who have already sacrificed so much by enduring the stay-home orders that we've all been living under in recent weeks.

Updated 10:39 a.m. Apr 21

The Harris County jail system has about 7,500 incarcerated individuals and 2,000 employees, including 99 inmates and 151 employees who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. “We operate a city within a city,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

Officials this morning stressed the importance of testing as social distancing is nigh on impossible in county jails. It's a perfect recipe for outbreak when large numbers of people live in close quarters, Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, said. U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee announced a partnership this morning with the Harris County Sheriff's Office to bring more testing and sanitation supplies, including 3,000 bars of soap and 600 masks, to county jails.

The jails are as much in the eye of the storm as everywhere else, the congresswoman said. Many people who come into jail have preexisting conditions and health struggles, such as hypertension or addiction, and are more susceptible to disease, the county sheriff said. "Being in jail should not be a death sentence," Gonzalez said.

Updated 3:05 p.m. Apr 20

There are 107 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,928 cases in Houston and 7,451 cases in Southeast Texas. "We are seeing positive results, but we are not yet out of the storm," Mayor Sylvester Turner said at the Monday afternoon briefing. "Let me make this clear: This virus is not yet under control."

The mayor announced Marvin Odum, who previously acted as the resilience and relief czar in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, as the city's coronavirus recovery czar. Odum has been tasked to cover four issues: how to restart the economy, how to maneuver any spikes in cases after reopening the city, how to protect at-risk populations, and how do we prepare for the next pandemic.

Odum said that his team will take already-created frameworks, such as those put forth by Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump, and tailor them to fit Houston's situation. His plan will have three guiding principles: speed, inclusivity, and collaboration, he said."You can expect that this plan will be gradual and phased," Odum said.

Dr. David Persse then provided an update on the status of COVID-19 in the area, noting that everyone needs to understand that some people are capable of transmitting the virus without showing symptoms of the disease themselves. "In order to get society going again it is all-important that individuals do the social distancing we've been advising for everyone to adopt," Persse said.

Turner also addressed the historic low price of oil which closed at -$37 per barrel. "Price of oil has dropped dramatically. This is the energy capital of the world, so of course we are going to be hard hit," Turner said. "But we're just taking it one day at a time."

He noted that the city's finances have also been hit by the pandemic and the economic fallout from it. "We're not immune," he said as he outlined various cutbacks he is looking at in the city services and city jobs. "Houston is not immune and every facet of city government, from police to firefighters to every sector, will be impacted, because Houston is obligated to balance it's budget," Turner said, noting that the city is looking at the worst budget situation it has seen in decades.

Updated 12:20 p.m. Apr 20

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has announced that State Rep. Armando Walle will be acting as Harris County's recovery czar for the coronavirus pandemic. Walle is a Democrat who has represented Houston House District 140 since he was elected in 2008. The district includes portions of Aldine, Northside and some unincorporated sections of Harris County. Mayor Sylvester Turner plans to announce his pick for the city COVID-19 recovery czar later this afternoon.

Updated 2:45 p.m. Apr 18

Mayor Sylvester Turner appeared at the Del Mar testing site this afternoon where he said he was pleased to announce that enough people had turned out—each of the city's two sites can currently conduct 500 tests a day—because it means Houstonians are seeking out tests which will help local officials continue to get a better idea of the state of the COVID-19 outbreak in our area.

Turner noted that the Del Mar site could conduct as many as 2,000 tests a day if there were enough tests on hand, something that Turner said he believes needs to happen as the city, county and state move toward reopening the economy in the coming weeks. "With hurricanes we can watch the storms on radar, and that's what testing is going to be for us," he explained. "It's our radar in tracking this virus."

He also fielded questions about what kind of role the "COVID-19 czar" will play in the ongoing epidemic, and he explained the czar will be overseeing the economic implications of the coronavirus shutdown, and will also be working with county, state and federal government as we continue to grapple with this disease. The person selected by Turner to fill this role will be announced Monday.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Apr 17

Settling into complacency is the worst thing right now, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said today. Before the county can reopen, universal quick testing must occur, she said. However the county is now moving in that direction, and its testings sites now have a 48-hour turnaround and the Walgreens sites' turnaround is 24 hours.

All county sites will now be open to anyone who reasonably believe they have been infected, even if you don't have symptoms. However people with symptoms and first responders will be prioritized.

"Folks should expect to see precautions everywhere," Hidalgo said in what a new normal would look like. Precautions included masks, gloves, social distancing. Before the county can reopen, the county must reach its peak and have widespread universal testing.

"We've not hit that peak so we can't responsibly open up," Hidalgo said. She said we would hit that peak or that conditions would improve by the time that Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order on reopening parts of the state is enacted next week. The priority is to open the hospitals, but reopening will occur in phases, she noted. "Let the case count actually fall," she said. "Then we can move on."

The peak will hit because of social distancing, not herd immunity, she said. The curve flattening has not happened by accident, but because of all the sacrifices Harris County and its populations has made.

"Our lives will change," Hidalgo said. People will have to get used to wearing face masks, as there is no cure and it's likely for there to be multiple peaks and resurgences of this virus.

Dr. Umair Shah, head of Harris County Public Health, underscored Hidalgo's point.

"We will reopen and when we reopen we need to be clear that we will have to continue to keep our distance from each other," Shah said. "We are transformed in ways we never thought we would be, but it is too early to take our foot off the gas on this."

Updated 3:15 p.m. Apr 17

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that after 30 days of restrictions on bars, restaurants, and clubs Houston is making progress on battling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he reminded everyone that "we are still going through the storm," despite Gov. Greg Abbott's announcement earlier today outlining plans to begin reopening the state. "We are still in the storm but all the signs are looking good, and I continue to be cautiously optimistic," Turner said. "But if we take our foot off the brake, we could easily start moving in the other direction."

He said he was looking forward to hearing more from Abbott and the state on their plans to reopen, but stopped short of saying he agreed with Abbott's plan as laid out earlier today, aside from the announcement that schools are going to be closed for the rest of the year. He also said he is not planning on issuing a mandate requiring people to wear masks when out in public in the city for now, and he said that if that does happen it will only be required if he is certain that there are enough masks on hand to provide the city's most vulnerable populations and others who might not be able to afford them.

"Over the last 30 to 40 days we have asked Houstonians to make major sacrifices, to make major changes to their behavior, and it has not come without a great deal of pain," he went on to say. "The last thing we want is to change course now after all that sacrifice."

Turner said he will name a local leader to help with the city's recovery and said he will also be outlining more plans for how the city will be reopened on Monday. However, right now many of the current measures in place will likely be in place through May.

Parks will remain open but parks that have gates will be locked on Friday night and will be reopened on Sunday evening. There are about 100 gated parks in the city.

Dr. David Persse, the head of the City Health Department, said that with public health we all need to be aware of what we need to be doing, including the advised social distancing and wearing masks of some sort when we go out. "I don't know that society is going to get back to the way it was anytime soon, but what's important is to get the economy going again," he said. "But this virus wants to spread. It is vitally important that we take the medicine and do what we need to do to slow the spread."

Turner reminded people that he knows these measures have been difficult for people, but stated that they were necessary to avoid the nightmare scenarios playing out in Washington state and New York City. "From the very beginning both the county and the city have tried to be as proactive as possible," Turner said. "A lot of lives have been lost and a lot of sacrifices have been made." He acknowledges that the moves he and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have made over the past weeks, from canceling the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to closing restaurants, bars, and clubs, to issuing the stay-home order, weren't popular but they were necessary. "It is always better to have done too much and to not need it, than to have done too little and be in need," he said. "And at the same time when we talk about how we reopen things, I think it is very important to be prudent and wise because this isn't a hurricane. I can't see where it is."

Updated 12:05 p.m. Apr 17

More than 1 million Texans have filed unemployment claims, Gov. Greg Abbott said today.

Texas also has the second most recoveries of COVID-19 cases. "We are now beginning to see glimmers that the worst of COVID-19 may be behind us," he said.

The governor announced an executive order this afternoon about how he plans to reopen the state. "In opening Texas we must be guided by data and by doctors," he said. "We must put health and safety first. We must protect our most vulnerable populations."

Abbott said he has formed a statewide strike force to open Texas, one day after President Trump announced a plan to reopen the country in phases. The Texas team will work with data, doctors, advisors, and local business leaders, including Houston's own Jim McIngvale, as known as Mattress Mack.

"Opening Texas must occur in stages," Abbott said. "Now obviously not all businesses can open all at once on May 1." A more strategic approach is required.

Effective April 22, some of the current restrictions on surgery will be lifted, allowing for more elective medical procedures, like cancer diagnostic tests. However, there will be more restrictions on nursing homes to protect elderly, vulnerable populations.

All stores in Texas will be allowed to operate retail to-go beginning next Friday, April 24. However, employees should not be coerced into going back to work if they feel unsafe, Abbott said.

State parks will be reopened beginning April 20, but visitors must wear masks and cannot gather in groups larger than five people.

All public, private, and higher education schools are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may return to the classroom to remote-teach from there if they wish.

Additional announcements to reopen Texas will be announced on April 27. "The new plans will be based on how well contained COVID-19 is in the state of Texas," Abbott said. Those plans will consider reopening movie theaters, restaurants, and expanding elective surgeries.

If the data continues to show a flatlining or a decrease in COVID-19 cases, that will indicate when and which businesses can begin to reopen, he said. A core component to reopening socializing will be tied to an increase in mass testing. Until we have immunization, then social distancing and testing must continue, Abbott said.

The announcement today does not cancel out the governor's "stay home" order, which expires April 30. These are just exceptions, Abbott said. The April 27 announcement will further impact the "stay home" order.

"Texans are battling a colossal challenge," the governor said. "Part of the Texas brand is to overcome challenges."

"Step by step, we will open Texas."

Updated 3:10 p.m. Apr 16

The restaurant industry is the fourth largest employer of Houston, with over 300,000 employees, Mayor Sylvester Turner said this afternoon. He stood up with representatives from the Houston industry to encourage people to continue to order takeout and delivery. "But you don't have to eat it all at once, like I did," he joked.

He announced a new "Take us to your table," campaign beginning next Thursday, April 23. Every Thursday, order weekend takeout, and share your meal on social media with the hashtag, #takeustoyourtable.

There are 125 new cases, and three new deaths, making 29 deaths total in Houston, Turner said. There are more than 2,400 cases in the city so far.

Houston's COVID-19 death-rate is one of the lowest of the nation's major cities, said U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. But we must continue to test, she said, in spite of good the stats. "But we must remain vigilant, It can change instantly."

Hyundai donated $100,000 and 10,000 COVID-19 testing kits to the Houston Health Foundation for more test kits, the mayor and the congresswoman announced.

Like Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo this morning, Mayor Turner would not give an answer to when or how the city would reopen. "Today is not the day that I'm going to make those announcements," he said. This is not the time to have public conversations about opening back up, he said. There is still more testing and work to be done.

"Social distancing will probably be part of the regiment for quite some time," Turner said, as well as wearing PPE and working from home.

"This is not a hurricane," Turner said, "but it is a storm of a different kind." It's one thing to make decisions when you are well, but when you make a decision while healthy, and then get sick, you endanger others, the mayor said in defense of social distancing. We want to be able to understand how the virus is moving in our city, said Dr. David Persse of the Houston Health Department, so we can control it to the best of our ability. "You cannot look on the radar screen and find this virus," Turner said. "And that's why we test."

There is no official city mandate to wear a face mask, but Turner strongly encouraged people to wear masks.

Updated 11:20 a.m. Apr 16

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a partnership with Walgreens today. Beginning on Friday, Walgreens will open two free drive-thru testing sites in Harris County, one in Houston and one in Pasadena. The sites will be open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. seven days a week, and they will be able to test up to 200 people a day. You must sign up for the test before you go. Fill out a questionnaire on the Walgreens website. Currently, only people who are showing symptoms will be tested at these sites.

The tests will be rapid 15-minute tests, but you still won't receive your results for 24 hours, Hidalgo said, as there is mandated state reporting that must be done first. The sites are located at 14531 Westheimer Rd. in Houston and 101 W. Southmore Ave. in Pasadena. Find more information at ReadyHarris.

This is a testament to the teamwork of the government and the private sector to fight COVID-19, Hidalgo said. Pasadena and Baytown are some of the worst-hit areas in Precinct 2, Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said, so the new site is very welcome.

"I would expect that we would be in place as long as there is a need," said Roy Armstrong, the regional health director of Walgreens. He said that he expects for Walgreens to expand its testing as well.

There are 84 new cases of COVID-19 in Harris County, outside the City of Houston, Hidalgo said. "We still haven't seen a tapering off or a peak," she said. The county judge refrained from giving a specific time about lifting the "Stay Home" order. She cautioned the public against thinking the county is ready to reopen just because officials are having discussions. She knows people are hurting, but the path to getting back to work is two-fold, she said. Harris County must reach the peak and get mass testing. "We can't do this prematurely. It doesn't serve the economy."

Updated 3:40 p.m. Apr 15

In a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. David Persse of the Houston Health Department warned Houstonians to be wary of comparing Houston's COVID-19 case count to New York City's, as New York's population has three times more people than Houston.

However, Houston has about 1.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, which is a much lower rate than many other hard-hit cities around the country, such as New York City (94.1), Chicago (12.8), New Orleans (70.6), and Seattle (40.7).

Persse said these stats prove that the city's social distancing measures are working. However, he warned there is still a long way to go on the road to recovery. “When we hit the peak, that is not game-over," he said. "That is halftime.”

Turner emphasized the importance of widespread testing in Houston before any decision could be made about lifting safety measures. “It’s all in the testing, so we need that data,” he said. The city is working to expand testing of both COVID-19 and antibodies, Turner said. The mayor told the public to expect more announcements about testing soon.

When asked about President Donald Trump's cut in funding to the World Health Organization, Persse said that the WHO is a valuable resource that houses some of the best doctors across the globe. "I can't see how the reduction in funding is helpful at this time."

There are 52 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, bringing the total to 2,331. The number of deaths is now 26.

On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott extended the state's public disaster declaration another 30 days.

Updated 3:12 p.m. Apr 14

There are 40 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, bringing the city's total to 2,279, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. There are five new deaths, bringing the total deaths due to the coronavirus in Houston to 23.

Testing sites are now able to test 1,000 people a day, Turner said. As of this morning, anyone who wants to get tested can get tested, regardless of signs of symptoms, at one of the city's two sites. The city's testing call center was overwhelmed with the number of callers earlier today, Turner said. They plan increasing the number of call-takers to 50 tomorrow.

In order to get tested at one of the city testing sites, Houstonians should call the city's call center at 832-393-4220 from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. to get an identification code as well as find out where they should go for the test. Learn more here.

Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department, asked healthcare providers to be prompt and timely in their reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths, to better inform lawmakers and as well as ensure the Houston case count is accurate.

Houstonians have demonstrated their generosity throughout the crisis, Turner said. He praised those who have donated goods, including Atour Eyvazian, a Jack in the Box franchise owner, who announced that his restaurants and nine other local franchises were donating 50,000 gloves to the City of Houston.

With respect to releasing inmates from county jails, Turner deferred decision making to the Harris County Judge.

The mayor emphasized again the importance of April in the fight against COVID-19 and continuing social distancing. "We really have to stay the course," Turner said. Houston has not yet reached its peak, and that's what Houstonians should be focusing on right now.

He said the decision to lift restrictions will take place in stages and will involve many city and state leaders, but there is still much to do right now. "The focus right now should be on saving people's lives," he said.

Updated 3:15 p.m. Apr 13

The testing capacity has doubled at the City of Houston mobile testing sites, and the sites are now able to test 500 a day. Cullen Middle School has also become a private testing site to help the vulnerable communities of Sunnyside and other low-income neighborhoods in that area, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

The city is also opening up testing to any who want to be tested, Turner stated. As of now, 18 people in Houston have died from the disease. Turner said we are not to the point of reopening the city yet. "You can open the gates too soon," Turner said. "I don't want people to have sacrificed ... and then to find we have to continue to do this for another 60 days or so."

Updated 11:45 a.m. Apr 13

Gov. Greg Abbott didn't make any concrete announcements about reopening the state at this morning's press conference, although he said that he will be making some announcements about plans to do that later this week. "We all agree we want Texas on payroll, not laid off," Abbott stated as he announced a new "small business initiative."

The governor announced $50 million in loans for small businesses through Goldman Sachs and LiftFund.

He also noted that the social distancing measures are beginning to have an impact in slowing the spread of the virus, with the state recording a decrease in the number of cases reported per day for the past three days. (Whether this is due to the holiday weekend or to the measures in place or a mix of both will likely be seen in the coming days.)

As to reopening the state, Abbott said that "this will not be a rush-the-gate, everybody-is-opening-at-once process," but will be measured and careful to balance stimulating the economy and protecting the public in equal measure.

Updated 1:20 p.m. Apr 11

Officials gathered this afternoon to discuss the new field hospital site at NRG Park. The tents of the new field hospital, which can treat up to 250 patients, are all climate controlled and are protected against flooding, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. They haven't decided where in NRG Park the tents will be set up, but they won't be inside the stadium.

The county has already invested 11 million into the site; the maximum budget is $60 million, Hidalgo said. “It’s truly sobering to see this stand up.”

Harris County will be out 25 percent of its budget, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said. "It was a big investment, but it was the right investment."

In response to a question of whether this project costs too much money, the judge responded: "Right now, I would rather say I did too much. If we did our job, then people will say we did too much."

"In a way, this is the Pearl Harbor moment of our generation," she said.

The federal government has approved for Harris County and City of Houston testing sites to conduct up to 500 tests per site per day, Hidalgo said. It's good to know that Harris County is in the position to take on a surge of patients before we hit the surge, Mayor Sylvester Turner remarked.

He praised the expansion of the number of per-day testing, and he stated the goal is to get testing into more local neighborhoods and into underrepresented areas that are more at risk, such as Sunnyside and the East End. But, he warned, "As we do more testing, we certainly expect the numbers rise."

We are not at the peaking point, Hidalgo said. She said that to get back to business as usual, Harris County's case count stops increasing at the rate it's at. Additionally, she wants the county to be able to increase its ability to test anyone, regardless of signs of symptoms.

"It's not going to be we turn on the switch, and the lights come on." Turner said. We have to be strategic in plans to reopen the region, he said, and there is more still to be done to help underrepresented communities. "We have a lot of work to do to mitigate the risk."

There are 61 new cases in Houston, bringing the total number 2,124, Turner said. There are no new deaths.

Updated 3:00 p.m. Apr 9

Houston now has 615 more cases, increasing the overall number to 1,995 and there have now been 14 deaths in the city, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced on Thursday afternoon. Turner said that because of the increase in cases he is ordering the City of Houston Parks to be closed for the weekend.

He noted that they still need to be conducting more testing to understand where the city is at with the disease, but that for now the number of cases has still been within the range of what the hospital system can handle. What prompted Turner's decision? It was the increase of 615 new cases today, he said.

"We want to keep the number of deaths as low as possible," he said. "Every one of the 14 people who lost their lives had a family."

The City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department head Steve Wright stated that the mayor made this decision this afternoon, and within 15 minutes he and his team were cobbling together their plans to enact it. This evening the 100 of the 383 parks that can be physically locked up will be gated, and all parks will be closed. "I've worked with this mayor long enough that when he says to close the parks, I know it's the right thing to do," Wright said. He noted that the parks that cannot be locked up will be patrolled throughout the weekend.

Updated 12:10 p.m. Apr 9

After a moment of silence and prayer this afternoon, Mayor Sylvester Turner said that Houston parks will remain open this weekend. Earlier this week, it was announced that Harris County parks would be closed April 10–13 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 during Easter weekend.

However, Turner said some of the parks' parking lots would be closed off in an effort to prevent crowds. Park rangers have the power to close the parks without consulting the mayor first, he said. "If we have to close them, we will close them."

Once again, the mayor stressed the importance of social distancing this April. "We're asking people to make huge sacrifices," he said.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Apr 8

"If I have to do that I will," Mayor Sylvester Turner said as he underscored that he will shut down the city parks if people do not embrace proper social distancing in the coming days. "This is an equal opportunity virus," he warned. "No one is immune."

He noted that there are now 1,320 cases in the City of Houston, and so far there have been 12 deaths and 99 recoveries. There have also been 827 cases confirmed in Harris County in the area outside of city limits, with 12 deaths and 204 recoveries there. So far the hospitals are keeping up with the epidemic, but the numbers are expected to continue to climb in the coming days, Turner warned.

The mayor has canceled all of his own activities for the holiday weekend and encouraged Houstonians to do likewise and stay home.

Updated 12:50 p.m. Apr 8

Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference on Wednesday to remind religious leaders to use technology and whatever else they need to in order to celebrate the coming religious holidays. "We'll come through it, and as my mama would say, 'This too shall pass,'" Turner said.

"Thank God for technology. I want to encourage all of the pastors to know that we are still coming together, though we are not doing it physically we are still coming together," Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Richard Jewell Rose said during a press conference held by the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston to remind religious leaders to use technology and worship together remotely during the coming weekend holidays versus gathering at any of their churches in person.

Updated 12:30 p.m. Apr 8

More than 96,000 people have been tested for COVID-19, but less than 10 percent of those tested are positive, Gov Greg Abbott said in a press conference today. There have been 175 fatalities in Texas, 23 in Harris County.

Harris County is the most-impacted region in the state, with almost 23 percent of Texas's total cases. Abbott said he spoke with Vice President Mike Pence and with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo about what our county needs, and 125,000 more masks were overnighted to Harris County yesterday.

However, the numbers are lower than they would be if people were not practicing social distancing. “It’s more important now than ever for people to maintain social distancing practices, Abbott said. “It will be frustrating, I realize,” he said, but by staying home, people will be doing their part to prevent themselves contracting COVID-19 as well as protecting their families.

The Texas Workforce Commission had the largest spike in calls ever March 26, with 1.7 million calls in one day, Abbott said. The commission usually receives around 120,000 in a day. The governor said the commission has taken in more than 600,000 claims in the two weeks since March 26, and it is also urging people whose claims were previously denied to reapply.

Texas’s testing capacity has expanded over time, but people who are showing symptoms are still the priority at testing sites.Receiving a negative test isn’t very useful to you, Abbott said. “A negative test is good for that moment in time only,” because you could get infected with COVID-19 later that day.Testing is helpful to identify and isolate cases of COVID-19, he said. It is not a solution; social distancing is one of the solution.

The state has 21,066 hospital beds and 7,686 ventilators available, Abbott said. He also announced that Walgreens will be opening drive through testing sites in hot spots, although the actual locations have not yet been announced. Considering Harris County is the worst-hit county in Texas, it’s reasonable to assume that we will see some of those sites.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Apr 7

Of the 1,145 cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday, only 146 were hospitalized, Mayor Sylvester reported today. Based on a Kinder Institute report, social distancing measures Mar 24–April 6 could save 4,533 people's lives, and prevent more than 48,000 hospitalizations. If we continue on this path, by April 22 social distancing would save 13,220 lives, Turner announced.

"This is one study that saying this is worth it," he said. If people needed more convincing that social distancing is working, Turner suggested people look at the 11,000 deaths nationwide, but only 11 in Houston. "That should speak loudly to you as well," he said.

Other officials reiterated the importance of social distancing as well. "Just like we can't rope off the pee section in a pool, everybody has to do their part," Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña said.

Houston will still receive federal support through April 30, meaning the federal government will continue to supply PPE to healthcare workers at testing sites.

There will be a nondenominational moment of prayer and silence at noon Thursday, Turner said. Houston comes together when times get rough, said city council member Edward Pollard. "Houston is known to be Houston-Strong for a reason."

The parks remain open for now. However, if the parks get too crowded and people are not engaging in social distancing, park employees have permission to shut that park down immediately, Turner warned.

Throughout this month, if there are large crowds, city officials will break it up, the mayor said. If people say the city is being heavy-handed in this, Turner offered a response: "No, we're just trying to save your life."

"April is the month that we all need to be very intentional," Turner said. "If we do this together we can break the back of this coronavirus, COVID-19."

Updated 3:35 p.m. Apr 6

There are 402 new cases of COVID-19 in Houston, bringing the total to 1,145, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in a press conference today. That total number includes 68 city workers have tested positive. There have been 10 deaths so far.

"It is important that people not let up," Turner said. April will be a critical month, and people must continue to social distance.

Himself wearing a mask during the conference, Turner reiterated the importance of social distancing and wearing masks when out in public. Joking, he said people could even coordinate their masks to their outfits, his own blue surgical mask matching his blue suit.

The reason you should social distance and wear a mask while out is that people can be asymptomatic and still test positive for COVID-19, said Dr. David Persse, head of the Houston Health Department. "The mask that you wear does not protect you," he said. "It protects the person next to you." He went on to explain that if one person infected 2.5 people with COVID-19 because they weren't social distancing, then after 30 days, that one person would have infected 406 people.

While crime is down, Police Chief Art Acevedo said burglary is up, as many businesses are closed right now. He said people may call the police non-emergency number if they would like an extra patrol to do a drive-by of their business.

Acevedo said that there has been a 10 percent increase of aggravated assault in the last 28 days, with 50 percent of those cases relating to domestic violence. "Remember we are all coping with this," he said. He encouraged Houstonians to just walk away if frustrations arise at home, and "give yourself space." Click here to access Houston police resources for victims of family/domestic violence.

There will be more enforcement to social distancing in the city's 380 parks, said Steve Wright, the director of Houston Parks and Recreation. Park police and employees will now be monitoring crowds in these public spaces. All city playgrounds and basketball courts have been closed, but there should be "no recreational grouping" in the parks. If crowds get too large, Wright warned they might have to limit parking at parks in the future. He encouraged people to head to parks on foot, as more than 50 percent of Houstonians are within a 10-minute walk.

Construction began today on a field hospital in NRG Park's parking lots. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters this morning that the hospital is a contingency plan so Houston doesn't end up in the same situation as New York City. The facility is adjacent to the Texas Medical Center and would be able to assist area hospitals in a surge of COVID-19 cases, which is projected to peak in Houston later this month.

Updated 11:30 a.m. Apr 6

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced there is now a childcare program for essential workers where they can have help getting quality childcare as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold at a Monday morning press conference. Essential workers can also apply for funds to pay for the care through Workforce Solutions at the site, FindChildCareNow.org. "I don't think there's a program like this anywhere else in the country," he said as he explained how people can apply.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo then took the stage to remind everyone that we all need to be staying home, wearing some kind of masks when we go out in public, and to continue taking the measures that are the best chance this area has of not seeing an outbreak like the ones now being experienced in New York City, New Orleans, and other cities across the country. The city and county are also partnering to set up emergency housing for our area's homeless population, she said.

Updated 4 p.m. Apr 2

Mayor Sylvester Turner stated in a press conference outside the Delmar Stadium testing site that there are now 506 COVID-19 cases in Houston and there have been six deaths so far. He warned that the next two weeks are going to be crucial in "flattening the curve" of this disease and preventing the Houston area from becoming another hotspot like the ones in Seattle and New York City.

The Delmar site is up and running and while you cannot just show up to get tested the test will be free for those who have been screened who do come to the site. To be screened people with symptoms of the disease should call 832-393-4220.

Updated noon Apr 2

A new free testing site is now open at Forest Brook Middle School, 7525 Tidwell Rd, in northeast Houston. The center, which is supported in partnership with United Memorial Medical Center, does not require pre-screening for testing and should be able to test 300 people a day.

U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, when announcing the site at a press event Thursday morning, said officials are working to set up more testing centers in at-risk areas as well as mobile testing sites.

Interestingly, most officials at the Thursday morning press conference were wearing face masks. Although officials last month advised Americans to only wear face masks or N95 masks if they were sick or worked in the healthcare field, the CDC has been asked to reconsider its guidelines after it found that as many as 25 percent of those infected with the Coronavirus could be asymptomatic. As of noon today, the CDC has not officially changed its recommendation.

Updated 3:20 p.m. Mar 31

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she is extending the stay-home-work-safe order through 11:59 p.m. April 30, an order that jibes with Abbott's order issued earlier this afternoon, and with President Donald Trump's extension of social distancing guidelines which will also now go through April 30.

Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that Baylor's Dr. Peter Hotez estimated this morning that if we continue with these social distancing and stay-home guidelines that right now it is expected the coronavirus will hit its highest levels around May 2. There have been four deaths in the city so far from COVID-19.

Baylor's Dr. Paul Klotman explained that the reason we all need to maintain current social distancing guidelines and to stay home is because if we continue to progress through this epidemic at our current rate it will peak in about four weeks. If we do not maintain the current standards, he warned, we'll be dealing with an outbreak much more like that faced by Italy and now New York City, one that would be going for about eight weeks at best.

Hidalgo also announced she is going to be releasing nonviolent inmates from Harris County jails, an order that will amount to releasing about 1,000 of those currently held. She reiterated that if found guilty those who are being released will still face justice, but stated that due to concern over how quickly the virus will spread through the jail population she had opted to release those that could be released. "We are going to act, not react," she said, warning that the jails could easily become an epicenter for the disease in our area, harming the incarcerated populations and overrunning our area hospital system. "The moment we react we are behind."

Updated 2:50 p.m. Mar 31

Gov Greg Abbott has issued an executive order that stops short of requiring Texans to shelter in place, but which is essentially the same as the stay-home-work-safe order Harris County is already under. The social distancing requirements will be in effect through April 30.“This is not a stay-at-home strategy," Abbott said. "This is a standard that is based on essential services and essential activities.”

All law enforcement officers in the state will be authorized to enforce the order, which could mean anything from a fine to up to 180 days in jail if you are found to be violating it. Under the new executive order, people are still allowed to go out for necessities, like food and prescription refills, and to exercise and hunt and fish, Abbott explained, but he said people will need to participate in these activities carefully and following the CDC guidelines on social distancing practices. Domestic travel is still allowed though Abbott urged anyone who does travel to take all of the suggested precautions when doing so.

Abbott has also ordered schools to be closed through May 4, with an option of extending the closure if the pandemic is still an issue.

Updated 1:50 p.m. Mar 31

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is expected to extend the stay-home-work-safe order through April 30, according to the Chron. The judge will be holding a press conference at 3 p.m. today.

Updated 3:50 p.m. Mar 29

At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced there are now 286 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Houston, while Gov Greg Abbott announced shortly before that there are now more than 2,500 cases in the state. Turner warned again that people shouldn't take the numbers as an excuse to downplay the seriousness of this outbreak, since he himself estimates that there are 10 more cases for every one we know about due to the contagiousness of this disease. Meanwhile, Turner said the city is reviewing any former hospital spaces across the city and is working to "stand them back up" to be used as the number of coronavirus patients increases in the coming weeks.

"This is not going to be one week and done, or two weeks and done," Turner said. "The virus will dictate the schedule. We will not dictate the schedule."

During Abbott's press conference, the governor also issued another executive order, this one requiring anyone driving into Texas from Louisiana to quarantine for 14 days before going out among the general public.

Updated 3:25 p.m. Mar 28

This afternoon Mayor Sylvester Turner stated in a press conference outside the Butler test site set up by the city that the Butler testing facility now has enough supplies to continue operations through Tuesday, and more supplies are expected to arrive in the coming days. He also noted that the second testing facility is nearly ready to be opened, and should be fully operational Tuesday or Wednesday if the required supplies, including PPE, arrive on schedule.

He also announced that the number of those confirmed to have COVID-19 in the city of Houston has gone from 69 to 232, as officials manning the various testing sites, both private and public, have reported their findings. People should not dismiss the threat because the numbers are still so much lower than places like New York City, he cautioned, because the Houston area is still ramping up its testing and Turner noted that he is assuming the real numbers of infected people are three times that of what we know right now.

Turner also once again asked everyone to take the stay-at-home order seriously. "I'm going to be driving around town after this to see if people are social distancing and staying home the way we have asked," he said. He warned that if people are not more stringent measures may need to be taken to slow the spread of the virus.

Updated 1:25 p.m. Mar 27

Montgomery County is under a "Stay-at-home" order beginning midnight tonight. The order, which will last through April 12, instructs residents residents to stay home unless they are engaging in essential activities, such as going to the grocery store, getting exercise outside, or go to work at a job that qualifies as essential. Additionally the county is implementing a curfew from 11:59 p.m.–6 a.m. daily for everyone except those doing essential government functions, working for an essential business, seeking emergency medical care, or traveling through the county to another. Read the full order here.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $2 trillion stimulus package today, and President Trump is expected to sign it. The package would, amongst other things, expand unemployment benefits, provide financial assistance to small businesses, and send checks directly to individuals. Most adults are expected to get about $1,200 plus an additional $500 for every child under 16 in a household. Read our breakdown on the package to learn more.

Updated 4:45 p.m. Mar 26

Mayor Sylvester Turner stated in an afternoon press conference that the city received 155 boxes of supplies from FEMA, which they had hoped would be enough to last them through next week, but which now is expected to only last through the next three days. Now, the city is turning to the private market to obtain PPE and other supplies they need, but Turner noted that the prices in the private sector are skyrocketing, with masks alone costing $5.56 a piece. (Before this N-95 masks were selling for $2 or less.)

"We would like to stand up both community testing centers in Houston but because of limited resources we can only stand up one, and that one is at Butler Stadium. It will continue operating from now through Saturday and hopefully longer if we can get the necessary resources," Turner said.

The city is also going to be pulling $5 million from the Economic Stabilization Fund so that the city can best fight the coronavirus epidemic.

Turner also noted that in the wake of HISD's decision to shut down its meal program the Houston Parks and Recreation Department has stepped up and is going to be handing out meals via a curbside meal program for children ages 1 to 18. It takes places from Monday to Friday from 1–3 pm and will be offered at 50 area parks. (Those in need should text 713-526-1111 to get free meal locations.)

This morning the Texas Public Utilities Commission approved an order to suspend disconnections of electricity and water for Texans who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus epidemic, he said.

Then Turner turned to some thoughts he and Ed Young, the founder of Second Baptist Church, were pondering about the impact of this epidemic. Turner noted that families are spending more time together, while more people are tuning in for online services of churches and other faith-based organizations. "I know we are in the midst of a crisis but this is an optimum opportunity for people in Houston, for people in our region, to come together like never before," Turner said. "Families can spend time together, get to know each other."

He acknowledged that this may create other needs as well though. "We also recognize that this is also a time when the other side can come out," Turner said, noting that they are creating numbers to call for help with domestic violence, mental health needs, and other issues.

Meanwhile, Dr. David Persse, the head of the Houston Health Department, stated that so far the region's healthcare system has managed to keep hospital occupancy rates low enough to ensure the area hospitals will not be overwhelmed at this point.

Turner again urged people to abide by the stay-home order and to stay home to prevent further spread of the virus. "In the Houston that I know—Farouk Shami donating 15,000 hand sanitizer products, the Asian Chamber of Commerce donating—that's the Houston that I know. And the Houston that I know will comply and stay home," he said.

Updated 2:19 p.m. Mar 26

By executive order from Governor Greg Abbott today, anyone entering Texas from a New York, New Jersey or Connecticut airport or from New Orleans must self-quarantine for 14 days. However, there is nothing in the order that considers travel by roadway. It only applies to travel by air, Abbott said. It will be considered a criminal offense punishable by 180 days in jail for people violating this order. The language of the executive order also allows for more states to be added if needed, the governor said.

There are 42,535 total cases in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as of today. However this data only reports lab-tested cases. In Louisiana, there are 1,795 confirmed cases of COVID-19, about 70 percent of which are in the New Orleans metro area.

As of this afternoon, 1,424 people in Texas have tested positive for COVID-19, Gov Greg Abbott said in a 2 p.m. press conference. That's less than 10 percent of the population. So far, people have tested positive in 90 counties across the state. Last Friday, that number was nine. However, the governor said that as testing increases, so will the number of positive cases. But, he said, if we continue to social distance, then eventually, "the numbers of those testing positive will level off."

It's essential to continue to social distance, he continued. "Our response right now is keenly focused on doing everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19, especially in the next few weeks." Yesterday, President Trump declared a major disaster in Texas, which opened up new streams of funding for assistance to private, public, and hazard mitigation assistance.

Updated 2:45 p.m. Mar 25

President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster in Texas this afternoon. "The President's declaration opens up new sources of funding for individual and public assistance that will help Texas respond to this public health emergency and protect public health and safety," Gov Greg Abbot wrote in a letter thanking the president.

The governor asked President Trump to make the major disaster declaration in a letter Monday. According to FEMA, the declaration provides assistance to individuals and households; public assistance to local and state governments and certain private nonprofit organizations; and hazard mitigation assistance. Some examples of individual assistance include crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance. Click here for the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide.

Updated 10:45 a.m. Mar 25

The City of Houston has canceled jury duty, jury and judge trials, arraignments, and parking adjudication for all Houston municipal courts through May 1 to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to a release issued Wednesday morning.

Members of the public should contact a health care provider and not come to court if they have recently traveled internationally, have come into contact with someone who has traveled abroad, or is experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19. Once cleared by a physician, individuals may visit any City of Houston court location to speak with an annex judge to reset a case, according to the release.

Resets will be given in person at all City of Houston court locations beginning Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 15 until 9 p.m. Note that if an individual fails to reset their case when the municipal courts resume operations, an arrest warrant may be issued.

Updated 9:30 a.m. Mar 25

This morning the Houston City Council held its first meeting since the stay-home-work-safe order was issued for the city and for Harris County. Mayor Sylvester Turner noted that right now the testing centers for COVID-19 are up and running, but if more supplies do not come in by the end of today for testing and personal protective gear, the test sites will not be able to keep running.

The council members and Turner are also looking at various issues concerning the stay-home order, including whether hairdressers can work by appointment only (Turner is going to check with the county officials), how to protect the homeless who are currently lining up for meals from the Beacon (Turner says they are working on how to handle the lines at the Beacon to protect them and get them fed), and concerns about how METRO is running (there's currently no charge to ride METRO, Turner noted, and the seating is blocked off to keep people spread out.) Funeral homes are still considered essential services, but many of the funerals are now limited to family only.

More than 50 people tested positive for coronavirus in Harris County on Tuesday, the largest single-day spike the county has seen so far. There are now 134 cases in Harris County, 264 cases in the Houston area, and 1,048 cases in the state.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Mar 24

Fort Bend County has joined Harris and Galveston counties in issuing stay-at-home orders. Parks are to remain open although playgrounds and other gathering areas will be closed. Religious services are only to be offered remotely, via teleconference or live streaming. The order goes into effect at midnight.

Updated 3:15 p.m. Mar 24

Gov Greg Abbott announced that there are now 715 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas, and there have been 11 deaths so far. Abbott is not declaring a statewide shelter-in-place for now, although he noted that he was surprised to see so many cars still on the road when he travelled to the press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Harris County's stay-at-home order will go into effect tonight. It is very necessary, according to the experts. "It's really not about if, this is now a scenario of when, and we really need to do what we can to get ahead of what is in front of us," Dr Umair Shah, with the Harris County Public Health Department, explained to KTRK. "If we do not take this seriously and make policy decisions today, then in a few days or next week it will be too late."

There are now 210 cases in the Houston area, with 54 in Harris County, 42 in Fort Bend and 24 in Houston, and two deaths.

Updated 8:45 a.m. Mar 24

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has issued a "stay home, work safe" order for Harris County that begins at midnight tonight and goes through April 3. During the order, people are only to go out for food and essential items, although the parks will remain open to allow people to get some exercise. "It became clear starting last week that we were going to need a blunter tool," Hidalgo explained. "The order, to be clear, is to stay home. Stay at home unless you must go out for groceries, or some fresh air, but otherwise stay home."

"If we don't act now the situation will only get worse," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "The message is clear, you must stay at home to blunt the progression of this COVID-19."

He also warned again that the numbers of those with coronavirus will rise, but stated that everyone must work together. He continued, his voice almost shaking with emotion, "My destiny is in your hands and your destiny is in my hands, and where we go from here will depend on how we change our behavior...this is one time we are asking people within our region to stand together and act responsibly and block the spread of this virus."

"The best is yet ahead for all of us," Turner continued.

So what does this order mean?

Grocery stores and other essential businesses like pharmacies will remain open. Restaurants will remain open for takeout, delivery and drive-thru. The parks will remain open, but both Hidalgo and Turner have warned that this will only remain the case for as long as people are seen to be abiding by social distancing requirements. Daycares that supply support for essential workers, will also be allowed to stay open.

The order does not preclude workers in essential businesses, as defined by Homeland Security. There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof, according to Presidential Policy Directive 21. This includes waste and wastewater, healthcare and the public systems, IT, financial services, food and agriculture, emergency services, communications, the chemical sector, the energy sector, commercial facilities, and critical manufacturing.

Updated 6:00 p.m. Mar 23

Gov Greg Abbott has issued a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to issue a major disaster declaration because, Abbott writes, he has determined that COVID-19 "is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments."

Abbott warns that the situation—there are currently 182 confirmed or presumed positive cases in Harris County and more than 700 across the state—could have dire consequences if Texas continues on without more significant federal aid. "The state is faced with many issues to overcome, including a shortage of personal protective equipment, needed medical equipment, testing supplies, and more. As the number of those that contract COVID-19 increases, we are faced with shortages of hospital beds, medical equipment, and a healthy and adequate cadre of medical personnel," Abbott writes.

Updated 2:20 p.m. Mar 23

Harris County officials are preparing a shelter-in-place order, the Chron reports. Earlier today Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo noted that what she was considering can't accurately be described as simply a shelter-in-place order since this is not a hurricane or some other situation that will blow over quickly, but she noted that she would do what needed to be done to prevent the coronavirus epidemic from spiraling out of control and overwhelming our area's hospital system.

The news that an order is being prepared comes after Texas Medical Center President and CEO William McKeon stated Monday morning that he and other TMC officials were “unanimous in our strong recommendation to move to shelter in place."

It's unclear at this point what the order will look like, or when exactly it will be issued, but we'll be updating as this unfolds.

Updated 1:20 p.m. Mar 23

Mayor Sylvester Turner reiterated in a press conference this afternoon that there is no shelter-in-place order, although he is working with other officials to figure out the city's next steps.

The goal is to blunt the progression of the disease he said.

In regard to other shelter-in-place orders across the country, including Dallas County's order yesterday, Turner said Houston has already done many of things included in those orders. There are no large gatherings, schools are closed, there are no sporting or arts events, he said.

He repeated earlier comments that people should act responsibly—stay a safe distance from people in parks, don't hold private parties in your house, and work from home.

"Social distancing. Social distancing. Social distancing," he said.

Updated 10:45 a.m. Mar 23

In a Monday morning press conference Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated that the county is not issuing a shelter-in-place order yet, but said that the officials will do whatever is necessary to slow the spread of the virus.

There are now two county sites open to the public, each of them able to test up to 250 people per day, she said. The sites are now open to the public throughout the area whether you live in Harris County or not, although first responders are still being given priority. "I want to set that expectation that while there is much more testing than we were previously able to do, a triage is going on,” she said. Anyone who has symptoms and wants to be tested must be screened beforehand. To do so go to readyharris.org or call 832-927-7575 to begin the process.

There are now 51 confirmed or presumed positive cases in Harris County and more than 150 in the Houston area.

Updated 12:15 p.m. Mar 20

The city is not shutting down, Mayor Sylvester Turner stated at the start of his Friday noon press conference. While rumors had been spiraling on social media, he said that we are not to that point right now. "The city is not shutting down, we are just being strategic," he said. "There are only three people in the state, the mayor, the county judge, and the governor, who can do that, so unless you hear it from one of those three that's not what's happening."

There are now 77 confirmed cases in the Houston area, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The city's first drive-thru testing center has opened, and healthcare workers and first responders who have been exposed to the virus are the focus of testing for now. Anyone who is wanting to be tested needs to call and speak with a nurse before showing up at the testing site. Starting Saturday those who are 65 or older and experiencing symptoms will also be able to be tested for COVID-19 at the site, Turner said. FEMA has approved opening two sites in Houston and two sites in Harris County to allow people to be tested for the virus, and those are expected to go online soon, Turner said. He also warned that as testing increases we all need to expect a significant rise in the number of cases.

"This is what government is for, to be there in a time of crisis, and the government is here for you in this time of crisis," U.S. Rep. Al Green said during the Friday conference, underscoring that the federal government aid is on its way.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee elaborated on his point. She applauded younger people for seeking testing and for finally starting to take the calls for social distancing seriously, but she also asked that all of the community look out for the elderly population. "We should know that if you have symptoms it is across generations," she said. She said she is also working to help get personal protecting gear and more testing for the city. "The worst may be in front of us, but we are going to be prepared, not only with hope but with hard work."

"This is a family affair," Turner said, "and we are all working together."

Meanwhile, the IRS has extended the tax filing deadline to July 15, while President Donald Trump stated at a Friday morning press conference that he is not currently considering ordering a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.

So far Gov. Greg Abbott has said he is not planning on a statewide lockdown either, but he warned at a town hall on Thursday night that he would do what needed to be done if the pandemic's spread does not slow down in the state. "We'll consider anything we need to consider to contain this virus and get back to normal," Abbott said. "This is going to be a tough economic time ... the only thing that would be tougher is if we did not do anything and we get a situation like what they have in Italy. And we do not want that." (Italy's death toll surpassed China's as of Friday.)

Updated 3:35 p.m. Mar 19

The State Department has issued a "Do Not Travel" advisory, urging all U.S. citizens to not travel outside of the country, unless they are returning back to the country.

Many grocers and superstore have placed product limits per transaction on essentials, such as paper products, hand sanitizer, and baby food. Some of the stores to place limits include Walmart, H-E-B, and Central Market. Read more about what local grocery stores are doing in Houston here.

Updated 1:30 p.m. Mar 19

Gov Greg Abbott has declared a public health disaster, the first one in Texas in a century, over COVID-19.

Abbott also issued an executive order that requires all Texas bars, gyms, and restaurant dining rooms to close. Texas schools are also ordered to temporarily close. This order is not a shelter in place, Abbott said. The executive order will begin on Friday, March 20, and end on April 3. "We as a country must swiftly elevate our response to COVID-19," Abbott stated in the Thursday press conference. "It is essential that all Americans comply with the CDC standards."

Updated 11:30 a.m. Mar 19

In a press conference this morning, State Rep Shelia Jackson Lee and Mayor Turner announced free testing in Houston for people showing symptoms of the virus. There currently are several private testing sites, including United Memorial Medical Center, 510 W Tidwell Rd. This site will be open until 8 p.m. tonight, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. tomorrow, and it will be open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Friday beginning next week.

Houstonians will not be evicted throughout March. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced today she is prepared to extend the halt on eviction hearings as long as necessary.

Port Authority has temporarily closed public terminals to Barbours Cut and Bayport and suspended operations after learning a worker has tested positive for COVID-19. The greater Port of Houston, including The Houston Ship Channel and more than 200 private terminals, remain open.

President Trump signed a bill from Congress yesterday that allows for people showing COVID-19 symptoms to be tested for free. He also signed the Defense Production Act as a precaution. The act, which was first passed in 1950 to meet Korean War needs, would allow for more production to help medical supply shortages.

Updated 5:15 p.m. Mar 18

Mayor Turner has sent a letter to Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting federal aid for the restaurant and bar industry. Houston is the "Culinary Capital of the South," Turner wrote, and the local restaurant industry employs more than 300,000 people. In his letter, Turner asked for Congress to allow Texas to declare an Economic Injury Disaster, which would allow for small businesses and private non-profit organizations to apply for federal loans through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Read more about the program here.

Earlier in the day, members of the Houston food and drink community wrote an open letter to Turner asking for assistance. Amongst other requests, the letter, which has been signed by hundreds in the community, asks for rent relief, negotiation of delayed sales, paid sick leave for employees, and more.

Shopping mall giant Simon announced that as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, all of its malls, premium outlets, and mills across the country will be closed through March 29. In the Houston area, this includes the Galleria, Katy Mills, and Houston Premium Outlets.

Congress sent a relief package to President Trump Wednesday. The package would allow for $1 trillion in spending and would provide sick leave, unemployment benefits, free coronavirus testing, and food and medical aid to people impacted by COVID-19, according to The New York Times.

The New York Stock Exchange has closed trading after two people tested positive for Coronavirus. All-electronic trading will begin March 23.

Updated 12:00 p.m. Mar 18

Harris County has extended its disaster declaration for one week, while the first coronavirus victim in the state has been identified as a 97-year-old funeral director who was living in Bayside, a town about an hour and a half's drive from Houston. So far there are 13 cases of COVID-19 in Harris County, 40 in the Houston area, total, 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas and there have been three deaths.

On the national front, the White House is pushing to send out checks to Americans across the country in an effort to jumpstart the nation's stalled economy. And while Americans still need to file their taxes by April 15, there's now going to be a 90-day extension on payment.

Updated 10:00 a.m. Mar 17

City Council voted this morning to extend Mayor Turner's declaration of public disaster indefinitely. All city sponsored, produced, and permitted events will be postponed through the end of April. The public library will be closed through March. Turner encouraged council members and all city departments to work online and teleconference.

Governor Abbott announced yesterday that Texas is waiving certain rules regarding renewing expired vehicle registration, titling, and parking placards for people with disabilities. "By suspending these rules, Texans can avoid unnecessary crowds and in-person contact without fear of being penalized," Abbott said.

Yesterday, Fort Bend County District Clerk announced the temporary suspension of all passport application processing until further notice.

Updated 5:25 p.m. Mar 16

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has closed dining rooms, and all bars and clubs for the next 15 days, starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow, she announced at the evening press conference.

“We issued recommendations last week, but we saw too many people doing things in crowds when they didn’t need to.” Hidalgo said. “The reality is we’re at a pivotal point right now. The decisions you make to go home in groups or stay home will very much determine whether people will live or people will die.”

“I am ordering in Harris County—that means unincorporated areas as well as all of the cities of Harris County. Starting tomorrow at 8 a.m. restaurants must offer only delivery or drive-thru service, second all bars and clubs must close and finally whether you need to go out, stay home and stay away from crowds," she said.

Mayor Sylvester Turner acknowledged that this decision is going to be hard for many people who make their livelihoods in these industries, but explained that these measures are necessary. “All of the medical experts are advising if we don’t take definitive action now the cost will be much greater down the road,” Turner said.

While the number of infected people in the Houston area is still relatively low, the city and county are taking these actions to stave off this disease spreading so fast that it overwhelms the health system. “We are doing this to save lives,” Dr. David Persse, the head of the Houston Health Department, said. “These are aggressive steps, but there’s a reason we’re taking them.”

Updated 3:40 p.m. Mar 16

President Trump announced in a press conference that the CDC is issuing new recommendations asking Americans to avoid gatherings of any more than 10 people for the next 15 days. People are also being asked to avoid unnecessary travel, going to bars and restaurants, and food courts for the same time period. The CDC will reevaluate these advisories to see if they have adequately slowed the spread of the virus or if they need to be extended or further revised, Trump stated.

Here in Houston, the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Houston and Harris County officials are expected to announce an order to indefinitely close bars in the city and unincorporated areas of Harris County at a press conference with Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will hold today at 5 p.m. So far, it's unclear what officials will decide to do about the restaurants. They could limit seating capacity or opt to only allow drive-thru, takeout and delivery, forcing restaurants to close their dining rooms.

Updated 11:30 a.m. Mar 16

In an 11 a.m. press conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner appeared, flanked by grocery store representatives from Kroger, HEB, and Randall's, all assembled to reassure the public that despite the long lines there are no indications that the food supply is in danger or that it will be as the ongoing pandemic plays out.

Scott McClelland, president of HEB, spelled out what the grocery stores in the Houston area are dealing with, and what people can expect in the coming weeks.

“We’re only at the beginning of this thing,” he said, going on to explain that they are modeling to keep things running as the pandemic continues to play out and impacts workers and other parts of the system. “We may only have three or four kinds of bread where we would normally have a much bigger variety, but we will have bread, we will have food and supplies” he said. “If we act responsibly we will be able to slow the curve of this,” he said. “I am celebrating 30 years with HEB this month, and I have never seen anything like this in my life.”

Additionally, the grocers stated they have new jobs available to keep up with demands during this time.

"Let's show the world what Houston is made of," Turner concluded. "Let's just pace ourselves and we will get through it."

Updated 10:40 a.m. Mar 16

In an announcement Monday morning, Governor Abbott announced that he's waived all State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, STAAR, testing for the 2019-20 school year. Additionally, he's requested that the Department of Education waive federal testing requirements for the school year as well. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told superintendents yesterday to be prepared for some schools to remain closed for the rest of the academic year. Read more here.

The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Sunday an extension on expired driver licenses to 60 days after the end of the state declaration of public disaster. Your license will still be considered valid if it expired on or after March 13, and the current date is within those 60 days after the public disaster declaration has ended.

On Sunday, Harris County announced two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the state to eight. Also on Sunday, the CDC recommended that all gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks be cancelled or postponed.

Updated 12:30 p.m. Mar 14

President Trump has announced he will be expanding the European travel ban to the UK and Ireland in a Saturday morning press conference.

Meanwhile, Houstonians returning from travels abroad in one of the banned countries will not be landing directly in Houston. Instead all incoming travelers are to arrive at one of 13 destinations in the U.S. where they will be carefully screened and advised to self quarantine for two weeks once they arrive home.

Updated 5:25 p.m. Mar 13

Mayor Sylvester Turner's Friday evening press conference reminded everyone that the city is still open, even though all city-sponsored or permitted events are cancelled. When it comes to faith-based organizations, he stated that he is not making a ruling, but is encouraging the churches and worship centers to make careful decisions and, if they opt to gather, to gather responsibly. So no hugging, handshaking or unnecessary contact.

With restaurants, again he is asking everyone to please be responsible. He is not asking that they close, just that they be smart about what they're doing.

On the grocery stores, "there is no need to bum-rush the grocery stores," he said. And with water, the water is safe, Turner stated, and the city will not be turning off any water, whether you've paid your bill or not, through April.

"We are taking this coronavirus, COVID-19, very very seriously, but I also want the people to take a collective breath," he said. "Are we anticipating more cases? Yes ... but there's no reason to overwhelm the grocery stores."

Houstonians have done a good job of social distancing, avoiding unneeded contact and the large crowds and other situations that are more prone to lead to transmitting the disease, Dr. David Persse, of the City Health Department, noted. But people will need to be patient, and to remember that this will not simply be dealt with overnight or even within the next week. "As we do more testing we're going to be expecting more cases. This is not one week and done," Turner said.

"In order for us to get through it, we are literally going to have to pace ourselves and change our habits," Turner said. "For now, and in the foreseeable future we are going to have to learn to even worship in a different way. ... but we will get through it."

Updated 5 p.m. Mar 13

Sugar Land has issued a public disaster declaration. Any event of more than 250 people sponsored or permitted by the city of Sugar Land will cease, including shows at the Smart Financial Centre. Municipal Court appearances, trials and arraignments are canceled and will be rescheduled. he T.E. Harman Center is closed due to its members being at greater risk, according to a release.

There are now more than 20 people who have tested positive or are presumed positive for coronavirus in the Houston area, while there are more than 40 in Texas so far.

Updated 2:30 p.m. Mar 13

President Trump has declared a national emergency to combat coronavirus. This allows hospitals to expand how they care for patients, how all of the health system can handle this crisis going forward, he went on to explain. The federal government is partnering with private enterprise to expand testing ability as rapidly as possible. Using federal emergency authorities the FDA has approved testing that will increase U.S. testing capacity by more than one million by next week. "This will pass, this will pass, and we'll be even stronger for it," he said during his press conference in the Rose Garden.

Trump stated he is also expanding U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar's authority, allowing Azar to waive requirements so that hospitals and doctors will have more flexible options to treat patients, including offering remote treatment. He will also be signing executive orders, including one forgiving student loan interest, and he is asking the U.S. Energy Department to purchase oil for the strategic oil reserves to get the oil prices back up.

Updated 12:20 p.m. Mar 13

Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in the state. He is also directing state agencies to lock down and intensely screen visitation to nursing homes, prisons, and juvenile homes. State employees are to be encouraged to work at home if they think they are ill in any way. He is encouraging people to utilize tele-medicine when at all possible. "During this time we need all Texans to do their part," he said, which means washing your hands and being responsible about that.

"There is absolutely no need to go out and stock up on supplies," he continued. "Texas is in the best position to handle this. We have been working with grocers and retailers and Texans need to understand that we are prepared." So people should stop stockpiling water, toilet paper and other supplies.

Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health services said that so far testing is still only offering tests to those who are exhibiting symptoms, who have interacted with someone known to have the disease, or have been to a place where the disease is known to have been found. This is partly because our state testing ability is still only able to test 273 people per day, according to Abbott. The testing rate will be expanded significantly by next week, Abbott said.

The state is working with officials in Dallas and Austin to set up drive-thru testing sites, but there was no mention of creating such a testing site in Houston, during the noon press conference.

Meanwhile, Galveston County has its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19.

President Donald Trump is expected to declare a national state of emergency later today.

Updated 2:20 p.m. Mar 12

The Harris County Toll Road Authority has stopped taking cash payments at any part of its system. People are to drive through their normal lanes, and tolls will be recorded electronically to prevent toll both attendants and customers having to interact any more than necessary.

Fort Bend County joined Harris County in declaring the coronavirus a public health disaster.

On Thursday afternoon, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough signed a 30-day declaration of disaster, canceling all gatherings of 250 people or more. The declaration also urges nursing homes and senior centers to limit visitation. Courts, law enforcement and schools are not included in the declaration.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also issued new guidelines on Thursday, recommending that large gatherings with 200 or more people should be canceled, seniors should avoid large gatherings, people with pre-existing conditions should avoid large gatherings, and employers should let people work from home if possible. So far, schools have not been canceled.

Officials announced that Houston's third patient has tested positive for the coronavirus. "The case is travel-related through direct contact with a known case in New York state and there is no evidence of local community spread," the Houston Health Department stated Thursday. The woman, who is somewhere between the ages of 15 and 25, attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 8, when she was still asymptomatic, according to the Health Department.

The Harris County Health Department announced that a sixth person has been presumed positive for COVID-19, the fourth presumptive positive case in Harris County, but outside of Houston.

Updated 9:50 a.m. Mar 12

Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston will be providing emergency kits with a week’s worth of shelf-stable food to 4,300-plus homebound seniors, per an announcement yesterday. However, the organization needs help raising $40,000 of the $60,000 required to complete this project, and they are asking the public for donations. To donate, click here. To learn more about the project, click here.

Yesterday, Mayor Turner announced that all city-sponsored or city-permitted events through March would be cancelled or postponed. For a list of cancellations, click here.

Updated 1:55 p.m. Mar 11

In a press conference on this afternoon, officials announced RodeoHouston is being closed early due to public health concerns. Rodeo grounds will be cleared by 4 p.m., said Joel Cowley, president and CEO of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Mayor Sylvester Turner also announced he will be signing a declaration of a seven-day public health disaster later today, and that all city-related or city-sponsored events through March are being cancelled or rescheduled. However, city employees are still expected to be at work.

Both Turner and David Persse of the Houston Health Department urged Houstonians to be sensible. Do not go to the doctor unless you are showing symptoms, if you feel sick stay home, wash your hands with soap and water, and do not panic. Also, stop stock-piling toilet paper.

Check out our story about the conference for more information.

Updated 11:25 a.m. Mar 11

Reports are coming out that RodeoHouston officials are expected to announce the closure of the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at a noon press conference due to concerns about coronavirus. This will be a reversal of earlier contentions that the annual weeks-long event was not an issue because it was local, as the Chron has noted.

Updated 10:15 a.m. Mar 11

St. Thomas' Episcopal School will be closed for two weeks after school officials learned that a student may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The Houston Chronicle staff is now working from home after learning that four of their reporters attended a conference in New Orleans that was also attended by someone who has since tested positive for the virus.

The count of confirmed or presumed positive cases in the Houston area is up to 14, and now includes a man from Montgomery County (the county's first confirmed case and the first non-travel related case) and a woman who was on a flight from Italy on March 3. Harris County has called for any first class passengers who flew from Florence to Frankfurt on Lufthansa 309 or from Frankfurt to Houston on United Flight 47 on the same day to self quarantine until they are sure they have not contracted the disease.

Updated at 2:43 p.m. Mar 10

The Food Bank is preparing quarantine kits as a precaution and needs volunteers. Find out more here.

Texas A&M University has joined the growing list of colleges responding to the threat of COVID-19, cancelling classes until March 18 because of the virus. The university has no plans to move to online-only classes at this time, according to a release issued this afternoon.

Posted at noon Mar 9

What we know: Coronavirus is a fast-moving disease that has spread from Asia to most of the globe since it first cropped up in the Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province of China around the start of the year. The clinical nature of the virus is still unclear, according to the Houston Health Department. While some cases have been extremely mild, the department notes that a report from China indicates that 16 percent of those who contract the disease experience serious illness. Older people with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk of developing serious cases of the virus.

The Houston Health Department opened a call center to answer people's questions about coronavirus, running from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Houstonians can call 832-393-4220. Houston health care providers can call 832-393-5080.

Cancellations: Rice University chose to cancel in-person classes through March 13 after an employee tested positive for the virus. The university has also stated that professors are preparing to teach "the majority of its classes remotely if that should prove necessary." Research is allowed to continue in small groups on campus, but all events, gatherings, and parties of 100 people or more are prohibited through April 30.

Despite Austin's cancellation of South By Southwest, the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show is still under way, although officials have asked people to be sensible, wash their hands and observe all of the other precautions you would be taking during flu season.

The rumor mill: There are a lot of rumors spreading through the area, and Harris County has set up a website specifically to provide the correct information about what is going on. For starters, wearing a mask is not recommended unless you are exhibiting signs of illness yourself. Otherwise, it won't protect you from the virus. And remember, it is perfectly safe to visit Asiatown and any other Asian businesses. Wherever you go, the main thing is to wash your hands thoroughly—20 seconds at least—and to be as sensible as you would be about germs during the flu season.

Other news: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced that he interacted with a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference who has since tested positive for the coronavirus. “That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake,” Cruz said in a statement. Cruz has opted to self-quarantine “until a full 14 days have passed since the CPAC interaction,” though the interaction does not require him to do so based on the Center for Disease Control's criteria.

Mayor Sylvester Turner subsequently interacted with Cruz at a recent event, but has already announced that his interactions do not meet the CDC requirements for self-quarantine and he is showing no symptoms of the disease.

Public Health, Coronavirus

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