Greetings!
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo today issued a
"Stay Home, Work Safe" Order
for Harris County residents. The order goes into effect at 11:59 tonight and will remain in effect until April 3
unless modified, to further contain the spread of COVID-19 in our area.
It applies to Harris County, Houston, as well as other municipalities and unincorporated areas within the county.
The order requires everyone to remain at home unless they are conducting essential business such as grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy, picking up food or going to work at businesses that are deemed essential. Again, essential businesses, like gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies, are exempt and will remain open. Additionally, restaurants can continue to offer takeout and provide deliveries. Daycare facilities that provide support for essential employees can remain open as well.
Parks will remain open, but the use of playgrounds, benches, workout and play equipment is prohibited. Avoid touching any public drinking fountains, and take the necessary precautions — both before and after — in the case that you do.
So what does this all mean for most Houstonians? Simply put, stay at home and avoid unnecessary outings.
Community Testing
The City of Houston and Harris County have tested hundreds of high-risk symptomatic for COVID-19 at Houston’s first community based testing sites during the first five days of operation. The sites are only testing people pre-identified as high-risk through a two-step screening process. The initial screening is
done online
with only those meeting certain risk criteria moving on to a phone-based screening with a medical professional. Residents can go to
www.ReadyHarris.org
to begin the screening process. Only after the phone screening will qualified residents be directed to a testing site.
Anyone requiring technical assistance or translations services is encouraged to call the Harris County Public Health call bank, which is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 832-927-7575.
On Tuesday, the Houston Health Department announced 31 new positive Coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 55. The one-day spike is a result of a batch of reports received by the department from commercial laboratories. Statewide, there are 755 confirmed cases, and nearly 44,000 cases across the country.
Food Distribution
We are in regular communication with our friends at the Houston Food Bank and HISD who continue to operate food distribution sites at
area high schools
during the districtwide school closure. Distribution will take place outside in the parking lot and families must sign-in. The program will be reviewed throughout the week and extended, as needed.
The Houston Parks Department has also begun a Curbside Meal Program for Youth, ages 1 to 18. The Curbside Meal distribution of a snack and lunch will take place Monday – Friday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. The program is offered at
47 community centers
throughout the city. See attached list of community centers to find a site nearest you.
As a reminder, HISD has extended its districtwide closure through Friday, April 10. The district is scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 13.
Grocery Stores Operational/No Need to Stockpile Supplies
I once again want to remind residents that grocery stores are not shutting down. It's always good to be prepared, but not to panic shop. While there are no issues with the food supply chain, due to the unnecessary stockpiling by some, stores are running out of certain items much sooner than they normally would. But grocers are restocking to keep up with the high demand.
Regulations for Bars & Restaurants in Effect
All restaurants, bars and food-service establishments have been ordered to suspend dining-in. This does not affect restaurant carry-out, delivery or drive-thru services, third-party delivery services, or grocery stores.
To the extent possible, I encourage residents to order takeout or delivery in support of our local restaurants and other small businesses over the next few weeks to help mitigate this disruption.
Small Business & Worker Assistance
As I mentioned last week, the Small Business Administration is working with state leaders to provide assistance to small businesses and employers that have been severely impacted by this disruption. Small businesses should visit
www.sba.gov/coronavirus
for more information. We also continue to monitor a stimulus plan that is making its way through Congress to assist businesses and workers.
As a reminder, the federal government is allowing Americans who owe a payment to the IRS to defer payment for 90 days.
METRO Bus Service & Harris County Tollways
For essential employees who will have to travel to work during the "Stay Home, Work Safe" Order, the Harris County Toll Road Authority is making tollways free for 30 days beginning today (March 24).
METRO is temporarily suspending collection of fares on local bus, light rail, Park & Ride and METROLift. Delays on certain routes are expected, so please plan accordingly, including adjustment of your travel schedule. Additionally, METRO officials are placing even greater emphasis on disinfecting surfaces frequently touched by the public during daily bus and rail cleaning.
No Utility Disruption, Grace Period Offered
The City of Houston will not turn off the water of customers who are behind on their bills during this health crisis. Additionally, Houston Solid Waste garbage and recycling collection is operating under normal schedules at this time.
Similarly, CenterPoint Energy has suspended disconnections of natural gas service for nonpayment situations.
Comcast, AT&T also plan to drop data caps, and pledged not to terminate delinquent internet accounts during this time. Check with your service provider for more information.
If You Have Symptoms
Most people with COVID-19 will feel like they have a bad cold or the flu. Some people will require hospitalization. If you develop symptoms, healthcare professionals recommend that you distance yourself from family members and friends. Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces regularly. Contact your local primary care provider for guidance, but do not go to the Emergency Room, unless you are in a critical situation.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when you can't wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, use the elbow of your sleeve. Don't use your hands to cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Maintain social distancing of at least six feet.
If you have any questions regarding COVID-19, the Houston Health Department has established a Call Center: 832-393-4220. Additionally, you can text CV19 to 888777 for COVID-19 alerts. Visit
www.ReadyHarris.org
or
www.HoustonEmergency.org
for more information.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to call my office at 832-393-3011 or via email at
districti@houstontx.gov
. While our office is closed to foot traffic, our office is in operation and staff members will be working remotely from home while the order is in effect. We are committed to providing residents the same level of support and service during this time, and encourage you to contact us.
Lastly, I ask all District I residents to please complete the Census! For the first time ever, you can complete the Census online. It's quick, easy, and safe. Census data will help determine billions of dollars in funding for our hospitals, emergency services, and healthcare programs - and we will need it to begin a strong recovery from the impacts of Coronavirus. Visit
www.2020Census.gov
to begin.
Together we will get through this. I thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time, and I appreciate your patience.
Respectfully,
