News

The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – December 10

By The Woodlands Township | December 10, 2020

The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on December 10, 2020.

COVID-19 Testing in The Woodlands — Insurance Updates, Second Testing Site Added
Testing is taking place at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, Texas 77381. As part of the COVID-19 testing, customers will now be asked to submit their insurance information when scheduling a test. Testing is still offered at no cost to the customer. Customers without insurance will still be tested at no personal cost using coverage from the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. Please note, WALK-UPS WELCOME.

Additionally, Curative will be adding a second testing site in The Woodlands hosted by the Township, at Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way. The site will open December 14, 2020, and remain open through January 31, 2021. It will be a “self-serve” drive-thru operation with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Please note the following holiday hours for both sites below. These may be different from hours that were published previously:

Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2020 – Closed
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2020 – Closed
New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31, 2020 – Closed
New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2021 – Closed

For more information about COVID-19 testing at Town Hall, please visit the Township website.

County News

Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count December 10, 2020
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can sadly confirm an additional death related to COVID-19.

A man in his 40s, from Conroe, died in the hospital. There were no co-morbidities noted in his medical records.

They can also confirm:

TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 238 to 20,252 since yesterday’s (12/9) report. Of the 238 new cases, 202 were tested since 11/29/2020.
ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 116 to 4,736 since yesterday’s (12/9) report.
29 residents are known, as a result of contact investigations, to be in the hospital. Contact investigations have not been initiated on all reported cases.
11,876 people have clinically recovered.

The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 11.7%. This number is updated weekly on Wednesdays. You can find more information here.
Follow CDC guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Avoid groups of people.
Practice social distancing.
Wear a mask in public (over your nose and mouth) or with others who live outside your household. Never share a mask with others.
Teach children proper hygiene and the correct way to wear a mask.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
Disinfect surfaces in your car and around your home.

*These numbers include PCR and rapid antigen testing. Antibody testing is not included. Have questions? Please go to https://mcphd-tx.org/ and scroll down to the FAQs.
You can find more information on the SETRAC website, setrac.org. View the case-by-case updates from last week on the MCPHD website. You can refer to the dashboard. View the latest CDC guidelines.

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) publishes their daily case count, combined with the City of Houston’s daily case count, here. Cases by zip code in Harris County can be found by clicking on areas of the map.

The Village of Creekside Park is located in two zip codes: 77375 and 77389, and these also include Magnolia, Augusta Pines/Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road in northwest Harris County. Today, Harris County is reporting zip code 77375 has 1,911 confirmed positive cases with 314 active cases, and 77389 has 1,055 confirmed positive cases with 193 active cases.

COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
All numbers since December 8, 2020.

Montgomery County
20,252 – Confirmed, +468
4,736 – Active, +261
182 – Deaths, +5
11,876 – Recovered, +202
29 – Hospitalized, -2

Harris County
100,257 – Confirmed, +1,220
12,339 – Active Cases, +20
1,036 – Deaths, +12
86,867 – Recovered +1,188

Montgomery County Testing
Do you have questions regarding COVID-19 or COVID-19 testing? The Montgomery County COVID-19 Call Center’s number is 936-523-3916. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Harris County Testing
Residents may also sign up for free COVID-19 testing online at hcphtx.org. Call 832-927-7575 for more information.

State and National News

FTC Announces New Fraud Reporting Platform for Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission has launched a new website, ReportFraud.ftc.gov, where consumers can easily report fraud and all other consumer issues directly to the FTC.

At ReportFraud.ftc.gov, consumers will find a streamlined and user-friendly way to submit reports to the FTC about scams, frauds, and bad business practices. The FTC has long encouraged consumers to report these issues to the FTC when they encounter them—whether or not they lost money to the fraud. Every time you report scams or bad business practices to the FTC, you’re helping to protect your community.

Federal Trade Commission Offers Tips to Avoid Job Scams
For lots of people, the holiday season is a good time to pick up some part-time work. It’s when retailers and delivery services need extra help. And, especially during the pandemic, many could use the cash. So how can you spot and avoid a job scam, whether for a temporary or permanent position? Read more from the Federal Trade Commission’s third day of Consumer Protection.

It’s a Good Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine
While the United States remains focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to be aware of flu season as winter approaches, with activity peaking between December and February. Getting vaccinated now can lower your chances of getting the flu. Flu vaccines approved by the FDA provide important benefits and are your best defense from flu and its potential complications. Learn more from the FDA.

COVID-19 Vaccines are in the Pipeline; Beware of Scammers
Reports about the release of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year are promising, but plans for distribution are still being worked out. While we wait for a timeline and more information, there’s no doubt scammers will be scheming. Read the full article for what you need to know to avoid a vaccine-related scam.

CDC Recommendations for Winter Celebrations, Travel and Other Activities
Enjoy the holidays and take steps to protect yourself from getting or spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Read the full article for more information on holiday travel, tips to stay safe, safer celebrations and other winter holiday activities.

Governor Participates in White House COVID-19 Vaccine Governors Panel
As part of the White House Summit on the COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Greg Abbott participated in a Governors panel moderated by United States Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on December 8, 2020. The panel discussed the development, regulation, delivery and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the country. Governor Abbott was joined on the panel by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Louisiana Governor John Bell Edwards, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Resources and video stream can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/.

Governor, TDEM Launch COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program
On Monday, December 7, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) launched a COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program for front line workers at Texas small businesses. This program will help small businesses throughout the state conduct rapid tests on employees to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Read the full press release.

Governor Extends State Disaster Declaration for COVID-19
On Sunday, December 6, 2020, Governor Abbott renewed the disaster proclamation for all counties in Texas for December 2020. Read the full proclamation.

Governor Announces Extension of Emergency SNAP Benefits
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provide approximately $204 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of December as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full press release.

Community Resources

Numerous resources are available in the community for support. These vary from food banks to financial assistance and much more. Please visit the Community Resources webpage to find more information about resources in the community related to COVID-19.

Travel Confidently in The Woodlands
Making travel plans this holiday season? Whether you’re looking to stay in The Woodlands or just here for the day, don’t forget to #WearAMask. Wearing a mask and social distancing are some of the ways you can #TravelConfidently in The Woodlands.

Local hotels are offering special offers for the holidays, check out the Visit The Woodlands website to book directly. All of The Woodlands hotel properties are open and ready to welcome you to their location. Each property has implemented enhanced health and safety procedures, as recommended by the CDC. To learn more about what each property is doing to protect guests against COVID-19, click on the “COVID-19 Updates” button within each hotel listing. For additional information from the CDC regarding holiday travel, please visit their website.

The Woodlands Township COVID-19 eNewsletter
The Woodlands Township COVID-19 (Coronavirus) informational enewsletter is published every Tuesday and Thursday and as needed. Manage your notifications and subscriptions.

Township’s Coronavirus Page
The Woodlands Township’s COVID-19 page can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19. This page features Montgomery and Harris county hubs, community resources and news from the Federal Government and the CDC. It also includes the latest news from the Township, partner agencies, important links, FAQs, live Twitter feeds and more.

Source: The Woodlands Township