News

The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – February 11

By The Woodlands Township | February 11, 2021

The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on Thursday, February 11, 2021.

Winter Weather Ahead

Stay safe during the expected winter weather heading into our area this weekend and early next week. Follow your favorite weather station or app, or visit www.weather.gov. Remember to protect people, pets, pipes and plants. Also plan to limit outdoor exposure early next week as wind chills are expected to be unusually cold.There is still time to prep your home to avoid any damage that could have been prevented. Be prepared to be out of power as well.

Depending on your area, you can expect downed power lines as well as trees. As always, The Woodlands Fire Department will be monitoring the weather and preparing to respond and recover in our area.

What is the danger? The most significant threat will be prolonged periods of extreme cold beginning Sunday night and lasting until Tuesday. Long periods of below freezing weather can be hazardous for people and animals. It can also cause water pipes to freeze and burst.
Read more on What You Should Do.

VACCINE NEWS

Vaccine Registration is Open Now
A number of COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs and vaccination sites are available around The Woodlands and Montgomery County. The Woodlands Township has compiled this information for residents to use in making their decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccines. The Township is not a vaccine hub and is not administering vaccines to residents at this time. Please note, vaccine availability and eligibility is currently limited and demand is high. You may be placed on a waitlist until more vaccine supply is available.Your patience is appreciated. Learn more.

Individual hospitals, physicians’ offices and pharmacies may also have vaccines available to eligible populations. Please check their websites for additional information. You can find a list of providers and additional information on the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) website here: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine-hubs.aspx.

Counties Open Vaccine Hotlines for Seniors
Due to the overwhelming online response to COVID-19 vaccine registration, Montgomery and Harris Counties have established hotlines for senior constituents. These phone numbers may be utilized as needed to sign up for vaccine waitlists and access resources related to the vaccines.

The Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management offers call center hours Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Montgomery County residents, 65 years and older, can call 936-523-3916 during these hours to be assisted.

Harris County has established a hotline for their senior constituents through the HCP4 Encore Department. The HCP4 Encore staff is available as a resource to offer more information on the vaccination registration process from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 713-274-4050.

Montgomery County Offers Online Waitlist
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has established a county-wide waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine.

People eligible for the vaccine, in Phase 1A or 1B, can sign up here: www.mctxoem.org. After signing up, please watch your email closely over the next few weeks. Invitations to make an appointment will be sent via email when supply is available.

Free Vaccinations at Select CVS Stores
The Woodlands is one of the locations for CVS Pharmacy to offer the free vaccine. The pharmacy is administering the vaccine by appointment only based on local eligibility guidelines. This location is fully booked at this time, but residents are encouraged to keep checking for availability. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

Vaccine Facts: Should I Expect Side Effects from the COVID-19 Vaccines?
Side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine are normal signs your body is building protection. Side effects may even feel like flu and might affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Watch the video to learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html

COVID-19 Texas Vaccination Data Dashboard
A dashboard is available through the Texas Department of State Health Services showing COVID-19 vaccination data in Texas. The charts below illustrate vaccines allocated, shipped and administered in the state of Texas, Montgomery County and Harris County, as of February 1, 2021. View the dashboard.

CDC COVID Data Tracker
CDC’s home for COVID-19 data, the COVID Data Tracker, has a new homepage with updated tools and features. These improvements make it easier to find needed data to help protect yourself, your family and your community. Data sets are updated daily, and new features are added every week. Search for data by county.

Get Your Flu Shot
With both flu and COVID-19 circulating this season, getting a flu shot is more important than ever. Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

State News

Governor Abbott, TDHCA Announce Statewide COVID-19 Rental Relief Program
Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has launched the Texas Rent Relief Program — the first statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households throughout Texas. This program has been created to administer the more than $1 billion allocated to Texas through the latest federal COVID-19 stimulus bill. TDHCA will begin accepting applications for the program on Monday, February 15, 2021, but Texans can visit TexasRentRelief.com starting today to learn more about qualifications, required documents, and the application process. Read more about the program.

COVID-19 TESTING

Curative Testing at the Township
Testing takes place seven days a week at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381, and Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382, with daily hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ups are welcome.

Curative’s testing sites at Town Hall and Sterling Ridge Park and Ride have been extended through March 31, 2021. An additional testing location at Rob Fleming Aquatic Center (parking lot) will be opening as a walk-up/mobile testing site beginning February 24 through March 24, 2021.

For more information about COVID-19 testing by Curative, please visit the Township website, or www.curative.com.

Please note, the FDA recently issued a warning regarding false test results from Curative.

County News

Montgomery County Public Health confirms three additional deaths related to COVID-19:

A man in his 50s, from Conroe, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.
A man in his 50s, from Porter, died in the hospital. There were no co-morbidities noted in his medical records.
A man in his 50s, from New Caney, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.

In addition:

TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 333 to 42,810 since yesterday’s (2/10) report. All 333 cases were tested since 1/28/2021.
ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 28 to 5,308 since yesterday’s (2/10) report.
87 county residents are known, as a result of contact investigations, to be in the hospital. Contact investigations have not been initiated on all reported cases.
20,267 people have clinically recovered

The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 15%, down from 17%. This number is updated weekly on Wednesdays.
Source: UT Health, School of Public Health

*These numbers include PCR and rapid antigen testing. They do not include antibody testing.

You can view the case-by-case updates on the MCPHD website here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/. You can refer to the dashboard here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

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

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 3,576 confirmed positive cases with 347 active cases, and 77389 has 2,007 confirmed positive cases with 210 active cases.

COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
All numbers since February 9, 2021

Montgomery County

42,810 – Confirmed +549
5,308 – Active +131
229 – Deaths +4
20,267 – Recovered +410
87 – Hospitalized +15

Harris County

167,847 – Confirmed +1,709
17,720 – Active Cases -1,309
1,251 – Deaths +8
148,858 – Recovered +3,010

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.

AROUND THE TOWNSHIP

Please Keep Your Street Clear for Emergency Vehicles
Over the past several months, public safety has seen an increase in vehicles parking on residential streets, as more people are working and schooling from home. In an emergency, emergency vehicles safely arriving at a call for service quickly is imperative. Parking on both sides of the street inhibits the safe movement of fire apparatus, ambulances, and law enforcement vehicles. Non-emergency vehicles are also impacted including garbage trucks, school buses and mail delivery. Please park in your driveway or garage.

Visit The Woodlands Recovery Plan
In The Woodlands, hotels, restaurants, shopping and many of your favorite outdoor activities are opened with enhanced safety protocols. Travel and tourism is a huge economic generator for our community. It was important to gradually reopen with a strategic and phased Recovery Plan, which is available for you to read from the Visit The Woodlands website. We are looking forward to safely welcoming you back. And in The Woodlands, our welcome is more than a gesture, it is a encouragement to protect your health while extending our heartfelt hospitality. Learn more about The Woodlands Recovery Plan.

RESOURCES

February is American Heart Month
When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same. Focusing on your heart health has never been more important. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. About 1,237,000 people in Texas have coronary heart disease. This is the most common form of heart disease and can often be prevented. Learn more about Heart Month from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Be a Giver. Commit to Life.
The Woodlands Family YMCAs to Host Blood Donor Coach.

Branch Crossing YMCA, 8100 Ashlane Way
Friday, February 26, 2021 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
https://www.commitforlife.org/…/drive_schedule/322266

Shadowbend YMCA, 6145 Shadowbend Place
Friday, March 5, 2021 | 3 to 7 p.m.
https://www.commitforlife.org/…/drive_schedule/327181

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC)
SETRAC is a powerful coalition of providers, responders and other healthcare related partners united together to save lives and improve health outcomes through research, education and collaboration. You can find more information and view hospital use related to COVID-19 on their website, setrac.org.

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