News
The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – January 12
The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
Local Hospitalization Threshold
Trauma Service Area Q, which includes Harris and Montgomery counties, has experienced more than seven (7) consecutive days above the 15 percent COVID hospitalization threshold indicated in Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32. As a result, the Texas Department of State Health Services has listed Trauma Service Area Q as a high hospitalization area which puts in place occupancy restriction rollbacks included in GA-32. According to GA-32, bars in these counties may not operate, and restaurants and other non-essential businesses are restricted to an indoor occupancy limit of 50 percent. In addition, certain elective surgeries are prohibited.
The trauma area must have seven consecutive days below the 15 percent threshold to return to the 75 percent occupancy limits, for bars to be able to operate and for certain elective surgeries to resume. Read GA-32 in full, originally issued in October 2020 in response to COVID-19.
View Hospital Use Through 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. SETRAC data for regional hospitalizations was last updated 1/6/2021.
Vaccine News
Governor Tours Arlington Vaccination Site, Provides Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts
Governor Greg Abbott today held a press conference in Arlington where he provided an update on Texas’ COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. Prior to the press conference, the Governor attended a briefing and toured the mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the Arlington Expo Center. Read the full press release.
Vaccine Distribution
Currently, vaccines are being distributed through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) directly to individual providers such as hospitals, pharmacies, physicians’ offices and clinics. At this time, Montgomery County Public Health District (MCPHD) is not involved in mass distribution of the vaccine to the public.
Vaccines are currently available only to certain populations, including healthcare workers, long-term care residents, those over the age of 65 and those with certain health conditions. The best course of action for the general public at this time is to keep up with the state’s timeline for availability.
A map shows where provider locations are available in your area. Once you have determined that you are eligible for a vaccine and found a provider on the link above, contact the preferred provider to confirm the vaccine’s availability and make an appointment if necessary. Read the complete release from MCPHD.
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 dashboard has many aspects of important information in sum and by county for variables including vaccine distribution, type of organizations receiving the distributions, doses administered and people vaccinated. View the dashboard.
Additional CDC Vaccine Information
Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is limited at first, initial supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine are allocated to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. Read the following CDC articles for more information. 8 Things to Know About the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program, When Vaccine is Limited, Who Gets Vaccinated First?, Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination.
Beware of Scams Related to the Vaccine
Read the full article for what you need to know to avoid a vaccine-related scam. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a new website, ReportFraud.ftc.gov, where consumers can easily report fraud and all other consumer issues directly to the FTC.
Be Sure 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 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 Testing
Curative Testing at the Township
Testing is taking place at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, Texas 77381, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Customers are asked to submit their insurance information. Testing is 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. Walk-ups are welcome.
A second testing site in The Woodlands is located at Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way. The site is open through January 31, 2021. It is a “self-serve” drive-thru operation with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
For more information about COVID-19 testing by Curative, please visit the Township website, or www.curative.com.
Please note the FDA issued a warning regarding false test results from Curative.
County News
Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count January 12, 2021
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can confirm an all-time high of COVID-19 hospitalizations and active cases in Montgomery County.
It’s imperative that we all follow CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of further spread:
- 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.
For information and to check availability of vaccines, please visit the Vaccination Page on the Coronavirus Hub for Montgomery County.
As of today:
- TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 723 to 31,822 since yesterday’s (1/11) report. Of the 723 new cases, 642 were tested since 12/31/2020.
- ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 162 to 10,394 since yesterday’s (1/11) report. On Tuesdays, they classify additional cases they have been unable to contact for more than 30 days as “inactive.” Today, they added 450 inactive cases.
- 79 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.
- 15,651 people have clinically recovered.
The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 22%. This number is updated weekly on Wednesdays. Source: UT Health, School of Public Health.
You can view the case-by-case updates on the MCPHD website. You can also refer to the dashboard.
Do you have 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 4:30 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 2,913 confirmed positive cases with 705 active cases, and 77389 has 1,624 confirmed positive cases with 388 active cases.
COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
All numbers since January 5, 2021
Montgomery County
- 31,822 – Confirmed +2,174
- 10,394 – Active +1,021
- 192 – Deaths +3
- 15,651 – Recovered +700
- 79 – Hospitalized +11
Harris County
- 136,694- Confirmed +7,794
- 24,792 – Active Cases +3,433
- 1,115 – Deaths +15
- 110,770 – Recovered +4,346
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.
Resources
CDC COVID Data Tracker
The CDC provides updated national information online daily. CDC’s COVID Data Tracker has a County View to help make decisions about everyday activities.
Keep Up with Best Practices During the Pandemic at CDC.GOV
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Community Assistance Center Hosts Free Market for Groceries
Community Assistance Center and the Montgomery County Food Bank will host a free market on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at 8 a.m., at 1022 McCall Ave, Conroe, TX 77301. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and free groceries will be available while supplies last. For more information, please visit www.cac-mctx.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
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