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The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – January 21

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The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

The Woodlands Township to Hold Board of Directors Meeting Electronically

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will hold a Regular Board Meeting via videoconference today, January 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. View the release, including links to the agenda and information on public comment. The Board is expected to discuss the latest information related to COVID-19. Watch live at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/meetingvideos.

HOSPITAL NEWS

COVID-19 Update from Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD)

Hospital Comparison Data
Daily, MCHD monitors local and regional hospital capacities and volume. The hospitals within Montgomery County belong to larger systems, which means they will collaborate with their other facilities across the region if patients need to be transferred. For example, a patient may need to be transferred to The Medical Center (TMC) from Montgomery County or vice versa. MCHD monitors local and regional daily data to analyze trends and capacity as it relates to COVID-19 patients.

An example of how this data is used would be the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed capacity. As of January 20, 2021, 38.9 percent of the patients in the ICU in our region are COVID-19 patients. Comparatively, 35.8 percent of the patients in Montgomery County ICU’s are COVID-19 patients (58/162). Twenty-one days ago, 31.7 percent of the patients in Montgomery County ICU’s were COVID-19 patients.

21-Day “Look Back”
The positivity rate in Montgomery County was 15 percent, and as of January 20, 2021, the positivity rate was 21 percent. MCPHD updates the positivity rate every Wednesday. 

The number of active cases 21 days ago in Montgomery County was 7,890 and as of January 20, 2021, there were 7, 640 active cases.

The New Variant
There have been new discussions regarding a new variant, or mutation, of the COVID-19 virus. What does that mean? It is not uncommon for viruses to mutate; it actually happens frequently. In fact, over the past year, multiple different variants of the COVID-19 virus have been discovered and studied across the world. What has changed now with these new variants? COVID-19 research improves as scientist and researchers continue to learn more about the virus. This research is ongoing, but researchers believe these new variants may perhaps be more contagious. The virus has spikes on its surface, and the thinking is that the new variants of COVID-19 make the virus spikes more “sticky.”  A more “sticky” virus makes it more contagious because it would be more likely to “stick” to a human cell.

Again, this research is new and ongoing, but scientists and researchers thus far believe the new variants are not more deadly. Furthermore, current COVID-19 tests have been able to recognize the new variants and it is believed that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the new variants as well. This research is in its infancy.

COVID-19 Vaccine
The first Montgomery County drive-through vaccine location started January 19, 2021 at the fairgrounds. The Lone Star Family Health Center received 2,000 vaccines and the slots for vaccines filled quickly. In conjunction with Lone Star Family Health Center, MCOHSEM, MCHD, and area Fire Departments are administering the vaccines to those who registered.

Officials remain optimistic that Montgomery County will receive future vaccine allotments and more drive-through vaccine locations will happen around the county.

Learn more at www.mchd-tx.org.

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. 

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VACCINE NEWS

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.

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 21, 2021
Montgomery County is recommending all residents recommit to CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of #COVID19.

  • 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.

As supply and eligibility increases, consider getting vaccinated.

For information and to check availability of vaccines, please visit the new Vaccination Page on the Coronavirus Hub for Montgomery County.

Today, they can confirm an additional death related to COVID-19.

  • A man in his 70s, from Conroe, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.

Today, Montgomery County can confirm:

  • TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 452 to 35,171 since yesterday’s (1/20) report. All 452 new cases were tested since 1/7/2021. 
  • ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 212 to 7,852 since yesterday’s (1/20) report.
  • 82 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.
  • 17,299 people have clinically recovered.

The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 21%, for the second week. 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 3,192 confirmed positive cases with 723 active cases, and 77389 has 1,771 confirmed positive cases with 374 active cases. 

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

Montgomery County 

  • 35,171 – Confirmed +748
  • 7,852 – Active +450
  • 201 – Deaths +6
  • 17,299 – Recovered +292

82 – Hospitalized +5

Harris County

  • 148,944 – Confirmed +2955
  • 27,624 – Active Cases +701
  • 1,144 – Deaths +16
  • 120,159 – Recovered +2,238

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.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Read the new National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, released today. Some of the goals for the strategy include:

  • Mounting a safe, effective, and comprehensive vaccination campaign.
  • Mitigating spread through expanding masking, testing, data, treatments, health care workforce, and clear public health standards.
  • Immediately expanding emergency relief and exercising the Defense Production Act.
  • Safely reopening schools, businesses, and travel while protecting workers.

RESOURCES

FTC Warns of New COVID Scam: Small Business Owners
There’s a new coronavirus-related scam making the rounds, but this time the crooks are targeting small businesses. It starts with an email that claims to come from the “Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance.” It says you’re eligible for a loan of up to $250,000 and asks for personal information like birth date and Social Security number. Read the full article.

The Woodlands Family YMCAs to Host Blood Donor Coach
January is the beginning of a new year and the perfect time to start the year celebrating National Blood Donor Month. Due to increased seasonal illnesses during the winter months and inclement weather conditions, donations of blood and platelets decline and demand increases.

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

CAC 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. 

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

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