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The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – March 2

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The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Governor Abbott Rescinds Most COVID Executive Orders Beginning Next Week
Businesses will be able to operate at 100 percent capacity and the statewide mask mandate will come to an end Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Every person is strongly encouraged to use good-faith efforts and available resources to follow the Texas Department of State Health Services health recommendations found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. Read the Executive Order.

VACCINE NEWS

Governor Abbott Announces “Save Our Seniors” Initiative to Vaccinate Homebound Seniors In Texas
As part of the statewide Save Our Seniors Initiative, the state will deploy more than 1,100 National Guardsmen to assist communities in vaccinating homebound seniors. The guardsmen will be broken up into teams that will deploy across the state. Some members of these teams will focus on identifying and registering homebound seniors for the program while others will visit homes and administer vaccines. The state is dedicating up to 8,000 vaccines to this initiative for the first week and will work with organizations like Meals On Wheels and nursing groups to identify homebound seniors who volunteer to be vaccinated. The program launched Monday, March 1, 2021. Read complete release.

Learn the Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccines
To stop this pandemic, it will require the use all of the prevention tools. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools to protect health and prevent disease. Vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses so the body will be ready to fight the virus. Take a look at the COVID-19 Fact Sheet to learn more about the vaccines.

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.

Vaccine Hubs and Waiting Lists
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. 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.

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. for Montgomery County residents, 65 years and older. 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. 

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COVID-19 TESTING 

Free COVID Testing Now Offered at Rob Fleming Aquatic Center
A new Curative walk-up testing location has been added to The Woodlands. The Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, located at 6535 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are recommended for this location, and can be made here.

This new testing location is an addition to the two other current sites, 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, also from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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 District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can confirm COVID-19 mass vaccine distribution continues this week. Multiple providers are providing first and second doses. Please watch your email closely if you are eligible for your first or second dose.

You can join the Montgomery County COVID-19 waitlist by clicking here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/pages/vaccinations. If you are 65+ years of age and do not have internet access, you can join by calling 936-523-3916, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After signing up, please check your email daily.  

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.

Today, the Montgomery County Public Health District can confirm two additional deaths related to COVID-19.

  • A man in his 70s, from Willis, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.
  • A woman in her 80s, from Splendora, died in the hospital. She had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.

They can also confirm:

  • TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 107 to 45,635 since yesterday’s (3/1) report. Of the 107 new cases, 89 were tested since 2/18/2021.
  • ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 decreased by 416 to 2,706 since yesterday’s (3/1) report. On Tuesdays and Fridays, we account for additional inactive cases we have been unable to contact for 30 days or more. Today, we added 380 inactive cases.
  • 69 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.
  • 22,520 people have clinically recovered.

The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 13%, down from 15%. 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.  

SETRAC data for regional hospitalizations was last updated 3/2/2021. Updates can be found here: https://bit.ly/3jwhdiV.

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 your part to slow the spread of COVID-19:

  • 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, get vaccinated.

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 through 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 3,915 confirmed positive cases with 241 active cases, and 77389 has 2,174 confirmed positive cases with 135 active cases. 

COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
All numbers since 2/25/2021

Montgomery County 
45,635 – Confirmed +773
2,706 – Active – 641
246 – Deaths +2
22,520 – Recovered +668
69 – Hospitalized -3

Harris County
181,397 – Confirmed +7,408
10,155 – Active Cases +121
1,355 – Deaths +37
169,869 – Recovered +7,250

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.

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.

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WINTER STORM FOLLOW-UP

Waste Management Bagster Program
For home renovations or cleanup projects, residents may consider Waste Management’s Bagster program.

Bags can be purchased at local home improvement stores. Once full, simply schedule for pickup at www.thebagster.com or call 1-877-789-2247.

FEMA Announces Emergency Aid for Texas
FEMA announced federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a severe winter storm. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.

Quick links, assistance application help, rumor control and other resources can be found on the FEMA website here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4586.

Winter Weather Recovery Resources 
The recent winter weather left thousands of residents with loss of property, home damage, and a variety of other needs. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) is working with partners from across the community to help connect residents with available resources. Read complete information.

Governor Abbott, TDEM Launch Call Center to Assist Texans with Texas Individual Assistance Reporting Tool
Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), with the assistance of the Texas Military Department, launched a call center to assist Texans, who have limited or no internet access, with completing the State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). 

Texans can call 844-844-3089 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week to submit their disaster damage information. This call center is specifically for Texans who are unable to submit information through the online iSTAT tool. Read the complete release or visit https://damage.tdem.texas.gov to fill out the iSTAT.

Take Care of Each Other to Help Prevent Scams
People living alone or somewhat isolated due to the pandemic are eager to talk with someone else about their concerns, worries or thoughts. Scammers know this, and are ready to take advantage of these people. Learn more about who’s at risk and how to help. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/03/when-it-comes-scams-lets-look-out-one-another

Watch out for Utility Scams Following Winter Events
Scammers know severe weather may have shut off your electricity, heat, and water and might pose as your utility company. They might call to say that they’re sorry your power went out and offer a reimbursement, but first they need your bank account information. Protect yourself from these scammers by learning the facts now at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/02/utility-scams-are-snow-joke.

Protect from Mold when Repairing from Storm Damage
With many people suffering from water damage due to broken pipes, it’s understandable to want the home back to normal as quickly as possible. What should not be overlooked, however, is the strong possibility of mold growth in these wet areas and how to prevent this from becoming a serious health hazard. Learn more about this crucial information here: https://moldpedia.com/mold-in-house-signs

Winter Weather Tips from the FTC  There have been some unique challenges to our area recently, and the more information residents have on how to handle these circumstances, the better these challenges can be met. The Federal Trade Commission has plenty of helpful information and resources for recovery available for free here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/02/free-winter-weather-emergency-tips-ftc

AROUND THE TOWNSHIP

Find Open Hotels and Restaurants 
Visit The Woodlands has compiled a list of OPEN RESTAURANTS and available HOTELS in The Woodlands. Diners should expect reduced hours and limited menus, please check with restaurants by calling ahead for hours of operation to ensure they were able to stay open or to make reservations. The list is being updated regularly as more restaurants and services become available and can welcome guests safely. View the list here: https://bit.ly/37iflFI

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RESOURCES

The Woodlands Family YMCAs to Host Blood Donor Coach Twice in March
Help Rebuild the blood supply. More than 3000 units of blood were lost during the Winter Storm last month. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center had to suspend much of its operations to keep our donors and staff members safe. Still, the need for blood persists, and we are asking anyone who can safely do so to donate. With your help, we can recover and continue to serve patients in our community. 

All donors are encouraged to register online for your preferred time and date. Visit www.giveblood.org. Walk Ups are welcomed.

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 https://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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