News

The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update – March 23

By The Woodlands Township | March 23, 2021

The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Update on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

The Woodlands Township publishes this update to inform residents and businesses regarding COVID-19 and its impact on The Woodlands Township. This newsletter will now be published weekly on Tuesdays.

VACCINE NEWS

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.

Texas to Open COVID-19 Vaccination to All Adults on March 29 All adults will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29, 2021. The Texas Department of State Health Services expects vaccine supplies to increase next week, and providers in multiple parts of the state have made great strides in vaccinating people in the current priority groups. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations to protect as many Texans as possible. DSHS directs providers to continue to prioritize older adults. Read the press release.

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.

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.

What to Know When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
People who are fully vaccinated can start to do some things they stopped doing because of the pandemic, according to a news announcement from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It’s good to know what’s considered safe and what precautions should still be followed after being fully vaccinated. Read more.

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. Get more information now.

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. View the dashboard.

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 state is dedicating up to 8,000 vaccines to this initiative for the first week. The program launched Monday, March 1, 2021. Read the complete release.

COVID-19 TESTING

Curative COVID-19 Testing in The Woodlands
Need a COVID-19 test? Three convenient Curative testing sites are located in The Woodlands. Testing is free and each location is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of April. For more information about COVID-19 testing by Curative, please visit the Township website, or www.curative.com.

The Woodlands Township Town Hall, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381.
Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, 6535 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389. Appointments are recommended for this location, and can be made here.
Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382.

Township Protocols
The Woodlands Township facilities are open while at the same time maintaining safety protocols for its employees and visitors due to COVID-19. At this time, The Woodlands Township will continue with face coverings at Township facilities and in participation of Township programs and events, including meetings at Town Hall and programs and services at boat houses, adventure courses and recreational centers. The Township asks that participants abide with safety protocols when visiting a Township facility. Face coverings can be removed while actively engaged in physical exercise/activities where a distance of six feet from other individuals not associated with you can be maintained at all times. Read complete protocol statement.

COUNTY NEWS

Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can confirm mass vaccinations continue in our county by appointment. Texas DSHS announced today that all adult residents will be eligible for the vaccine on Monday, March 29th. For more information, click here: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.

Lone Star Family Health Center, individual hospitals, physicians’ offices, and pharmacies also have vaccines available to eligible populations. Please check their websites and Facebook pages for additional information. You can find a list of providers and additional information on the DSHS website here.

If you have questions regarding COVID-19, testing or vaccines, please call the Montgomery County COVID-19 Call Center at 936-523-3916. It is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

They can confirm an additional death related to COVID-19.

A woman in her 60s, from Magnolia, 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 151 to 48,506 since Monday’s (3/22) report. Of the 151 new cases, 146 were tested since 3/11/2021.
ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 decreased by 151 to 2,118 since Monday’s (3/22) report. On Tuesdays and Fridays, they account for additional inactive cases who we have been unable to contact for 30 days or more. Today, they added 159 inactive cases.
73 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.
25,185 people have clinically recovered.

The Testing Positivity Rate for Montgomery County is 11%, down from 12%. 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.

The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update, Tuesday, March 23, 2021

SETRAC data for regional hospitalizations was last updated 3/23/2021. Updates can be found here. The COVID-19 dashboard for Montgomery County can be found here.

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.

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
Harris County and the City of Houston launched a new data hub website, replacing their previous dashboard. The new website features information and data related to COVID-19 in Harris County, trends, metrics for success, zip code data and much more. Be sure to use an updated browser to view the site.

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 4,096 confirmed positive cases with 138 active cases, and 77389 has 2,292 confirmed positive cases with 94 active cases.

COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
All numbers since 3/18/2021

Montgomery County

48,506 – Confirmed +672
2,118 – Active +71
264 – Deaths +4
25,185 – Recovered +435
73 – Hospitalized -8

Harris County

190,522 – Confirmed +1,582
6,251 – Active Cases -1,276
1,427 – Deaths +11
182,825 – Recovered +2,846

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 many tools and features to find 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.

RESOURCES

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council
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.

The Woodlands Family YMCAs to Host Blood Donor Coach in March
Help rebuild the blood supply as more than 3,000 units of blood were lost during the Winter Storm. All donors are encouraged to register online for your preferred time. Visit www.giveblood.org. Walk-ups are welcome.

Shadowbend YMCA, 6145 Shadowbend Place | Schedule an Appointment
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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