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53 new COVID-19 cases, 41 Brazos County residents hospitalized

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53 new COVID-19 cases, 41 Brazos County residents hospitalized

The Brazos County Health District has reported 53 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Brazos County. Currently, there are 1,362 active cases.

No new deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. There have been 130 total deaths in Brazos County related to COVID-19.

9,772 patients are classified as recovered, which means they have been fever-free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medications, and it has been 10 days after onset of symptoms.

47 percent of the new confirmed cases are from the 18-24-year-old age group.

There have been 2,096 probable cases in Brazos County since June 18, 2020. A probable COVID-19 case is determined by a positive antigen test. Confirmed COVID-19 cases are determined by a positive PCR test. The health district conducts case investigations on all confirmed and probable cases.

There are currently 251 active probable cases and there have been 1,845 probable recovered cases.

The total number of confirmed positive cases in the county since testing began is 11,264. There have been 119,831 tests performed.

Brazos County’s total hospital bed occupancy is at 87 percent, and total ICU bed occupancy is at 83 percent.

Currently, there are 41 Brazos County residents hospitalized for COVID-19.

BRAZOS VALLEY COVID-19 CASES BY COUNTY

County Active Cases Total Cases Recovered Cases Fatalities
Austin 99 880 767 14
Brazos 1,362 11,264 9,772 41
Burleson 115 886 758 13
Grimes 202 1,715 1,472 41
Houston 88 1,009 899 22
Lee 170 808 615 23
Leon 119 697 557 21
Madison 90 1,062 956 16
Milam 131 1,221 729 10
Montgomery 6,035 22,578 12,752 185
Robertson 166 810 632 12
San Jacinto 21 416 377 18
Trinity 24 319 286 9
Walker 253 5,548 5,127 78
Waller 237 1,745 1,486 22
Washington 194 1,329 1,078 57

Most of the Brazos Valley falls under state trauma service area N (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties). Trauma Service Area N currently reports 619 staffed hospital beds with 108 beds available. According to the state’s latest data, the region has 2 available ICU beds and 61 available ventilators. The state’s last update listed 94 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients currently in the hospital.

The Texas State COVID-19 Dashboard has undergone some updates and has changed how they define numbers. Total cases are now the combination of confirmed cases and probable cases.

Holiday activities, what’s save, what’s not.

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Holiday activities, what’s save, what’s not.

As we enter the December holiday season, people are urged to follow the public health guidance that we know will help keep people safe. This year people are asked to:

  • Limit in-person celebrations to household members only
  • Postpone or cancel travel this holiday season. If you do choose to travel, be aware of the travel order requirements.
  • Follow the current state gathering size limits and sector-specific workplace safety standards.

Lower-Risk Celebrations and Activities

  • Limit in-person holiday gatherings to only the people you live with.
  • Host a virtual holiday dinner with extended family or friends.
  • Prepare foods for family and neighbors and deliver them in a no-contact way.
  • Virtually attend your traditional holiday activities, such as a visit with Santa.
  • Consider virtual caroling or reciting. Provide a link to your virtual caroling to the people you want to sing to.
  • View holiday lights from your car with those you live with.

Higher-Risk Celebrations and Activities

  • Any time you gather with others outside of your household, you increase the risk of contracting or spreading illness. All residents are discouraged from gathering.  Gatherings are subject to gathering size limits.
  • You are risking your health and others health if you host or participate in any in-person festivities if you or anyone in your household:
    • has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not completed the isolation period;
    • has symptoms of COVID-19;
    • is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results;
    • may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days; or
    • is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with certain medical conditions.
  • If in-person caroling or reciting, stay more than 25 feet from the people you are reciting or singing for and wear a mask. Remain outdoors while caroling.
  • If you visit Santa Claus in person, wear a mask, stay 6 feet from Santa and others while in line, and make a reservation for your visit where available.
  • If viewing holiday lights outdoors, take a one-way walk with those you live with and maintain distance from others.

Other Recommendations and Guidance

  • Always wear your mask and watch your distance. (Remove your mask only for eating and drinking.)
  • For 10 days before and after holiday gatherings, monitor yourself closely for fever and other symptoms of COVID-19, minimize contact with other people, and leave home only for essential services like going to work, buying groceries, and appointments with doctors; OR,
  • Obtain a negative result from a COVID-19 test, on a sample obtained within 72 hours of the celebration. Even with a negative test, you must be vigilant about masking and distancing when you are around individuals you do not live with.
    • Testing only indicates whether a person may have COVID-19 at the moment of the test. You can still become sick with COVID-19 after your test and before your celebration.
  • Do not share food, drink, or any utensils, including serving utensils.
  • Seat people with plenty of space (at least six feet) from one another while dining.
  • Consider seating people at smaller tables in multiple rooms instead of around a large family table.
  • Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors.
  • If setting up outdoor seating under a tent, ensure guests are still seated with physical distancing in mind. Enclosed 4-wall tents will have less air circulation than open-air tents and should be considered indoor spaces (check also fire codes for heating tents).
    • If outdoor temperature or weather forces you to put down the tent sidewalls, consider leaving one or more sides open or rolling up the bottom 12 inches of each sidewall to enhance ventilation while still providing a windbreak.

Provide supplies to help everyone stay healthy. These include extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues. Stock bathrooms with enough hand soap and single-use towels.

Holiday Shopping

In addition to observing store capacity limits, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and following directions and place markings at stores, consider the following when holiday shopping:

Higher Risk:  High-risk activities include in-person promotions or holiday activities that encourage large crowds. When shopping with a non-household member, make sure to wear a mask, including while driving together.

Medium Risk: If you choose to shop in-person, wear your mask and maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Try to shop at off-peak times when there are fewer shoppers.

Lower Risk: Shop online. Many retailers have options for online shopping and in-person, contactless curbside or drive-up pick-up. If using in-person pick-up, you and the retail personnel should wear masks.

Important reminders:

  • Wear a mask (when not eating or drinking).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
  • Stay at least six feet away from other people.
  • If you may be around others at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those medical conditions, take extra precautions to keep them safe.
  • Get the flu vaccine.
  • For additional information, please refer to the holiday guidance provided by the CDC.

UPS, FedEx, USPS shipping deadlines: Will your Christmas gifts arrive on time or face delays amid COVID vaccine?

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UPS, FedEx, USPS shipping deadlines: Will your Christmas gifts arrive on time or face delays amid COVID vaccine?

Time is running out to ship holiday gifts in time for Christmas.

Dec. 15 was the deadline for ground shipping at the nation’s three largest carriers, FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service, almost identical to 2019 deadlines.

But consumers should brace themselves for late packages and possible disappointment even if they meet the cutoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Target and the U.S. Postal Service have already warned consumers of potential delays and other retailers moved up their deadlines. Walmart announced its deadlines for online orders Tuesday. Amazon announced its deadlines Wednesday.

Between delays for shipping the new COVID vaccine and potential storms, experts suggest acting fast.

“There will be packages that don’t make it and there can be more if we end up with a bad snowstorm on the final days before Christmas,” Satish Jindel, the president and founder of ShipMatrix, told USA TODAY. “But no one can predict that far out.”

Adobe Analytics recommended buying gifts before Dec. 11, saying it predicts shipping costs will begin to rise after that date, “erasing some of the value consumers are getting from holiday deals.”

FedEx and UPS have expanded weekend deliveries and hired more workers. They’ve also enforced limits on how many packages companies can send out a day and introduced steep holiday surcharges.

Christmas shipping deadlines 2020

The best bet is to ship as soon as possible this holiday season, experts say. Here are key deadlines to keep in mind if you want your packages to arrive by Christmas.

UPS deadlines for Christmas delivery

  • Ground: Dec. 15
  • 3-Day Select: Dec. 21
  • 2nd Day Air: Dec. 22
  • Next Day Air: Dec. 23

U.S. Postal Service deadlines

Here are the deadlines for packages to arrive before Christmas in the 48 contiguous states:

  • Retail Ground: Dec. 15
  • First-Class Mail: Dec. 18
  • Priority Mail: Dec. 19
  • Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23

FedEx shipping deadlines

The following deadlines are within the U.S.:

  • FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground: Dec. 15
  • FedEx Express Saver, FedEx 3Day Freight: Dec. 21
  • FedEx 2Day: Dec. 22
  • FedEx 1Day Freight, FedEx Extra Hours, FedEx Overnight: Dec. 23
  • FedEx SameDay: Dec. 25

Congress proposes $10 billion in relief for the child-care industry, but advocates say it’s only a ‘down payment’

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Congress proposes $10 billion in relief for the child-care industry, but advocates say it’s only a ‘down payment’

Although the vast majority of child-care programs opened back up after the spring stay-at-home orders lifted, many daycare centers and preschool owners are taking on huge financial losses — both personal and professional.

To help, lawmakers reached a deal Sunday on a $900 billion Covid-19 pandemic relief package that provides $10 billion in funding for the industry. However, advocates say that amount isn’t enough to keep child-care providers in business for long.

About 56% of child-care providers report losing money by staying open, according to the latest survey from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Moreover, 42% of the December survey respondents say they have taken on debt using personal credit cards to pay for supplies and other items.

That’s because many centers are still operating at lower capacities, even as costs rise. The survey found that 91% are paying extra for cleaning supplies, 73% have taken on extra expenses for personal protective equipment and 60% are paying additional staff wages.

“Child-care providers have been hit hard by the Covid-19 economic crisis,” says Sarah Rittling, executive director of the First Five Years Fund, an early childhood education advocacy organization.

The $10 billion in relief allocated to child care in Sunday’s package is a “symbolic” recognition of the critical role child-care providers play, Rittling says. But more assistance is needed in order to support this hard-hit industry.

“The new Congress and incoming Biden administration have an opportunity to pick up where this down payment leaves off to ensure providers have the resources to prevent them from shuttering their doors permanently through what is sure to be a tumultuous and unpredictable few months, as well as to address the nation’s child-care challenges by fortifying an early learning and care system that works for all families,” Rittling says.

Others agree. Zero to Three Chief Policy Officer Myra Jones-Taylor called the latest pandemic rescue deal a “stopgap,” saying that the child-care industry needs at least $57 billion in funding to provide grants and assistance to operators for long-term increased costs and lower enrollment.

“This package does not include nearly enough funding to support our child-care centers, who are struggling to remain afloat with less capacity, nor does it include the paid leave all workers so desperately need,” Jones-Taylor says.

Stimulus Bill Includes $25 Billion in Emergency Rental Relief, Extends Eviction Moratorium

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Stimulus Bill Includes $25 Billion in Emergency Rental Relief, Extends Eviction Moratorium

The U.S. is narrowly averting a potential eviction crisis at the start of the new year, as Congress is set to pass a coronavirus relief bill that includes funding for rental assistance and the continuation of the nationwide eviction moratorium.

The bill, which is expected to be voted on Monday, provides $25 billion in emergency rental relief and a one-month extension of the nationwide eviction moratorium, through January 31, 2021.

The provisions are “a start,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) tells. But more aid and a longer eviction ban are likely needed once President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January, she says, noting that she pushed for the inclusion of $100 billion in rental relief in the HEROES Act, the $3 trillion relief bill passed by the House in May.

“We have to do whatever it takes” to keep people housed, Waters says. Plus, more rental relief also benefits the “mom and pop landlords” who still have to pay their mortgages.

At the beginning of December, around 12.4 million adult renters reported that they are behind on their rent payments, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), highlighting the need for aid.

How the rental relief will work

The $25 billion in rental assistance will be funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Once the funds are dispersed to states, tenants will apply for aid through state or local relief organizations.

How quickly the assistance becomes available will be dependent on where you live, Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), tells. Some states, like New York and California, already have established emergency rental assistance programs. Other states, like Alabama and Missouri, will have to set them up, which takes time, she says.

That’s why it will be crucial for Biden to extend the eviction moratorium when he takes office, Yentel says. It will take longer than one month for some states and localities to establish relief programs and get the assistance out to people who need it.

The funds can be used for back rent and overdue utility payments from the start of the pandemic, as well as future bills. At least 90% of the money states and territories receive must be used to provide financial assistance to households.

Renters will be eligible for relief if their household income is below 80% of the area median income (which varies by county and household size), and someone living there:

  • Has qualified for unemployment benefits, has lost part of their income or has experienced financial hardship because of Covid-19, or
  • Can show that they are at risk of losing their home

Landlords and utility companies can be paid directly by state and local governments as long as tenants have signed off on the application. If landlords refuse the aid, renters can apply and receive the funds and then pay their landlords. Households are eligible for 12 months of assistance but may receive up to 15 months if it is “necessary” to keep them in their home.

Renters will also be able to access case management and tenant-landlord mediation services.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Reminder: Houston Health Department, partners announce free COVID-19 testing schedule for week of December 20

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Reminder: Houston Health Department, partners announce free COVID-19 testing schedule for week of December 20
The Houston Health Department and its agency partners are announcing the schedule for sites offering free COVID-19 tests the week of December 20, 2020.

The week will offer 19 FREE+FAST+SAFE testing sites across Houston. Different sites will close on certain days in observance of year-end holidays.

Houston Health Department
The Houston Health Department will offer drive-thru testing at two surge sites affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Drive, and Houston Community College – North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd., will offer nasal self swab tests.

Appointments are available at doineedacovid19test.com and on-site registration is also available. Each site has a daily capacity of 1,250 tests.

The department also offers free drive-thru testing via self-nasal swab at the Aramco Services Company, 9009 W. Loop South. The mega testing site will open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The site has a daily capacity of 1,000 tests.

People wanting to get tested at the Aramco site can call the department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220.

The department will offer testing at three community sites that don’t require appointments and remain open until each reaches its daily capacity of 250 tests. The sites and their hours of operation are:

  • Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., drive-thru, self-nasal swab,
  • Magnolia Multi-Service Center, 7037 Capitol St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., drive-thru or walk-up, self-nasal swab, and
  • Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. drive-thru or walk-up, self-nasal swab.

The department will provide self-nasal swab testing at the METRO Addicks Park & Ride, 14230 Katy Freeway, and the Multicultural Center, 951 Tristar Drive, city of Webster. Appointments are available by calling the department’s call center at 832-393-4220.

Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Houston Astros offer self-oral swab tests daily at Minute Maid Park (Lot C), 2208 Preston. The testing site’s capacity is 1,200 tests per day.

The site features evening hours twice a week, eight drive-thru testing lanes, and four walk-up testing lanes. It will open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday. Spanish-speaking staff is available on-site.

Visit curative.com to set an appointment or obtain more information. On-site registration is also available.

TDEM and the department will also operate drive-thru sites offering tests Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at:

  • HCC – Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, self-mouth swab tests, and
  • HCC – South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd., nasal swab tests by healthcare professionals.

TDEM and the department offer drive-thru, nasal-swab tests administered by healthcare professionals at LeRoy Crump Stadium, 12321 Alief Clodine Rd. The site is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments for TDEM sites are available at covidtest.tdem.texas.gov. On-site registration is also available.

United Memorial Medical Center
United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) will offer nasal-swab testing by healthcare professionals at drive-thru test sites at:

  • Plaza Americas Mall, 7500 Bellaire Blvd.,
  • Houston Community College – Southeast, 6815 Rustic, and
  • UMMC Tidwell, 510 W. Tidwell Rd.

The sites don’t require appointments and will offer to test Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until reaching a daily capacity of 300 tests.

People needing information about UMMC test sites can call 1-866-333-COVID or visit ummcscreening.com.

Curative
Curative will provide walk-up, self-mouth swab tests Monday through Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at three locations, each with a 900 daily test capacity:

  • Memorial Park Running Trails Center, 7575 N. Picnic Lane,
  • Kroger, 1801 S. Voss Rd,
  • Kroger, 9303 S. Highway 6, and
  • Food Town, 2770 N. Sam Houston Parkway West.

Appointments are required and available at curative.com.

Federally Qualified Health Centers
The health department is providing test kits, lab access, and equipment to local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are:

  • HOPE Clinic, 713-773-0803
  • Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565
  • El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880
  • Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027
  • Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200, and
  • Scarsdale Family Health Center, 281-824-1480.

FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance.

The department and its agency partners may shift locations and schedules of test sites to better meet community needs. Houstonians can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for current Houston testing sites and information about stopping the spread of the virus.

Information obtained through testing, treatment, or services will not be used against immigrants

EL DEPARTAMENTO DE TRIBUNALES MUNICIPALES DE HOUSTON PRESENTARÁ LA COMUNIDAD DEL TRIBUNAL DE PUERTO SEGURO VISITA EL VIERNES EN EL EDIFICIO BEULAH SHEPHERD

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EL DEPARTAMENTO DE TRIBUNALES MUNICIPALES DE HOUSTON PRESENTARÁ LA COMUNIDAD DEL TRIBUNAL DE PUERTO SEGURO VISITA EL VIERNES EN EL EDIFICIO BEULAH SHEPHERD
Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development en el Beulah Shepherd Building, 6112 Wheatley St., Houston, 77091, Departamento de Tribunales Municipales de Houston ( MCD) organizará su primera visita a la comunidad del Tribunal de Puerto Seguro para ayudar a los acusados que no pueden pagar sus multas y tarifas debido a dificultades financieras derivadas de la pandemia de COVID-19.

Durante la visita a la comunidad del viernes, el director del MCD y el juez presidente, J. Elaine Marshall, y los jueces del Tribunal de Safe Harbor se reunirán con los residentes para discutir sus casos y darles opciones potenciales sobre cómo seguir adelante.

“Si bien la distribución de la vacuna en nuestra comunidad nos brinda esperanza para el futuro, sabemos que los habitantes de Houston todavía tienen un largo camino hacia la recuperación y muchos residentes sentirán los impactos de la pandemia durante muchos meses. El Tribunal de Puerto Seguro está diseñado para ayudar a los acusados debido a dificultades financieras, problemas médicos o problemas que surgen de COVID-19 en el cumplimiento de las sentencias y trabajará con los acusados que presenten pruebas de que no pueden pagar multas y tarifas ”, dijo el juez J. Elaine Marshall, director y juez presidente de MCD . “Mi visión es que el Tribunal de Puerto Seguro sea un lugar para los ciudadanos que no han podido satisfacer las sentencias en su contra y se encuentran en un lugar donde no pueden pagar para entrar en nuestro tribunal sin temor a ser arrestados y hablar con jueces sobre su situación “.

Anunciado originalmente durante una conferencia de prensa el 23 de octubre, el Tribunal de Puerto Seguro busca ayudar a los acusados que no pueden pagar sus multas y tarifas debido a las dificultades financieras derivadas de la pandemia. La evidencia DE las dificultades causadas por COVID-19 incluye extractos bancarios, avisos de desalojo, cupones de alimentos, WIC, CHIP, SSI TANF y otros artículos que soliciten los jueces./p>

Los casos presentados son para citaciones de multas por delitos menores de Clase C, y los jueces determinarán la validez de las reclamaciones caso por caso. El juez proporcionará opciones que van desde el perdón de multa hasta el servicio comunitario.

El alcalde Sylvester Turner aprobó el Tribunal de Puerto Seguro como parte de su Iniciativa de Comunidades Completas y el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Reforma Policial. Siguiendo las pautas del alcalde Turner y de los CDC para proteger al público y al personal de MCD de la propagación de COVID-19, se requerirá que los miembros del público usen mascarillas / cubiertas faciales y se les tomen la temperatura antes de ingresar.

Houston Health Department, partners announce free COVID-19 testing schedule for week of December 20

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Houston Health Department, partners announce free COVID-19 testing schedule for week of December 20
The Houston Health Department and its agency partners are announcing the schedule for sites offering free COVID-19 tests the week of December 20, 2020.

The week will offer 19 FREE+FAST+SAFE testing sites across Houston. Different sites will close on certain days in observance of year-end holidays.

Houston Health Department
The Houston Health Department will offer drive-thru testing at two surge sites affiliated with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Drive, and Houston Community College – North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd., will offer nasal self swab tests.

Appointments are available at doineedacovid19test.com and on-site registration is also available. Each site has a daily capacity of 1,250 tests.

The department also offers free drive-thru testing via self-nasal swab at the Aramco Services Company, 9009 W. Loop South. The mega testing site will open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The site has a daily capacity of 1,000 tests.

People wanting to get tested at the Aramco site can call the department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220.

The department will offer testing at three community sites that don’t require appointments and remain open until each reaches its daily capacity of 250 tests. The sites and their hours of operation are:

  • Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., drive thru, self-nasal swab,
  • Magnolia Multi-Service Center, 7037 Capitol St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., drive thru or walk up, self-nasal swab, and
  • Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood St., Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. drive thru or walk up, self-nasal swab.

The department will provide self-nasal swab testing at the METRO Addicks Park & Ride, 14230 Katy Freeway, and the Multicultural Center, 951 Tristar Drive, city of Webster. Appointments are available by calling the department’s call center at 832-393-4220.

Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Houston Astros offer self-oral swab tests daily at Minute Maid Park (Lot C), 2208 Preston. The testing site’s capacity is 1,200 tests per day.

The site features evening hours twice a week, eight drive-thru testing lanes and four walk-up testing lanes. It will open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday. Spanish-speaking staff is available on-site.

Visit curative.com to set an appointment or obtain more information. On-site registration is also available.

TDEM and the department will also operate drive-thru sites offering tests Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at:

  • HCC – Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, self-mouth swab tests, and
  • HCC – South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd., nasal swab tests by healthcare professionals.

TDEM and the department offer drive thru, nasal-swab tests administered by healthcare professionals at LeRoy Crump Stadium, 12321 Alief Clodine Rd. The site is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments for TDEM sites are available at covidtest.tdem.texas.gov. On-site registration is also available.

United Memorial Medical Center
United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) will offer nasal-swab testing by healthcare professionals at drive-thru test sites at:

  • Plaza Americas Mall, 7500 Bellaire Blvd.,
  • Houston Community College – Southeast, 6815 Rustic, and
  • UMMC Tidwell, 510 W. Tidwell Rd.

The sites don’t require appointments and will offer testing Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until reaching daily capacity of 300 tests.

People needing information about UMMC test sites can call 1-866-333-COVID or visit ummcscreening.com.

Curative
Curative will provide walk up, self-mouth swab tests Monday through Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at three locations, each with a 900 daily test capacity:

Appointments are required and available at curative.com.

Federally Qualified Health Centers
The health department is providing test kits, lab access and equipment to local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are:

  • HOPE Clinic, 713-773-0803
  • Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565
  • El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880
  • Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027
  • Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200, and
  • Scarsdale Family Health Center, 281-824-1480.

FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance.

The department and its agency partners may shift locations and schedules of test sites to better meet community needs. Houstonians can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for current Houston testing sites and information about stopping the spread of the virus.

Information obtained through testing, treatment or services will not be used

First shipments of Moderna vaccine roll out, a new weapon in U.S. Covid-19 response

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First shipments of Moderna vaccine roll out, a new weapon in U.S. Covid-19 response

Following the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine last week, Moderna’s effort means the U.S. now has two vaccines in its arsenal to fight the coronavirus.

Distribution for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine began on Sunday, just two days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized it for emergency use.

Moderna’s vaccine distribution means the U.S. now has two vaccines in its arsenal to fight the pandemic that has infected more than 17.7 million Americans and claimed more than 317,000 lives.

McKesson, a healthcare supply chain management company, is shipping the vaccine around the country from its distribution centers in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and outside of Louisville, Kentucky. It began filling its first orders on Sunday, including the vaccine and ancillary supply kits needed to administer the shot. The company said their initial deliveries, at the U.S. government’s direction, should arrive by Monday.

“We are honored to be a partner with the U.S. government and other private-sector companies such as Moderna to support in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and the ancillary supply kits,” McKesson CEO Brian Tyler said in a statement.

The U.S. was the first country to greenlight the use of Moderna’s vaccine, which does not need to be stored at ultracold temperatures like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

McKesson has partnered with FedEx and UPS, who will help deliver the vaccine.

A UPS truck carrying the Moderna vaccine was spotted with a police escort Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky, outside the UPS Worldport hub, and a FedEx truck carrying the vaccine arrived with a police escort to the FedEx World Hub in Memphis, Tennessee.

Nearly 6 million doses of the Moderna vaccine have been earmarked for distribution and are expected to be shipped to 3,285 locations across the country, according to officials with Operation Warp Speed, the federal organization with oversees vaccine development and distribution, which partially funded the Moderna work.

In a Friday statement, Modern said about 20 million doses of its vaccine will be delivered to the U.S. government by the end of this year

Moderna’s vaccine has been shown to be safe and highly effective at preventing symptomatic illness, according to documents released Tuesday. The data also suggest that the vaccine may reduce the virus’s spread by preventing infections, though more data are needed to fully understand that finding.

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