Fort Bend County, TX – County Judge KP George announced that the county has updated its website with all available race and ethnicity data for residents of Fort Bend County who have tested positive for COVID-19. The data will be updated daily when new reports are received.
“I am committed to transparency and that means releasing data about the novel coronavirus cases accurately and quickly,” said County Judge KP George. “I ask everyone of all ages, genders, races and areas in Fort Bend to help stop the spread of this virus in our county by social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in public places.”
CURRENT DATA: The race and ethnicity COVID-19 breakdown as of today (4/21/20) is on the websites and shows this data: Of the confirmed cases with race and ethnicity reported, 34% are Black, 22% are Hispanic, 21% are Asian, 19% are White and 4% are other. The total deaths are 18 and of those, 9 were White, 4 were Hispanic, 3 were Asian and 2 were Black.
REPORTING METHODOLOGY: Fort Bend County receives reports of notifiable diseases from multiple sources, which include hospitals, doctors and laboratories. The reports have varying amounts of information on them. Up to now, Fort Bend has posted the data from the reports online for gender, age and zip code. The County did not initially report the race and ethnicity online because not all the reports have that information. However, due to the heightened national interest in race and ethnicity data, Fort Bend County has begun adding that information to its online hub daily.
REPORTING DETAILS: The county’s health department is working with various reporting sources to go backwards and capture as much of the race and ethnicity information as possible for all the reported cases. The additional case data will be updated on the website as it is received, with two caveats. There is a lag in reporting cases across the country so the information can be for older cases. Secondly, the data on the county website will likely never equal 100 percent of cases because some reports don’t include race and ethnicity.
To learn more about the health issues related to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Fort Bend County, please visit fbchealth.org/ncov
METROLift is partnering with the city of Houston, the Houston Food Bank, Walmart and Sam’s Club to make sure no family goes hungry during the COVID-19 crisis.
Today, the city announced the program to deliver groceries to those in need.Thanks to a $30,000 donation from Walmart, beginning Friday, April 24, METROLift will make 500 grocery deliveries each week. The agency is proud to support this worthy cause while the city and county’s “Stay Home” order remain in effect.Anyone interested in signing up, or learning more about the program can call 832-394-0814 or go to the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Website.
The Houston Food Bank is America’s largest food bank in distribution, leading hunger relief in 18 southeast Texas counties.
Governor Greg Abbott today provided an update on job openings in the Lone Star State and outlined resources for Texans seeking employment due to the economic effects of COVID-19. The Governor also announced that nearly 500,000 job openings are currently listed on WorkInTexas.com, a powerful online job matching and workforce solution system developed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This system provides fast access to a complete set of employment tools in one website where job seekers can browse job postings, find education and training, and complete resumes and state applications.
The Governor presented different industries and certain employers that are hiring in each region of Texas and announced that many companies — including H-E-B, Amazon, and Randalls — are hiring statewide. Governor Abbott also discussed additional resources available through the 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state of Texas. The local workforce solutions offices are also available to employers of all sizes who can receive assistance in recruiting, identifying, and hiring qualified individuals. These services are available to both employers and job seekers at no cost.
Job seekers can visit Texas Economic Development and Tourism’s Texas Jobs page for links to all 28 local workforce development boards. The webpage also contains additional COVID-19 resources for employers and job seekers alike.
“As we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are also working to alleviate the severe economic devastation that has impacted so many Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “People are ready to get to work and earn a paycheck again, and the State of Texas is committed to connecting Texans with the many job opportunities that exist throughout the state. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission, our local workforce organizations, and businesses across the state who are working tirelessly to connect Texans with job openings during these challenging times.”
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday named former Shell Oil Co. Chairman and President Marvin E. Odum as the city’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar.
In this role, Odum will work with business leaders, chambers of commerce, employee groups, and nonprofit organizations on a plan to safely and responsibly restart Houston’s economy. Odum will also work on strategies to address the challenges faced by the city’s vulnerable and at-risk populations, develop a plan to avoid the resurgence of community spread, and help the city prepare for a future pandemic or viral attack.
“Marvin is no stranger to working on disaster recovery, as he previously served as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer after Hurricane Harvey,” Mayor Turner said. “From all sectors, he received rave reviews for the team he assembled, the task force he created, and the collaborations he forged. Marvin is the right person for the job.”
During his time as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, Odum was credited with working successfully with regional, state, and federal partners to secure funding for housing and reform policies. He broke new ground in disaster recovery and helped move Houston forward as a more resilient city.
“To be clear, this is about keeping people safe and getting people back to work and re-energizing our economy,” said Odum. “We have been charged with completing the plans that reflect the delicate balance between the need to return to work with the necessary vigilance required to keep people safe and healthy.”
Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have had numerous conversations about the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis. Odum will work directly with the county’s designated representative to forge a cohesive strategy and a plan for Houston and Harris County.
“Over the past two months, we have aggressively worked to save lives and blunt the progression of coronavirus, and we see positive results, but the virus is not yet under control. Before we send people back to work and reopen businesses, we must also have robust, ubiquitous testing. We also must consider what happens if we reopen the economy, and we start to see an increase in the number of positive cases,” said Mayor Turner.
“You can expect that this plan with be gradual and phased, and I’m sure we all understand why things cannot immediately return to normal,” said Odum. “We will need the continued cooperation of all Houstonians to ensure this plan is successful, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.”
Odum served as Chairman/President of Shell Oil Company from 2008-16 and was a director/executive committee member of Royal Dutch Shell. In addition to working with and investing in several technology-based start-up companies, Odum is a board member of Europe-based Stena international and Stena Drilling, CEO of TerraLithium and Chairman of AAL LLC – focused on low carbon energy technologies. He is a board member of the National Urban League and MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Dean’s Council for Harvard’s JFK School of Government, advisory board for University of Texas’s Cockrell School of Engineering and co-chair of the capital campaign for the University of Houston which has exceeded its goal of raising $1 billion.
In March 2020, BakerRipley honored Marvin and his wife, Mariloli, with the Alice Graham Baker Award for their work on Hurricane Harvey recovery and their commitment to help vulnerable communities.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas National Guard will be mobilizing more than 1,200 personnel as part of COVID-19 mobile testing teams (MTT). The 45 member teams will be mobilized in various parts of the state providing greater access to medical testing. The areas for these MTTs will be identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) with the first two of the 25 teams deployed to Fredericksburg and Floresville, Texas. The remaining 23 teams will be deployed to additional locations based on assessments made by DSHS.
“The State of Texas continues to expand our COVID-19 testing capacities and ensure that communities across the Lone Star State have access to the resources they need,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful for the dedication of our Guardsmen as they continue to serve their fellow Texans throughout the COVID-19 response.”
“COVID-19 testing is a crucial mission in our fight against this virus,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, adjutant general of Texas. “We are proud to support our partners TDEM and DSHS in bringing this critical capacity to areas in need of medical support.”
The teams will have 11 medical professionals and support staff, as well as 34 soldiers. Currently, the Texas National Guard has the capacity to test 150 people per day at each mobile testing team location.
The Texas Military Department was activated by Governor Abbott in March to assist communities across Texas in the COVID-19 response. Currently, over 2,500 Guardsmen are serving in various capacities in response to this activation. In working with local communities they have helped manufacture over four million pieces of personal protective equipment, conducted over 9,000 COVID-19 tests, and helped distribute food and supplies with local food banks to thousands of Texans each day.
The MTTs are in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and DSHS.
During these uncertain times, Lone Star College-University Park is finding ways to offer support and encouragement to students and the community. LSC-University Park is emphasizing the importance of community involvement, unity and perseverance during times when most people feel social distancing is costing human connection. The college found a creative solution to connect faculty, staff, students and community through a video project that shares a message of hope. The “UPlifting Notes” video has been viewed by thousands and shared across multiple social media platforms.
“At LSC-University Park, we value our relationships with our students and community and want them to know that we are their community’s college,” said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Through “UPlifting Notes,” we hope our students and community feel more connected to our college even when they cannot physically be at our college. Even though social distancing may put miles between us, our caring and compassionate faculty and staff are always here for them. We understand many of our students are going through troubling times, and I hope this video gets the message out that we have been and always will be here to help.”
The video includes LSC-University Park administrators, faculty, staff and students alongside family and first responders seemingly passing notes of positive sentiment to one another. However, the video utilized the camera frame as a point of connection so that none of the participants were in the same space and could participate from home.
“This time in our country and communities is unprecedented and people are facing many unknowns. Our college wanted to show that there is still ample opportunity for positive connection and that we’re all in this together,” said Keri Porter, LSC-University Park chief strategist of innovation and research. “People throughout our college were excited to participate and bring smiles to our students, co-workers and community.”
“Our family participated in the video because the COVID-19 pandemic has created a feeling of isolation around the globe,” said Catherine Dumond, LSC-University Park dean of enrollment management. “This was a chance for us to spread some positivity and ensure that everyone knows they are supported. I love how the video turned out and we were so happy to be part of it!”
So far, the video has had more than 3,000 views and over 100 shares across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To watch the video, visit bit.ly/UPliftingNotesVideo1. The video is also available on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for sharing to spread positivity in your own circle.
The college hopes to release a follow-up video to further brighten the social media feeds of those practicing social distancing at this time. The college is continuing to accept “UPlifiting Notes” videos submissions at bit.ly/UPliftingNotes.
The college continues to explore multiple methods of connecting and communicating with students, faculty and staff and have developed a range of resources responsive to their needs as they learn and work remotely. From Cisco WebEx seminars on study habits and managing anxiety, to live open forums with administration, all resources ensure students and employees are taking care of themselves and have the knowledge to succeed in an online format. Students are continuously engaged as the LSC-University Park Office of Student Life hosts virtual museum tours and crafting events online. The college plans to release further training on mental health and well-being in the coming weeks, including a panel discussion on the psychological and sociological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about LSC-University Park and registration for the summer and fall semesters, visit LoneStar.edu/UP or email UP-Information@LoneStar.edu.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest growing and most innovative institutions of higher education in the country. Under its founding president, Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park is devoted to impacting the community’s prosperity and upward mobility through student success. The college’s competent and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs. Standout college facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, the Learning Innovation Labs and the Geology Rock Wall. For more information about LSC-University Park, please visit LoneStar.edu/UP or call 281.290.2600.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
El ídolo global de la música latina, MALUMA se presentó anoche (18 de abril) en el histórico especial televisivo mundial “One World: Together At Home” entre artistas legendarios como Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Rolling Stones, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez y Taylor Swift, entre otros, para unir al mundo y celebrar a los trabajadores de salud de primera línea de la pandemia Covid-19.
Maluma es el único artista que cantó en español durante el especial televisivo.Desde su hogar, y con las montañas de su Medellín natal en la distancia, Maluma cantó una conmovedora versión acústica de su hit del 2016, “Carnaval”, acompañado únicamente por una guitarra (grabada por separado en el estudio personal del músico Santiago Torres). “No hay que sufrir no hay que llorar La vida es una y es un carnaval Lo malo se irá todo pasará La vida es una y es un carnaval” cantó el interprete. La letra, la melodía de la canción y la interpretación del cantautor resultaron perfectas para la ocasión – inspiradoras y alentadoras. “Billboard describió la presentación como “impresionante” y “bella”.
De inmediato, el colombiano se convirtió en tendencia global en Twitter y se dispararon las ventas y streams de “Carnaval” así como el resto de su música. La canción llegó al #1 en el listado canciones de iTunes Latino y sus álbumes11:11, Pretty Boy Dirty Boy y F.A.M.E. están en el top 10 del listado de álbumes mas vendidos de iTunes Latino.
Para ver la presentación de Maluma en “One World: Together at Home” producido por Global Citizen, haga clic AQUÍ.
Maluma, junto con su fundación El Arte de los Sueños, esta comprometido con la población de Antioquia, Colombia en medio de estos tiempos tan difíciles.
En cabeza de su Presidenta Manuela Londoño Arias y su fundador (Maluma) preocupados por la situación que viven las familias de los 170 soñadores que hacen parte de la organización y que pertenecen a la población vulnerable de Antioquia, continúan apoyándolos con su desarrollo, esta vez acogiendo a todo el núcleo familiar. El Arte de los Sueños ha entregado mercados que les permitirá llevar este momento de aislamiento sin que pasen necesidades de este tipo. Mercados adicionales están siendo donados a familias en elAlto de la Virgen en Guarne y en el municipio de Venecia, Antioquia.
Las donaciones solidarias también abarcan el sistema de salud; se entregaron: Respiradores-Tapabocas con válvula N-95, uniformes hospitalarios de un solo uso y más de 10 mil unidades de guantes en entidades como el Hospital San Rafael en el municipio de Venecia; la Clínica Ces Prado Centro y al Hospital San Vicente Fundación en Rio Negro. Desde hace cuatro años El Arte de los Sueños emprendió un camino claro que siempre ha buscado el bien de las personas bajo conceptos altruistas, generosos y humanitarios. Hoy más que nunca brinda consuelo en medio de la situación que vive el mundo por la pandemia Covid-19.
Además, Maluma donó 250 millones de pesos (unos 64.000 dólares) a Donatón, una iniciativa solidaria, organizada por la Alcaldía de Medellín, capital del departamento de Antioquia, para apoyar a las comunidades más vulnerables de la región.
Maluma recientemente se convirtió en el primer y único artista masculino latino en alcanzar 50 millones de seguidores en Instagram.
Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference where he issued three new Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using a “Retail-To-Go” model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.
Within these orders, the Governor has established the Strike Force to Open Texas—a team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely and strategically reopening the state of Texas.
“Texans are battling a colossal challenge—an invisible enemy that has tested our lives and our livelihoods—but overcoming challenges is part of who we are as Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “We have shown that Texas can continue our efforts to contain COVID-19 while also adopting safe standards that will allow us to begin the process of reopening Texas. The Strike Force to Open Texas brings together nationally recognized medical experts with public and private sector leaders to achieve this mission. By coming together, we can get Texans back to work, practice safe standards that will prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we can overcome this pandemic.”
James Huffines will lead the advisory strike force and Mike Toomey will serve as Chief Operating Officer. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members.
In addition, Governor Abbott has appointed Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, as Chief Medical Officer of the strike force. Dr. Hellerstedt will be supported by three Chief Medical Advisors:
John Zerwas, MD, Executive Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of Texas System
Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and U.S. Medicaid and Medicare Administrator
Parker Hudson, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Dell Medical School and program director for the Internal Medicine Residency
These health experts will develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texans to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and other activities.
The medical team will work alongside a Special Advisory Council who will share innovative ideas to help businesses strategically reopen while containing the spread of COVID-19. The council consists of 39 business leaders representing the state’s regions and industries. The advisory council will collaborate with working groups to devise strategies, statewide standards, and appropriate time frames to reopen the Lone Star State while prioritizing the health and safety of all Texans.
The strike force will immediately begin providing input on potential additional openings of activities and services in Texas consistent with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Governor will announce a revised plan for the state based on these initial recommendations on April 27.
Special Advisory Council members include:
Arcilia Acosta: President and CEO, CARCON Industries & Construction
Paul Andrews, Jr.: Founder and CEO, TTI Inc.
Mark Bivins: Rancher, partner in Corsino Cattle Company
Kathy Britton: CEO and Owner, Perry Homes
Brad Brookshire: Chairman and CEO, Brookshire Grocery Co.
J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.: Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission
Alonzo Cantu: President & CEO of Cantu Construction
Bobby Cox: Owner and operator, Bobby Cox Companies, Inc.
Adriana Cruz: Executive Director, Economic Development & Tourism Division, Office of the Governor
Michael Dell: Chairman and CEO, Dell Technologies
Scott Dueser: Chairman, President & CEO, First Financial Bank
Don Evans: Chairman of the President George W. Bush Foundation, Chairman of Permian Strategic Partnership
Tilman Fertitta: Chairman, CEO, and sole owner, Landry’s, Inc.
Richard Fisher: Senior Advisor, Barclays and Former President & CEO, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Rick Francis: Chairman of the Board, WestStar Bank Holding Company, Inc.
Printice Gary: Founding Partner/Principal and CEO, Carleton Companies
Brad Heffington: Owner of Heffington Farms, Inc. and Triple T Irrigation, Inc.
Jeffery D. Hildebrand: Executive Chairman and Founder, Hilcorp Energy Company
Nancy Kinder: President & CEO, Kinder Foundation
Tom Luce: Founder and Chairman, Texas 2036
Marc McDougal: CEO, McDougal Companies
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale: Owner, Gallery Furniture
Drayton McLane: Chairman, McLane Group
Elaine Mendoza: Founder, President & CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc
Balous Miller: Owner, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Restaurants
Carla Moran: Ramar Communications
Dennis Nixon: CEO and Chairman of International Bank of Commerce
David Oliveira: Partner at Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, L.L.P.
Ross Perot, Jr.: Chairman, The Perot Group
Kevin D. Roberts, Ph.D.: Executive Director, Texas Public Policy Foundation
Robert B. Rowling: Owner and Chairman, TRT Holdings, Inc.
Kendra Scott: Founder and CEO, Kendra Scott
Robert F. Smith: Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners
Sam L. Susser: Chairman of BancAffiliated, Inc.
Massey Villarreal: CEO and President, Precision Task Group, Inc.
Kirk Watson: Founding Dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs
Marc Watts: President, The Friedkin Group
Graham Weston: Former Chairman of Rackspace Hosting Inc.
Sanjiv Yajnik: President of the Financial Services Division, Capital One
For more information about the Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas, visit the strike force webpage.
The Governor’s second Executive Order (GA-16) relates to the safe, strategic reopening of select services and activities in Texas. This order establishes a temporary “Retail-To-Go” model that will allow retail outlets in Texas to reopen beginning Friday, April 24. Under this model, reopened establishments are required to deliver items to customer’s cars, homes, or other locations to minimize contact.
Under this Executive Order, schools—including public, private, and higher education institutions—will remain closed for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may go into the classroom for video instruction, to perform administrative duties, and to clean out their classrooms.
The Governor’s third Executive Order (GA-15) relates to hospital capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for the COVID-19 response. The order loosens restrictions on surgeries put in place by Governor Abbott in March. Beginning at 11:59pm on April 21 through 11:59pm on May 8, all licensed health care professionals and all licensed health care facilities must continue to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary to diagnose or correct a serious medical condition of, or to preserve the life of, a patient who without timely performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death as determined by a patient’s physician. Exceptions now include:
Any procedure that, if performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice, would not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19, or Any surgery or procedure performed in a licensed health care facility that has certified in writing to Texas HHSC both (1) that it will reserve at least 25% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, and (2) that it will not request any PPE from any public source—whether federal, state, or local—for the duration of the COVID-19 disaster. The Governor today also directed state parks to reopen on Monday, April 20 with strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19—including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.
Today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the City of Houston is partnering with the Houston and Texas Restaurant Associations to encourage Houstonians to support local restaurants.
COVID-19 has changed our city and disrupted our routines. Businesses across the state are suffering, and that includes the restaurant industry.
According to the Texas Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry has a $70 billion impact in Texas. The restaurant industry is the 4th largest employer in the Houston area, with more than 300,000 employees.
To help the restaurant industry, Mayor Turner announced the “Take Us to Your Table” campaign in partnership with the Houston and Texas Restaurant Associations. While you may not be able to get a seat at your favorite restaurant, they can certainly have a seat at yours.
“Houston is a foodie town, and our restaurants reflect the city’s diverse culinary tastes and vibrant culture. The COVID-19 public health crisis is having a devastating effect on the men and women who work in the foodservice industry,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “I want to encourage the public to support local restaurants through delivery and curbside takeout. It’s important to support the restaurants that make Houston so special. If we work together, we will get through this challenging time together.”
In a show of support, ExxonMobil is donating $100,000 to the TX Restaurant Relief Fund initiative of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The donation will support Houston restaurants and their employees, who will prepare meals for health care workers, police officers, and firefighters responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to thank those teams and individuals working around the clock to look after the people of the greater Houston area,” said Linda DuCharme, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions. “In addition to supporting health care workers and first responders, we also want to help out area restaurants and their employees who’ve been hard hit by the pandemic.”
The donation will allow for approximately 6,000 meals to be prepared and delivered by local Houston restaurants to frontline responders at Texas Medical Center member hospitals, the Houston Police Foundation, the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, and the Spring Fire Department.
Prominent Houston chefs will participate in the effort that will enable participating restaurants to bring needed work to furloughed staff.
The Texas Restaurant Association’s nonprofit arm established the TX Restaurant Relief Fund last month to provide immediate financial support to the state’s independent restaurateurs and their employees who have been heavily impacted by the loss of business due to COVID-19.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on restaurants, a critical part of Texas’ food supply chain,” said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, president, and chief executive officer of the Texas Restaurant Association and Education Foundation. “In every crisis, restaurants are often the first to help feed the front line, including hospital staff and first responders. We are incredibly grateful to ExxonMobil for this grant, which both supports Houston restaurants, their employees, and enables them to feed frontline responders during this unprecedented time. Through this initiative, participating restaurants will be able to hire back up to 50 percent of their furloughed employees. This donation demonstrates that by working together, we can keep the heartbeat of our communities – food and medicine – in service for all.”
Mayor Turner is encouraging all Houstonians to support our local restaurants and to share photos of what they’re ordering with the hashtag #TakeUsToYourTable.
METRO continues to put safety first, as always, in response to COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Posters are going up all across the system reminding riders and everyone in the community to protect themselves and others by wearing face masks.Safety Remains Priority #1 in METRO’S Response to COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged face masks could provide some benefit in preventing the spread of the disease.
Even more cleaning teams are on the job now disinfecting surfaces frequently touched by the public. This additional staffing allows METRO to go beyond its usual, rigorous daily cleaning and provide extra midday cleanings at transit centers.
Click here to see the cleaning staff hard at work helping to blunt the spread of COVID-19.
METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert shares the Authority’s commitment to everyone in the region as we work together to care for each other and ourselves. He also encourages riders to wear a face covering and only take essential trips.
Click here to hear Lambert’s message of appreciation.
METRO’s extended family is doing its part. When METRO Police Officer Ng learned about the shortage of personal protective equipment for first responders, he knew just the people who could help.
Click here to see how Officer Ng’s wife, children and mother turned their sewing talents into an act of generosity.
We couldn’t do any of this without you. METRO customers continue to adhere to public health officials’ guidelines, and that allows us to continue to run essential services for essential trips.
Click here to see messages riders are leaving for our front line staff, and all we can say is the feeling is mutual.
