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Major League Soccer amplía la moratoria de entrenamientos

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Major League Soccer ha extendido la moratoria de entrenamientos de los equipos hasta el viernes 20 de marzo. Durante este tiempo, se espera que los jugadores de la MLS permanezcan en la ciudad respectiva de su club, y se ha aconsejado que ejerzan medidas seguras de distanciamiento social.

La MLS está trabajando con las autoridades de salud pública, en colaboración con los clubes de la liga, la Asociación de Jugadores de la MLS, y en consulta con las otras ligas deportivas profesionales de Norteamérica para finalizar un protocolo que permita a los jugadores acceder a las instalaciones de entrenamiento para rehabilitación o entrenos individuales en condiciones seguras durante la moratoria de entrenamientos de los equipos.

La MLS sigue en estrecho contacto con los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Agencia de Salud Pública de Canadá (PHAC, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre esta situación en constante evolución y proporcionará actualizaciones adicionales a medida que estén disponibles.

Governor Abbott Waives Laws To Allow Trucks From Alcohol Industry To Deliver Grocery Supplies

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Governor Greg Abbott today waived state laws that prohibit trucks from the alcohol industry from delivering supplies to grocery stores. This will provide grocers with another private-sector option to keep their shelves stocked. “This is yet another example of the private sector stepping up and Texans helping Texans as we all work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission for its assistance in this effort. By waiving these regulations, we are streamlining the process to replenish the shelves in grocery stores across the state. We are all in this together, and I want to remind all Texans that hoarding resources is neither necessary nor productive. Texas has the supplies to meet the needs of Texans, and we will continue to expedite the flow of groceries to stores across the state.”

City of Houston Municipal Courts – No Jury Trials and No Jury Duty

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In an effort to continue to encourage the health and safety of the public and court staff members from the spread of the COVID-19, the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department has suspended all JURY TRIALS AND JURY DUTY during the period of Monday, March 16, 2020 through Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

If anyone has recently travelled internationally, has come into contact with someone who has travelled internationally, or if you are, or think you are, experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19, please DO NOT COME TO COURT. You are urged to contact your health care provider. Once you have been cleared by a physician, you can come into any of our City of Houston court locations to speak with an Annex Judge to reset your case. Please visit the Municipal Courts’ website at www.houstontx.gov/courts for continued updates on all court locations and hours of operation.

On Monday, March 16, 2020 through Tuesday, March 31, 2020, there will be:

NO Jury Trials. If you are a DEFENDANT scheduled for a JURY TRIAL during this period, you do not have to appear. You must reschedule your jury trial setting in person no later than Monday, April 6, 2020 until 9:00p.m., to receive a new jury trial date. All jury trials will resume Wednesday, April 1, 2020 unless further notification is provided. It is important to note that if an individual fails to reset their case(s) during the reset period (3/16/2020 through 4/6/2020), an arrest warrant may be issued.
NO Jury Duty. If you are a Juror and have been scheduled for Jury Duty, you do not have to appear during this period. You do not need to reschedule your jury service.

Arraignments, Trials by Judge, Parking Adjudication Hearings and all other proceedings. Individuals who are scheduled for any other court settings are expected to appear in court for their scheduled setting.

For additional announcements and information please call the City of Houston Helpline at 3-1-1, or 713.837.0311 if outside of the City of Houston, or visit the Municipal Courts website at www.houstontx.gov/courts,

Houston First & Levy Donate Food to Ronald McDonald House During Coronavirus Crisis

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Due to meeting cancellations, Houston First Corporation and food vendor, Levy Premium Food Service, are partnering to donate unused prepared food from the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) to Houston’s Ronald McDonald House in the Texas Medical Center.   

A number of conference and meeting cancellations at the GRB due to the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 coronavirus have resulted in the temporary closing of the grab ‘n go Avenida Eats and Starbucks both located inside the convention center.  More than 150 freshly made sandwiches, salads and fruit cups have been delivered to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.  

“The children and families of Ronald McDonald House Houston are greatly appreciative of the generous donation from Houston First and Levy. All donations are welcomed, but we are especially grateful to have additional help to sustain our families during this very difficult time,” said Rick Noriega, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Houston.

“Families at the Ronald McDonald House already are facing adversity, so we are pleased to join our partners at Levy to provide what we hope will be at least a small measure of comfort and support,” said Brenda Bazan, president and CEO of Houston First Corporation. “Helping our neighbors, particularly during a time made more difficult by coronavirus concerns, is a no-brainer for the Houston First team, and we want to encourage others to consider simple ways they might assist local non-profits now as well.”

About Ronald McDonald House Houston

Ronald McDonald House Houston (RMH Houston) provides families with a home away from home: a safe, comfortable, affordable place to live while their child receives treatment for a life-threatening illness inside the Texas Medical Center. While meeting the families’ most vital need for a place to stay, RMH Houston also offers meals, activities, and opportunities to connect with other families facing similar crises. For more information please visit www.rmhhouston.org, or follow us on Facebook.

About Houston First Corporation

Houston First is the official destination management organization for the city of Houston. In addition, Houston First owns the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, manages the George R. Brown Convention Center along with 10 city-owned properties and developed the Avenida Houston entertainment district. Learn more at HoustonFirst.com.

COVID-19: Community Guidelines

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Protecting the health and safety of our community remains our highest concern. We are also committed to continuing to provide Harris County residents with the latest information about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) so you can make informed decisions for you and your family. As you may know, multiple individuals in the greater Houston area are confirmed positives for COVID-19. While the majority of these individuals contracted the virus while traveling, there is evidence that we are beginning to identify individuals who may have contracted the virus through community transmissions.

DIFFICULT DECISIONS
On Wednesday, Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a Disaster Declaration for Harris County and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner issued an Emergency Health Declaration, both of which allow the city and county to better serve you. We recognize that difficult decisions, such as cancelling community events, causes inconveniences, as well as economic strains on organizations and individuals. Rest assured that no one takes these decisions lightly. It is out of an abundance of caution and because containing the spread of the virus helps keep our community healthier that additional cancellations may occur. 

COUNTY GUIDELINES
Until March 31, Precinct One will be following the guidelines jointly issued by Harris County Public Health Department, the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Harris County and the City of Houston. Designed to create the social distancing needed to help slow the spread of the virus throughout our community, these guidelines will be in effect for the remainder of the month. All Precinct One community centers will adhere to the following guidance:
Precinct One community centers will be closed until the end of MarchPostpone gatherings of greater than 250 peopleSuspend all seniors programs through March (excluding the Meals on Wheels program)Suspend all Harris County community meetings

CONSULT YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER
Let’s remember to remain calm, be cautious and listen to the advice of medical professionals. It is also important to show compassion and concern for the individuals who are recovering from this illness while protecting those vulnerable to contracting the virus. The number one way to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 remains good hygiene and cleaning practices, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Harris County Public Health. That means you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, stay home if you’re feeling sick, and sterilize dirty surfaces at home and at work with detergent or soap. Individuals at greatest risk that should be especially careful:People 60 and olderPeople who have underlying health concerns (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, lung disease)People who have weakened immune systemsPregnant women

STICK TO THE FACTS
It is also vital that we stick to the facts and prevent the spread of misinformation. We cannot let rumors and innuendo get in the way of helping our community withstand this virus. Please listen to your medical provider, the CDC, Harris County Public Health, local officials and other trusted sources for information.

FIND INFORMATION
To help separate fact from fiction, you can have your questions answered by trained professionals:Harris County residents can get the latest information by calling Harris County Public Health’s dedicated hotline at 832-927-7575 (9 am to 7 pm everyday)You can also text CV19 to 888777 to get text updates directly from Ready HarrisCity of Houston residents are encouraged to contact 832-393-4220 (9 am to 7pm M-F, 9 am to 3pm on Saturday)Additionally uninsured residents of unincorporated Harris County can call the “Ask My Nurse” hotline for clinical-related questions at 713-634-1110 (9 am to 7 pm everyday)

FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Finally, everyone should have access to quality, affordable medical care. Consider the tough decisions our neighbors may need to make in the coming days. Deciding not to go to work when you don’t have sick time or paid leave means losing money that pays the mortgage or buys groceries. This is another reminder why I am committed to continuing to fight for fair wages and benefits for everyone. I will also continue to use my voice to advocate for policies that make our health care system more equitable, affordable and accessible so that every family can focus on their health first. Despite this time of concern, I am eternally grateful for the dedicated, experienced public health officials in Harris County working around the clock to contain the spread of this illness and keep our families safe. We are immeasurably better because of their talent and dedication to our community. Times like these can be difficult but they also present the opportunity to bring more hope, acceptance and love into the world. I hope that we will use this opportunity to support our loved ones, friends and neighbors and do our part to prevent the spread of this illness.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo declare public health emergency due to COVID-19

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Mayor Sylvester Turner today signed a proclamation declaring a Local State of Disaster Due to a Public Health Emergency to help contain and mitigate COVID-19 from spreading. As a result of the emergency order, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo will close down immediately and city-sponsored, produced and permitted events will be postponed or cancelled through the end of March.

The action follows the identification of a positive COVID-19 case in a Montgomery County resident with no reported out-of-state travel and no identified contact with another person with COVID-19. It is an indication of community spread. Community spread occurs when a person contracts an illness from an unknown source.
Health officials believe the Montgomery County man who tested positive also attended the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

Mayor Turner and Houston-area health authorities determined immediate action was needed to protect the public’s health.  There are currently two positive cases of COVID-19 in the city of Houston.

 “I have taken this step to contain and mitigate the virus. To this point, the cases in Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County have all been linked to international travel,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “As we have  indicated since we first starting monitoring COVID-19, we would act quickly and accordingly based on new information. The information about the possibility of community spread in the Houston-area is a game-changer. We made a tough call, but it was the right call to protect the people of our city.”

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she would also sign an emergency disaster declaration.“This virus does not respect political or geographical boundaries,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Our response to this challenge requires that we use every tool in our toolbox to contain and mitigate the very real threat this global outbreak has on our health and our communities. I strongly urge residents, businesses, and schools to take this seriously and to take reasonable precautionary steps to protect our most vulnerable residents from exposure.”For the health and safety of attendees, volunteers and employees, Rodeo Houston will phase down Wednesday evening. The three week event was scheduled to end March 22.  

“As heartbreaking as this is, it is in the best interest of the community,” said Joel Cowley, President and CEO of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “Due to the foresight of our executive committee, we will be able to fulfill our annual contribution and commitment to youth and education.”

The public health emergency declaration will also affect this weekend’s Tour de Houston, as well as the remaining capital improvement project meetings.

“This virus is new to the human population and none of us have an immunity to it. We are doing this to save lives,” said Dr. David Persse, Health Authority for Houston Health Department. “If you do not have symptoms, you do not need to be tested.If you don’t have symptoms, the test does you no good and a test has been wasted. If you do have symptoms, please call ahead so medical staff can be prepared. We cannot afford to have doctors and nurses exposed.”

Meanwhile, the Houston Health Department announced Wednesday new recommendations to Houstonians aimed at reducing their risk of exposure to COVID-19.People at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. People at higher risk include:People 60 and olderPeople with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetesPeople who have weakened immune systemsPeople who are pregnantWorkplaces should enact measures that allow people who can work from home to do so. Taking these measures can help reduce the number of workers who come into contact with the COVID-19 virus and help minimize absenteeism due to illnessIf you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events and gatherings.The Houston Health Department is not currently recommending closing schools. If a case of COVID-19 is diagnosed at a school, the health department will work with the school and the district to determine the best measures including potential closure of the school.People who are sick need to stay home to prevent infecting others.Avoid visiting hospitals, long term care facilities, or nursing homes to the extent possible. If you need to go, limit your time there and keep six feet away from patients.People with symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, must call a healthcare provider. People with symptoms should not go to the emergency room unless it’s a life-threatening emergency.
Healthcare professionals will determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Houstonians should visit HoustonEmergency.org for updated information about local risk, routine protective actions, frequently asked questions, communication resources, rumor control, emergency preparedness tips and more.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Cancelled

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In the interest of public health, the City of Houston and the Houston Health Department have ordered the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ to close. The Rodeo will respectfully and dutifully comply with the City’s order.  

The Rodeo is deeply saddened; however, the safety and well-being of our guests and our community is our top priority. Out of precaution, the City has decided that this is the best course of action for our community.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been a fabric of this community since 1932. Having to close early is extremely difficult as guests, volunteers, exhibitors, rodeo athletes and entertainers look forward to the 20 days of the Rodeo each year.

We look forward to the 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to continue to promote agriculture, education, entertainment and Western heritage. We will provide additional information as it becomes available. Updates will be posted at rodeohouston.com/2020.

Theatre Under the Stars Announces the Return of Come from Away for the Final Show in the 2020-2021 Season

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This morning, Theatre Under The Stars announced the Houston return of Come From Away as the final musical in its 2020-2021 Season of Broadway hits. The North American Tour of the Tony Award®-winning musical just completed a sold-out run at the Hobby Center. The TUTS engagement will run May 18 through 30, 2021.

“We’re so excited to bring this phenomenal musical back to Houston next year as part of our season, because more Houstonians deserve to experience this uplifting and inspiring show,” said TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges. “Come From Away is a remarkable true story that celebrates the best in humanity, and our audiences will love it.”

Recapping the shows previously announced for the 2020-2021 Season, the six-show series at Houston’s Hobby Center will launch in September with the highly-anticipated Broadway revival of 1776, prior to its arrival in New York City. In October, the ‘80s live again with an all new TUTS production of Rock of Ages, featuring your favorite hair-metal hits. For the holidays, go under the sea with a new production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. TUTS revives a musical classic in February, with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific. April brings the divine musical comedy Sister Act, starring Houston’s own Simone Gundy (NBC’s The Voice, TUTS Memphis). The return engagement of Come From Away will round out the season.

“What excites me about this season, is the range of experiences this line-up offers. Pre-Broadway! Rock Concert! Disney Spectacular! High Romance! Disco Diva! Broadway Smash!” said Knechtges. “You can’t do better than that for a night on the town. This season, you’ll be entertained and transported to musical theatre heights.”

Texas Dairy Queen (TDQ) Invites You to Celebrate the First Day of Spring with a Free Cone!

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Nothing says spring has arrived in the Lone Star State better than lush fields of glorious bluebonnets. But on Thursday, March 19th, DQ’s fans (and fanatics) can celebrate spring’s arrival with a free small cone from participating Texas Dairy Queen (TDQ) stores across the state.

Fans can upload their Free Cone Day photos using the hashtag “freeconeday.” But wait, there’s more.  If fans want more free treats, they can upload their photos to the DairyQueenTexas Facebook page under YourDQMoments, and if their photo is selected, they could snag a $10 TDQ gift card.

As much as we’d like to give away a bunch of free cones to everybody forever, we have to draw the line somewhere. So, we’re limiting the free giveaway to one cone per customer. And needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway), while supplies last.

We’re proud of our iconic brand status. Long before social media, TDQ has been THE place for Texans to connect with each other and make memories. We invite everyone to grab a free cone on March 19, go admire the Texas bluebonnets and create new memories.

There are few brands as iconic as the DQ® brand. Innovative DQ treats and eats, along with the unique DQ restaurant concepts, have positioned Texas Dairy Queen as a leader in the quick service restaurant industry. Texas Dairy Queen is comprised of 154 franchisees with 600 locations across Texas.

For more information, visit dqtexas.com or follow TDQ on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Local Health Departments Ask Residents Who Traveled on Egypt Nile River Cruise to Self-quarantine, Contact Local Health Department

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The Houston Health Department, Harris County Public Health and Fort Bend County Health and Human Services ask any local residents who recently traveled to Egypt and took a Nile River cruise to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days and contact their local health department.

On March 5, 2020 the M.S. A’sara cruise traveling to and from Aswan, Egypt was quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. Local health department officials are seeking M.S. A’sara passengers from the Greater Houston area who traveled on the cruise line from February 12 to March 5, 2020 because they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

If you or your family traveled on the M.S. A’sara cruise (traveling to and from Aswan, Egypt) during the dates in question, please selfquarantine and contact your local health department. Currently, only passengers on the M.S. A’sara cruise need to contact their local health department.

City of Houston residents:
Houston Health Department
www.HoustonHealth.org
www.HoustonEmergency.org
832-393-4220*
*This number is currently only for M.S. A’sara cruise passengers and is staffed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Harris County residents:
Harris County Public Health
www.hcphtx.org\COVID-19
www.ReadyHarris.org
713-439-6000*
*This number is staffed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Fort Bend County residents:
Fort Bend County Health & Human Services
www.fbchealth.org/ncov
281-633-7795*
*This number is staffed Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

M.S. A’sara cruise passengers and anyone who recently traveled to and from Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified high risk areas who is experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath must stay home and away from other people and contact their health provider. Healthcare providers will work with local public health departments to determine if COVID-19 testing is needed. People over 60 and those with chronic health condition are at highest risk for serious COVID-19 illness.

Visit HoustonEmergency.org for updated information about local risk, as well as key messages, frequently asked questions, communication resources, rumor control, emergency preparedness tips and more.