o help contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Houston Health Department modified some services to protect the health and well-being of the community.

The health department is open and providing core services, with the following temporary modifications:

• Multi Service Centers are open with access limited to clients of existing tenants. Group events of more than 10 people are being rescheduled.
• WIC clinics are open by appointment only.
• Health center clinical services are open by appointment only at Sunnyside, Northside and Sharpstown. La Nueva Casa de Amigos will temporarily close so staff can be consolidated to the three other health centers. Appointments scheduled at La Nueva Casa de Amigos are being rescheduled to the other health centers.
• Vital records (birth and death certificates) are being processed by phone and online. Shipping fees are waived while the lobby is temporarily closed.
• Face-to-face services such as case management, home visitations, group education classes, benefits counseling, and enrollment activities are being temporarily transitioned to telephone-based models.
• Eligibility Assistance, which provides screening and certification for health care programs such as Medicaid and Harris Health, is consolidating to the West End Multi-Service Center.
• The home delivered meals program is expanded to include participants who normally receive meals at congregate meal sites, temporarily closed to promote safety with this vulnerable population.
• Emergency dental care for older adults will continue but elective geriatric dental appointments are being rescheduled
• Group activities, trainings and social gatherings are canceled and/or being rescheduled. 

Service locations such as health centers and WIC clinics are implementing phone or text notifications to allow patients to wait outside until time for service. Social distancing measures are being utilized in waiting rooms.

The Houston Health Department COVID-19 emergency operations center remains fully activated.

Houstonians should visit HoustonHealth.org/covid19 for the latest information and ways to protect their family and community.

De acuerdo con el consejo de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de posponer durante las próximas ocho semanas los eventos en los que participen más de 50 personas, Major League Soccer ha extendido el aplazamiento de sus partidos a lo largo de este periodo. La MLS sigue enfocada en jugar toda la temporada 2020 y está evaluando todas las opciones, incluyendo retrasar la final de la temporada y jugar la MLS Cup en diciembre, como lo hizo la liga antes de la temporada 2019.  La liga también está identificando otras fechas disponibles. A través de este proceso, la MLS continuará priorizando la seguridad de nuestros aficionados, jugadores, empleados y socios, y coordinando con las autoridades de salud pública federales y locales, así como con otras organizaciones deportivas.

Note: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced Wednesday that it will allow companies to ask for exemptions from environmental regulations due to the coronavirus. If these exemptions lead to more air pollution, then the respiratory health of vulnerable populations will suffer, potentially exacerbating the coronavirus-related public health crisis.

Imagine if Texas responded to a shortage of food service workers by exempting restaurants from state health codes. That is exactly what the commission is doing – offering polluters another free pass at the expense of public health. 

People living next door to polluters already suffer, and their vulnerabilities – poor respiratory health, less access to health care – make them more susceptible to the coronavirus. Why put them at greater risk during a public health emergency? The commission needs to deliver clean air for everyone, no excuses or exemptions. 

The commission has always had enforcement discretion – it can forgive unavoidable violations without announcing an opportunity for polluters to circumvent the law. If dirty energy companies can’t staff their operations without breaking environmental laws, then they should do what the rest of us are doing right now: stay home. 

The Houston Health Department announced a new positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case on Thursday, bringing the city’s total cases to 11.

The new case, a female in the 50-60 age range, is hospitalized. She has no known travel or exposure history.

Positive COVID-19 test results from the department’s laboratory no longer require confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The department will now use the phrase “positive COVID-19 case.”

The Houston Health Department will report out new positive COVID-19 cases daily at 3 p.m.

Investigations conducted by the department will identify potential contacts exposed to the virus. The department will provide close contacts guidance about the virus and monitor them for the development of symptoms.

Social distancing guidance for all Houstonians:

• Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.
• Maintain at least 6 feet of separation from other people.
• Avoid eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts – use drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options.
• Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits.
• Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical care situations.
• Practice healthy hygiene habits:
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, use the elbow of your sleeve. Don’t use your hands to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, especially if you are at higher risk for coronavirus.
• Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy foods, and manage your stress to keep your immunity strong.
• Work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible.
• Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
• Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing.
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.
• Privacy protection laws only permit the release of limited patient information. The health department is unable to release any additional patient information.

Houstonians may visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for updated information about local risk, routine protective actions, frequently asked questions, communication resources, rumor control, emergency preparedness tips and more.