COVID-19 Updates: Thursday, April 30, 2020

Thursday, April 30, 2020, 5 p.m.

Township News

The Woodlands Township Board to Meet Tonight
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors continues to meet virtually to address matters related to COVID-19. Tonight, the Board will be discussing the actions taken by the State of Texas as well as information from Montgomery County and Harris County. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. central time, Thursday, April 30, 2020, and can be accessed online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Board Stresses CDC Guidelines, Social Distancing and Facial Coverings
Watch a video as Township Chairman Gordy Bunch encourages wearing face masks.

County News

Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count

Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can confirm there are now 438 ACTIVE cases of COVID-19. That number includes 49 hospitalizations. 152 people have fully recovered. The number of total positive cases has increased 20 since yesterday to 602.

Details on individual cases can be found here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/.

Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management updates a dashboard for the cases here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

Montgomery County Active Cases, April 30, 2020

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count

As of April 30, 2020 (4 p.m.), Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has 2,743 positive cases (1,161 active cases). HCPH is also confirming that 1,524 of its patients have recovered. There have been 58 total deaths of COVID-19 in Harris County. None of these numbers include the City of Houston. A full description of the numbers can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/tzymvk5

Cases by zip code in Harris County can be found here by clicking on areas of the map.

The Village of Creekside Park is located in two zip codes: 77375 and 77389 and these also include Magnolia, Augusta Pines/Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road in northwest Harris County. Today, Harris County is reporting zip code 77375 has 40 cases and 77389 has 36 cases.

Harris County Simplified COVID-19 Assessment Tool for Testing
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has revamped its COVID-19 online self-assessment tool to streamline the COVID-19 testing process. The online tool can be found at: www.readyharris.org or www.hcphtx.org (or https://covidcheck.hctx.net). Learn more about the assessment tool here.

Current Status of Hospital Availability

Residents in The Woodlands can take comfort in the fact that hospitals in The Woodlands and Southeast Texas region are prepared to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is evidenced in data summarized by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) which provides medical leadership in our region regarding the care of trauma and acute care patients. SETRAC is keeping daily count of hospital bed availability, ventilator usage and other key factors within the Southeast Texas area.

As reflected in SETRAC data, Houston Methodist The Woodlands, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands and St. Luke’s The Woodlands have more than adequate capacity to handle an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Hospital data from the 25-county SETRAC region is available for the following categories:

• Daily Admissions

• General Bed Usage

• ICU Usage

• Ventilator Usage

• COVID Related Census

Viewers can review these numbers regionally or at the county level.

Helpful Questions and Answers about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Pets
You have probably seen and heard a lot about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how to keep you and your family safe. But what about the other, furrier members of the family—your pets? ?The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers some questions and answers to help keep you, your family, and your pets safe during the pandemic. Please read the helpful information from the Food and Drug Administration.

Around the Township

#Township Together

The Woodlands Township is calling on residents to share any images of inspiration with the community. These can be a photo of something seen in the neighborhood, a family project or anything with a positive message. These will be shared through the Township email updates, social media channels and on The Woodlands Township website.

The Woodlands Mall Set to Reopen May 5, 2020
Pursuant to Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-18, The Woodlands Mall?will be reopening to the public on May 5, 2020.??The operating hours will be Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.? For more information, including minimum recommended health protocols, follow this link to the Governor’s Report to Open Texas: https://bit.ly/3eWmjCm.

Some retailers in Market Street opening Friday, May 1, 2020

Market Street is reporting that some of its retailers will be opening Friday, May 1, 2020 but not the entire facility. It will be a gradual approach over the next 30 days.

Retail-To-Go

Visit The Woodlands, the official destination marketing organization for The Woodlands, has launched a Retail To Go Program promoting storefront retail businesses in The Woodlands Township following Governor Abbott’s Executive Order establishing a Strike Force to open Texas.

“Our local retailers and restaurants have all been proactive and managed to change their business models in response to this global pandemic,” said Visit The Woodlands Chairman Bruce Rieser. “Here at Visit The Woodlands, we’re committed to supporting and promoting those efforts. Our team continues to create new content that will bring the hospitality message to our residents on behalf of our partners and help ensure their success.”

Retail to-go with curbside pickup is now available in a growing number of stores in The Woodlands. For more information, click here: https://visitthewoodlands.com/blog/retail-to-go-in-the-woodlands/

Experience The Woodlands with Safe Social Distancing

Looking to try new restaurants or shops while social distancing??Save this passport to your?phone and check?off these "destinations" as you support dining and shopping options in The Woodlands. You can visit these destinations by making?purchases from local stores?and?ordering from area restaurants. Post your progress to encourage your friends and neighbors to participate. Snap photos of your food and purchases and be sure to share them on social media, tagging the business and using?#SoWoodlands.

Numerous resources are available in the community for support. These vary from food banks to financial assistance and much more. Please visit the link below to find more information about resources in the community related to COVID-19:
http://thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1491/Community-Resources.

Upcoming Blood Drives
Please give to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Every donation can help save as many as three lives. For more information, please visit giveblood.org.

THE WOODLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD DONOR CENTER
3091 College Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77384
(936) 321-8440

Mobile Opportunity:

THE WOODLANDS COUNTRY CLUB BLOOD DRIVE
Wednesday, May 6th, 2020
100 Grand Fairway Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year and in 2019, Children’s Safe Harbor brought the Pinwheel Art Display to The Woodlands on the grounds of the Montgomery County Ed Chance Courthouse Annex on Lake Robbins Drive to celebrate the commitment across south Montgomery for the children’s advocacy center program. Pictured above are Victoria Constance with Children‘s Safe Harbor, Nick Wolda with The Woodlands Township, Township Secretary and NonProfit Liaison Dr. Ann K. Snyder and Montgomery County Constable Ryan Gable.

Children’s Safe Harbor

With the stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, it has become one of the most dangerous times for children at risk for potential abuse given the financial and emotional stress that families are going through. Isolation is a huge risk. Children's Safe Harbor serves children who have been sexually assaulted, severely physically abused, sexually trafficked or exploited or traumatized and advocates for their justice and healing. The organization is in need of gift cards, tutors and food to give to the families they serve. Please visit www.ChildrensSafeHarbor.org for more information and how to help.

Community Assistance Center
The Montgomery County Community Assistance Center is seeking help through monetary and in-kind donations and through volunteers. View the flyer to learn more.

Interfaith Requesting Help
The following are needs for Interfaith of The Woodlands:

Funding: Funding to be used for the following:

To purchase bulk, specific and essential foods, toiletries and paper goods for food assistance for families and Seniors.
Provide financial assistance (i.e. rent, mortgage, utilities, gas cards and prescription assistance) to families and Seniors.

Monetary Donations can be made here:
https://interfaith-of-the-woodlands.snwbll.com/covid-19-community-response

Food Donations: Interfaith is actively accepting food donations of: cereal, canned meat, dry pasta, vegetables and fruit, snacks for kids, peanut butter, jelly, meal starters, soups, crackers, toiletries, paper goods including toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Donations will be accepted on Wednesdays from 9-11 am at Interfaith Central, 4242 Interfaith Way.

Encouragement Cards for Seniors and Healthcare workers: We are accepting cards for Seniors and Healthcare workers to help bring sunshine to their day! All cards donated will be delivered to our Senior neighbors during grocery delivery and to local hospitals. You can mail your cards or drive through and drop off at our office at 4242 Interfaith Way, The Woodlands, 77381.

Mosaics of Mercy Needs Assistance in the Following Areas:

Donation to support our mission of being a central hub for mental health resources for our community.
Sponsorship for our weekly podcast- Hope Pieced Together ($350/episode- and they are thanked for their sponsorship via social media, during the podcast, and in the show notes.)
Getting the word out about Mosaics of Mercy and that we are available to help people navigate mental health resources. Options:
- Assist us with marketing
- Share our website with your friends and contacts
- Share our social media posts
- Share our podcast
Donate a mosaic heart to be sent to someone in the community that is struggling (Done through the donate page of our website.
Display a mosaic heart and our information in your place of business to continue to get the word out that mental health resources are available.

Please visit www.mosaicsofmercy.com for additional information.

The Township’s Coronavirus page
The Woodlands Township’s special COVID-19 information page can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19. This page features Montgomery and Harris county Hubs, community resources and updated COVID-19 news from the Federal Government and the CDC. This page also includes the latest news from The Township, updates from partner agencies, social distancing strategies, important links, frequently asked questions, live Twitter feeds and more.

Hotlines for health questions and COVID-19
Montgomery County: 936-523-5040
Harris County: 713-634-1110
Statewide Mental Health Support Line: 833-986-1919

Free Self-Screening Tool for COVID-19
Visit the self-screening tool on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Tracking COVID-19: Local, Regionally, Nationally, Internationally
Below are the widgets for tracking COVID19.

Stay Connected
Please stay connected to The Woodlands Township through our many communications channels. Learn more and sign up at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/stayinformed.

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The Woodlands Township publishes this update to inform residents and businesses regarding the COVID-19 and its impact on The Woodlands Township. Please sign up for Township news and notifications at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme.

Interfaith of The Woodlands   The Woodlands Township   Centers for Disease Control
Montgomery County Food Bank   Montgomery County   Texas Department of Health
Texas Workforce Commission Harris County    Harris Public Health
  Harris County Constable's Office   Montgomery Public Health
  Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
  Partner Agency Notifications Archive

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