SPECIAL EDITION TALK OF THE TOWNSHIP

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Township issues reminders during COVID surge
During the current nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly the Delta variant, the Township reminds residents to stay safe and well and to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

VACCINATION AVAILABILITY
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available locally at hospitals, healthcare provider offices, pharmacies and retailers. To find a vaccine near you, please visit www.vaccines.gov/search/. Here you can search based on zip code and vaccine preference (Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson). Texans can also register online at GetTheVaccine.dshs.texas.gov. You will be notified by email or text when and where to get the vaccine.

The FDA recently gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The current Pfizer vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

COVID TESTING
The Woodlands Township is a host location for COVID-19 testing provided by Curative, Inc. Testing takes place seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Labor Day, Monday, August 6, 2021) The Township offers free testing through Curative at three locations. Please note, testing is no longer offered at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.

The Recreation Center at Bear Branch, 5310 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381 (Through October 2021)
Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382
(Through October 2021)
The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389 (Through October 2021)

COUNTY NEWS
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, reports another all-time high of children (0-11 years of age) who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Montgomery County. More children have tested positive THIS MONTH (August 2021) with COVID-19 than in all of 2020 (March 2020-December 2020). We can also confirm the number of active cases is the 2nd highest it has been since the pandemic began, just 160 cases below the all-time high set in January 2021.

The testing positivity rate in Montgomery County is 21% as of Monday, August 30, 2021. The Harris County COVID-19 Threat Level remains at Level 1 (Severe Threat).

The reports of Montgomery County are posted on the Township website under County News Releases/Partner Agency Notifications. Harris County items are also posted there as received. In addition, social media feeds from both agencies can be viewed by scrolling down at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19.

SCHOOL CASES
Cases in local independent school districts are on the rise. Please visit the ISD dashboards below for the latest information regarding COVID-19 cases in schools.

Conroe ISD: https://apps.conroeisd.net/covidimpact/
Tomball ISD: https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/d9e82fda-88fe-4319-b2c6-51ff7332dba0/page/3QqgB
Magnolia ISD: https://sites.google.com/magnoliaisd.org/nov-magnolia-isd-covid-dashboa/home

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council
SETRAC is a powerful coalition of providers, responders and other healthcare related partners united together to save lives and improve health outcomes through research, education and collaboration. You can find more information and view hospital use related to COVID-19 on their website, setrac.org.

CDC Guidance Regarding the Delta Variant
The Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than early forms of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Delta variant is highly contagious, more than 2x as contagious as previous variants. Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous variants in unvaccinated people. In two different studies from Canada and Scotland, patients infected with the Delta variant were more likely to be hospitalized than patients infected with Alpha or the original virus that causes COVID-19. Even so, the vast majority of hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19 are in unvaccinated people.

Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern: The greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated people who are much more likely to get infected, and therefore transmit the virus. Fully vaccinated people get COVID-19 (known as breakthrough infections) less often than unvaccinated people. People infected with the Delta variant, including fully vaccinated people with symptomatic breakthrough infections, can transmit the virus to others. CDC is continuing to assess data on whether fully vaccinated people with asymptomatic breakthrough infections can transmit the virus. Read more.

Help Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
Current advice from the CDC includes wearing a mask indoors in public and crowded spaces in areas of high transmission for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines remain the most effective way to reduce spread of COVID-19 and prevent serious illness. Read more.

Additional Information
Please visit the Township’s COVID-19 information page, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19 for resources, information and updates.

Website: www.TheWoodlandsTownship-TX.gov

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