The COVID-19 death toll is rising in Houston and Harris County.
Last night Harris county reported two deaths last night bringing their total to 22. The city reported two deaths yesterday to bring Houston's total to six.
Matagorda County has ordered a mandatory shelter-in-place to reduce spread; they are reporting 35 cases. That order is in effect until further notice.
Montgomery County Officials say a third resident at the independent living facility in The Woodlands that has been under a shelter in place has died from COVID-19.
Overall, as of this morning, the Houston area has 1,725 cases; Harris County with 449; the city of Houston 506. Twenty-two people have died in the ares. Texas has 5,253 cases with 86 people losing their lives.
Elsewhere:
The end to the disinfectant giveaway in Fort Bend County has ended, and Sheriff Troy Nehls blamed County Judge KP George.
"I do believe there's politics. The war is against the coronavirus. The war should not be against me. We should be united together," Nehls told our TV partner Channel 2.
Funding for the giveaway was handled by the Democrat . Nehls, a Republican, is running for Congress. George claimed they are "changing priorities" in a Facebook post.
In other developments:
- First responders are getting hit hard. A COVID-19 positive HPD officer is now on a ventilator. 17 employees from the department have tested positive. HFD reports 12 positive cases with 173 in quarantine.
- The economic reality check; Texas reported getting over 275-thousand unemployment claims. That's up 77% from last week and an 1,819% increase from March.
- The Baylor College of Medicine is enrolling patients hospitalized at St. Lukes and Ben Taub for a study involving an experimental treatment for the virus.