With the number of COVID-19 cases rising in the area, Galveston County has made a move for residents to stay at home. Harris County is expected to make a similar announcement this morning.
The Galveston County order goes into effect at 11:59 tonight. Under that order:
- All individuals currently living within Galveston County to remain at their place of residence unless engaging in essential activities, providing essential governmental functions, or operating essential businesses.
- All businesses, except essential businesses, should cease all activities at facilities located within Galveston County
- All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single house or living unit are prohibited
- Restaurants may only provide take-out, delivery, or drive-through services as allowed by law
- Religious and worship services may only be provided by video and teleconferencing while limiting in-person staff to ten people or less
- All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited anywhere in Galveston County
- If someone tests positive for coronavirus, the whole household has to quarantine for 14 days
- Nursing homes, retirement communities and long-term care facilities are to prohibit non-essential visitors
- Tolls are waived at San Luis Pass toll booth
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner have a news conference this morning at 8:15. It is expected the judge and Mayor will issue a stay at home order as well.
There are 199 cases in the area; 54 in Harris County; 24 in the city of Houston itself. There have been 19 recoveries in the area.
HPD Chief Art Acevedo says three officers have tested positive for the virus. All three are under quarantine.
"As part of our protocol that we put into place, the officers when they thought they were exposed they were actually sent directly home,” Acevedo told our TV Partner Channel 2.
Elsewhere:
- As drive thru testing continues in Harris County Fort Bend County Judge KP George says they should have drive thru testing of their own by the middle of the week.
- The first Harris County death from COVID-19 is a man that lived at The Heights of Tomball. He passed way last week. His name has not been released.
- A Homeless man who tested positive for COVID-19 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center was released back onto streets. Harris County officials said that is a situation they're trying to prevent.
- The Houston Department of Health says more than 20,000 calls have come into the coronavirus call center to answer your questions and screen for drive-thru testing.