With numbers of positive COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in the Houston area, another county has made extending its stay at home order official.
Fort Bend County makes its extension through April 30th official one day after Harris County did, and after conducting an online survey. County Judge KP George calling the decision the "only tool we have to save lives."
The Houston area has 1,540 cases. Harris County with 389. The city of Houston with 458. Sixteen people have died in the area. That includes the first two deaths in Montgomery county; two men at a senior living facility that had been under a shelter in place this week.
Governor Abbott has clarified his executive order from earlier this week.He is not calling the order 'stay at home,' but he is requiring all Texans to stay home unless it's for essential activity. The state of Texas has 4,607 cases of the virus. The death toll in Texas stands at 68.
Elsewhere:
- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo officially signs the order to release of up to 1,000 non-violent inmates from jail. And there were concerns over who is getting low bonds and getting out of jail.
- Fourteen more HFD firefighters are under quarantine. 173 members of HFD are in quarantine; 49 have symptoms; 12 have tested positive. And fourteen HPD officers have now tested for the virus
- The city of Houston has leased two hotels for quarantined first responders and homeless people who need a place to quarantine.
- And a postal worker with the Cypress Post Office has tested positive for coronavirus. The USPS says they believe the risk to other employees is "low."