Mayor Turner and the City of Houston launched a similar effort in September.
In a press release, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) writes:
“will be conducting a survey of randomly selected homes. The survey will identify people infected in the past with COVID-19 by the presence of antibodies, proteins the body’s immune system makes to fight infections. County residents agreeing to participate in the survey will be tested for the presence of these antibodies.
HCPH outreach teams will be in different county areas from November 15 – December 15, 2020, from 8am – 5pm, visiting randomly selected homes seeking residents willing to participate in the survey. Only homes approached by the teams are eligible to participate and participation is voluntary. The outreach teams will be identifiable by wearing yellow vests, and they will be carrying identification cards.
Participants will be asked to provide answers to survey questions and provide blood samples that will be tested for the presence of antibodies. Once completed, the survey will assist policymakers and health experts understand how vulnerable the community remains to the virus, and how frequently asymptomatic or mild cases occur."