Montgomery County COVID-19 Call Center Opened
936-523-3916

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICIALS UPDATE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK WITH 23 CASES
Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2020                                                 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, can confirm Montgomery County now has 23 positive cases of COVID-19. We are also happy to announce our first full recovery of a woman in her 40s. She is Case # 4. (See more information below.)
 
As of 3:00 pm today, MCPHD has been notified of 224 negative and 23 positive test results of county residents. We have results pending for another 128 residents.
 
Here are updates on Montgomery County’s current cases:
*map of areas is attached to this email
 
Case # 1 - A man in his 40s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County, is still hospitalized. He remains in critical condition, but he is stable and continues improvement. As a result of our investigation, we do believe he contracted the virus as a result of community spread. (reported 03/10/2020)
 
Case # 2 - A woman, in her 40s, who resides in Southeast Montgomery County. She remains in a hospital in Harris County, in critical condition, but she is stable and is showing improvement. Her only travel was to New Orleans. (reported 3/12/2020)
 
Case # 3 - A man, in his 40s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County. He has been re-admitted to the hospital. His only travel was to Florida. (reported 3/12/2020)
 
Case # 4 - A woman, in her 40s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County. Fortunately, she has fully recovered. Her case is connected to Case # 3. (reported 3/14/2020)
 
Case # 5 – A man, in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation in his home. The man has recently traveled to California. (reported 3/17/2020)
 
Case # 6 - A man, in his 40s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. At this time, he is in isolation in his home. The man has recently traveled to California. (reported 3/18/2020)
 
Case # 7 – A woman, in her 60s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County. At this time, she is in isolation in her home. She has no recent travel history, and no known contact with other patients. (reported 3/18/2020)
 
Case # 8 – A woman, in her 40s, who resides in Southeast Montgomery County. At the time, she is in isolation in her home. She has recently traveled to Germany. (reported 3/19/2020)
 
Case # 9 – A man, in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is currently hospitalized in critical but stable condition. No known travel. (reported 3/19/2020)
 
Case # 10 – A woman in her 50s, who resides in Southeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She did attend the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on Sunday, March 8th. (reported 3/20/2020)
 
Case # 11 – A man in his 90s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is currently hospitalized and stable. He has no recent travel history. (reported 3/20/2020)
 
Case # 12 -  A man in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at home. He recently traveled to Brazil. (reported 3/20/2020)
 
Case # 13 – A woman in her 30s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She has no recent travel history. (reported 3/21/2020)
 
Case # 14 -  A woman in her 40s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. Her case is connected to a Smith County, Texas case, where she recently traveled. She at currently at home in isolation. (reported 3/22/2020)
 
Case # 15 - A man in his 40s, who has been in Northeast Montgomery County for a work-related purpose. He is currently in insolation at his residence. His only recent travel is to Houston. (reported 3/22/2020)
 
Case # 16 – A female teenager, 13-19 years old, who resides in Southeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at her home. She has recent travel to New Orleans. (reported 3/23/2020)
 
Case # 17 – A woman in her 20s, who resides in Northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at her home. This is believed to be a case of community spread because she was in close contact with a suspected case. (reported 3/23/2020)
 
Case # 18 – A man in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recent travel to Chicago, Illinois. (reported 3/23/2020)
 
Case # 19 -  A man in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recent travel to California. (reported 3/23/2020)
 
Case # 20 – A man in his 30s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recent travel New York. (reported 3/24/2020)
 
Case # 21 – A woman in her 60s, who resides in Northeast Montgomery County. She is hospitalized. No recent travel. (reported 3/24/2020)
 
Case # 22 – A woman in her 30s, who resides in Northeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. The only recent travel is to Houston. (reported 3/24/2020)
 
Case # 23 – A man in his 50s, who resides in Southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at home. He has recent travel to France, Germany and Spain. (3/24/2020)
 

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Governor Abbott Issues Executive Orders In Accordance With Federal Guidelines To Mitigate Spread Of COVID-19 In Texas

AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced a series of Executive Orders relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation. The four orders serve to limit public gatherings and help reduce exposure for people across the state. These orders are in accordance with federal guidelines issued by the President and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will aid in the state's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. 
 
Governor Abbott was joined for the announcement by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
 
Commissioner Hellerstedt also announced that he has declared a Public Health Disaster which will give state and local officials additional tools to respond to COVID-19. The Governor's Executive Orders, combined with the Public Health Disaster, provide Texas with enhanced tools and protocols to help state and local partners in their ongoing efforts to respond to, track the progress of, and limit the spread of COVID-19 in Texas. 
 
"The State of Texas is at a pivotal moment in our response to COVID-19, and it is imperative that we act now on preemptive measures to slow the spread of this virus," said Governor Abbott. "One of the most effective ways we can do this is by promoting more social distancing and ensuring Texans avoid large group settings such as bars, restaurants, gyms, and schools where the risk of spreading COVID-19 is high. We must also continue to protect our most vulnerable populations, which is why the State of Texas is barring all visitations at nursing homes and retirement or long-term care facilities except in the case of critical assistance. Today’s executive orders are precautionary measures that are in line with guidelines from the CDC and they will strengthen Texas’ ability to safeguard our communities and respond to COVID-19. As Texans, we must continue to work collaboratively to slow the spread of this virus and protect public health."
 
The following orders have been issued by Governor Abbott: 
 

• Order No. 1: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Order No. 2: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
• Order No. 3: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
• Order No. 4: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close.

 
These orders will be effective on a statewide basis starting at 11:59 PM on March 20, 2020 and will end at 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.
 
This executive order does not prohibit people from visiting a variety of places, including grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and banks, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This executive order does not mandate sheltering in place. All critical infrastructure will remain operational, domestic travel will remain unrestricted, and government entities and businesses will continue providing essential services. 
 
For offices and workplaces that remain open, employees should practice good hygiene and, where feasible, work from home in order to achieve optimum isolation from COVD-19. The more that people reduce their public contact, the sooner COVID-19 will be contained and the sooner this executive order will expire.
 
Under Chapter 81 of the Health and Safety Code, Commissioner Hellerstedt's Public Health Disaster Declaration triggers a number of important tools for state and local officials to respond to COVID-19:

• Texas and local health authorities can more easily require property owners to disinfect, decontaminate, and seal off property that might be contaminated.
• It authorizes health authorities to take additional control measures that they see fit to control and eradicate the threat to public health. 
• It streamlines the process for state and local health authorities to invoke the courts to enforce quarantines of individuals.
• Activates enhanced tools for DSHS to collect disease and health information and to share that information with law enforcement personnel and first responders as appropriate.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                      
March 18, 2020                                               
 
Effective as of 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2020 and continuing until April 2, 2020, unless terminated or modified by an order, the County Judge of Montgomery County, Texas, deems it in the public interest to issue the following order(s):
 
1) All restaurants shall cease all onsite dining operations.
2) All restaurants may continue to-go, takeout, delivery, and catering operations.
3) Restaurants shall not allow any employee to report to work who is demonstrating signs of any form of sickness.
• Strict hand washing and sanitizing operations must be deployed.
4) All bars or clubs shall cease operations.
5) Gyms, movie theaters, or amusement type businesses shall cease operations.
6) Any event sponsored or permitted by a political subdivision in Montgomery County shall cease.
7) Events greater than 10 persons at all publicly held facilities across Montgomery County shall cease.
8) Any event greater than 10 persons held at private facilities is urged to cancel.
9) Nursing homes and senior living centers should limit visitation of the public within their facilities.
10) Retail stores, private businesses, clubs or civic organizations and religious organizations to include churches, synagogues, mosques or other places of worship are urged to comply with the CDC guidelines related to 10 persons gathering in any one place or at one time.
11) Retail stores who sell groceries or medical supplies are exempt from this order.
 
THIS ORDER SUPERSEDES ANY PREVIOUS ORDER RELATED TO THE OCCUPANCY OF A PREMISE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS.
 
Pursuant to Chapter 418, Sec. 418.173 Texas Government Code, any violation of this order constitutes an offense committed under this statute and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 dollars or confinement in jail for a term no greater than 180 days.
 
This order does NOT extend to law enforcement activities, emergency responses, and court operations or grand jury operations.
 
All Montgomery County Employees should report to work as directed by their Department Head or Elected Department Head.
 
Effective immediately and through the duration of this order, all Montgomery County employees shall cease any work related travel.