Saturday, April 18, 2020, 5 p.m.

Chairman Bunch said the Township will be looking at the Governor Greg Abbott’s orders expected on April 27, 2020.

The State of Texas “strike force” was announced on Friday, April 17, 2020 and immediately began providing input on potential additional openings of activities and services in Texas consistent with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Governor will announce a revised plan for the state based on these initial recommendations on April 27, 2020.
 
“I know all of our residents and business are wanting to open, just like all of us on the Board,” Chairman Bunch said. “We have to do so safely and strategically to move our town forward. While we never would have imagined a scenario such as this, The Woodlands Township has been busy working for its residents supporting law enforcement, and providing fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) while at the same time keeping our infrastructure of roadways, pathways and parks, and communications to our residents at the highest level of quality and frequency.”

The Woodlands Township Board Holds Videoconference Meeting
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors discussed opening up the community, discussed medical capabilities in the area and added a new Director during its regular meeting via videoconference on Thursday, April 16, 2020.
 
Chairman Gordy Bunch discussed the White House Guidelines for “Opening Up America Again” that had just been released prior to the meeting which includes conditions to reopen the country in three phases. The Township’s discussion of this can be viewed online at this link: https://woodlandstx.new.swagit.com/videos/51921 and the Township PowerPoint can be viewed at this link: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14245/John-Hopkins-setrac
 
The Guidelines to Opening Up America Again can be found here: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=10072
 
The next meeting is scheduled for Wed. April 22, 2020, at 6 p.m.
 
Today’s County News
In order to get Montgomery County residents and businesses back to work as quickly and as safely as possible, County Judge Mark J. Keough issued an order immediately terminating the “Stay Home, Stop the Spread” order from March 27, 2020.  This new order will end the curfew that was imposed immediately and substitutes Montgomery County’s local order for Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-14, which will expire April 30, 2020. This new order further calls on all residents and businesses to follow new guidance issued by the White House on Thursday, April 16, 2020 and the orders issued by the Governor which is expected on April 27, 2020.
 
The new order adds additional local guidance for businesses and individuals so they can safely return to work across Montgomery County.  These local guidelines are in step with federal and state guidelines recently issued. Additionally, the Order continues restrictions on nursing homes and senior care facilities to ensure vulnerable populations are protected moving forward. Please see Order from Montgomery County here.
 
Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, can confirm there are now 377 total positive cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, April 18, 2020, up 7 cases from yesterday.
 
Details on individual cases can be found here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/.
 
Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management updates a dashboard for the cases here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
As of April 18, 2020 (4:00 p.m.), Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has 72 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the total to 1,962 positive cases. HCPH is also confirming that 717 of its patients have recovered.
 
Zip code data indicates there are between 42-80 positive cases in zip codes covering the vicinity of the Village of Creekside Park in The Woodlands and the Augusta Pines/ Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road areas in northwest Harris County.

There have been 40 total deaths of COVID-19 in Harris County. None of these numbers include the City of Houston. A full description of the numbers can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/tzymvk5
 
Two Mobile Testing Sites in Precinct 4 Harris County
Harris County Public Health opened the first testing site in Tomball on Tuesday, April
14, 2020. That site will perform testing on registered visitors from April 14-16, 2020, and April 27-29, 2020.

A second Public Health testing site will open in Humble on Monday, April 20, 2020. The
Humble location will test registered visitors from April 20-22, 2020, and May 7-9, 2020.
 
The addresses of the sites will be provided to those successfully completing their registration, but will otherwise remain undisclosed to discourage unregistered visitors. Unregistered visitors will not be tested and will be turned away by security officials.
 
To determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, please visit
https://checkforcorona.com/harris-county#/welcome. Those deemed to be at risk for coronavirus will be given a code and phone number to call. After a telephone consultation, those still deemed to be at risk will be given another unique code and information on where and when they are to be tested. Those assigned for testing should bring a photo ID and any other information requested by the phone screener. Walk-ins will not be tested.

Those with questions may call Harris County Public Health at 832-927-7575 for more information.
 
COVID-19 Testing in Montgomery County
Please read the latest information on testing availability in Montgomery County.
 
State News
Governor Abbott Issues Three Executive Orders to Begin Reopening Texas
Three executive orders have been issued to begin the process of reopening Texas. Please read the entire announcement for more details.

• The Governor’s first Executive Order: A Strike Force team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders has been created to advise on safely and strategically reopening Texas.
  
  
• The Governor’s second Executive Order: Services that pose minimal threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using the temporary “Retail-To-Go model” beginning Friday, April 24, 2020. Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
  
  
• The Governor’s third Executive Order: The order relates to hospital capacity, PPE needs and certain restrictions for surgeries have been loosened.

Township News

Trash and Recycling Service Update
Parking on the street is sometimes necessary, especially now that many of us are home during the day during this time. However, to ensure uninterrupted service for you and your neighbors, please avoid parking on the street on your trash day. If a service or contractor truck is due to visit your home on your trash day, please notify the company and ask that they park in your driveway or in an area where they are not obstructing passage.

Help Our Heroes, Monday, April 20, 2020
A steady flow of items have been donated to the Central Fire Station. Over 21 groups have donated to the project since its inception on April 6, 2020. Please consider donating materials if you have them on-hand. Your help is greatly appreciated! Collection Days and Locations are Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Central Fire Station, located at 9951 Grogan’s Mill Rd., The Woodlands, TX 77380. Please email pbuck@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov  if you can help.

Experience The Woodlands with Safe Social Distancing
Looking to try new restaurants or shops while social distancing? Save this passport to your phone and check off these "destinations" as you support dining and shopping options in The Woodlands. You can visit these destinations by making purchases from local stores and ordering from area restaurants. Post your progress to encourage your friends and neighbors to participate. Snap photos of your food and purchases and be sure to share them on social media, tagging the business and using #SoWoodlands.

Virtual Puzzles from Visit The Woodlands
Visit The Woodlands has created a few virtual puzzles to help you to pass the time. Take a look and challenge your friends and family to see who can get the best time! Is there a Woodlands scene that you'd like to see be made into a puzzle? Let us know!
 
Gardening with Children: Easy Strategies During Social Distancing
With the extra time created by social distancing, gardening is an activity that children of all ages can enjoy. Here are a few tips to get you started with minimal supplies and minimal cost.

Numerous resources are available in the community for support. These vary from food banks to financial assistance and much more. Please visit the link below to find more information about resources in the community related to COVID-19:
http://thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1491/Community-Resources.

Mobile Market Food Drive at the YMCA
The Woodlands Family YMCA will host a mobile market in the Shadowbend YMCA parking lot, 6145 Shadowbend Place, on Saturday, April 25, 2020, from 10 a.m. to noon. Boxes of food will be loaded into patron’s cars by volunteers and Y Staff.  Each family will receive fresh produce, dry/canned goods, frozen meat and breads/desserts. Distribution of food will be on a first come, first serve basis with enough food to serve 200 families. Social distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced. If you are an individual or organization that would like to partner with the Y to support these efforts, please email CommunityCare@ymcahouston.org. For more information on Montgomery County Food Bank, please visit https://mcfoodbank.org/.
 
The Township’s Coronavirus page
The Woodlands Township’s special COVID-19 information page can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19. This page features Montgomery and Harris county Hubs, community resources and updated COVID-19 news from the Federal Government and the CDC. This page also includes the latest news from The Township, updates from partner agencies, social distancing strategies, important links, frequently asked questions, live Twitter feeds and more.
 
Hotlines for health questions and COVID-19
Montgomery County: 936-523-5040                
Harris County: 713-634-1110
Statewide Mental Health Support Line: 833-986-1919
 
Free Self-Screening Tool for COVID-19
Visit the self-screening tool on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
 
Tracking COVID-19: Local, Regionally, Nationally, Internationally
Below are the widgets for tracking COVID19.

• Montgomery County
• Texas Counties Statewide
• Texas Department of Health and Human Services Case Counts
• Global Cases

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Public Service Announcement
FBI has seen a rise in fraud schemes related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Protect yourself and do your research before clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus. This includes fake CDC emails and phishing emails related to stimulus checks from the government, charitable contributions, airline carrier funds, fake cures and more. Read the full PSA for more information.
 
Stay Connected
Please stay connected to The Woodlands Township through our many communications channels. Learn more and sign up at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/stayinformed.

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The Woodlands Township publishes this update to inform residents and businesses regarding the COVID-19 and its impact on The Woodlands Township. Please sign up for Township news and notifications at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme.

Interfaith of The Woodlands                The Woodlands Township                  Centers for Disease Control
Montgomery County Food Bank          Montgomery County                          Texas Department of Health
Texas Workforce Commission             Harris County                                     Harris Public Health
                                                            Harris County Constable's Office        Montgomery Public Health
                                                            Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
                                                            Partner Agency Notifications Archive