Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 5 p.m.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors to Hold Videoconference Meeting
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will hold a Regular Board of Directors Meeting via videoconference this Wednesday, April 22, 2020 with a scheduled time to begin at 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The meeting can be viewed online at http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/778/Meeting-Videos.
 
Participation by members of the public in open meetings of the Board of Directors is welcomed and encouraged, he said. A “public comment” agenda item is included at the beginning of all regular Board meeting agendas. During the April 22, 2020, videoconference Board meeting, members of the public may provide public comment by calling 877-853-5247 (toll-free), then enter ID 970 0438 8500 #. Calls will be taken in the order the calls are received and only during the “public comment” agenda item. This phone number is active only for the April 22, 2020, Board meeting. New phone numbers will be issued for each future meeting during the public health pandemic emergency.

Send Us Your Images of Inspiration

Township Together
The Woodlands Township would like to call on residents to share any images of inspiration with the community. Township Director John Anthony Brown introduced the concept at the last Board of Directors meeting. “We hear so much negative news that I really would like an avenue for our residents to submit their creative thoughts to The Woodlands Township,” he said.  These can be a photo of something seen in the neighborhood, a family project or anything with a positive message. These will be shared through the Township email updates, social media channels and on The Woodlands Township website here.

Today's County News

Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, confirms there are now 417 total positive cases of COVID-19, up 24 cases from yesterday. No deaths were reported. It is still very important for everyone to abide by the statewide stay-at-home order.
 
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/.

Testing in Montgomery County
A testing site at Lone Star Health Center in Conroe at the South 336 Loop is open. Montgomery County has had great difficulty in getting testing supplies from state and federal resources. As a result, the decision was made to place the testing site at Lone Star due to their access to existing private testing supplies that could be augmented by resources the county does get. Plans are being considered to open a testing site in southern Montgomery County as more testing supplies become available.
 
If you would like to be tested, please call the MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Hotline at 936-523-5040. The MCHD/MCPHD staff will work with you to find a testing center.
 
Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
As of April 21, 2020 (4:00 p.m.), Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has 146 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the total to 2,195 positive cases. HCPH is also confirming that 896 of its patients have recovered. There have been 45 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  
 
Cases by zip code in Harris County can be found here by clicking on areas of the map.
 
The Village of Creekside Park is located in two zip codes: 77375 and 77389 and these also include Magnolia, Augusta Pines/Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road in northwest Harris County. Today, Harris County is reporting zip code 77375 has 34 cases and 77389 has 29 cases.
 
Harris County Public Health Encourages Residents to Get Tested for COVID-19
Residents now have more options to get tested
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) encourages all residents to take advantage of the increased testing capability, complete the online screening and get tested at any drive thru sites or mobile testing locations. HCPH has expanded the total COVID-19 testing capacity to 1,200 test per day, including two mobile testing locations scheduled across the county.
 
HCPH is prioritizing COVID-19 testing to first responders and healthcare professionals (especially those who work with vulnerable populations such as nursing homes) with or without symptoms, but anyone who thinks they may have COVID-19 can get tested. “We recognize those serving on the front lines as a healthcare professional, first responder or law enforcement need to get tested,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH Local Health Authority and HCPH Executive Director. “The best way to serve our community is to protect the very people who are protecting us in this fight against COVID-19.”

To get tested, all residents must complete an online screening (available at www.readyharris.org or at www.hcphtx.org, obtain an authorization code and call the nurse triage line. Once confirmed they meet the criteria for testing, residents will be directed to a testing site closest to them. Residents without access to a computer or Internet can call the HCPH resource center directly at 832-927-7575 for assistance.
 
For updates on COVID-19, including health tips, case counts and other community resources, visit www.hcphtx.org.
 
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.

State News

In Governor Abbott's press conference this afternoon, he reiterated at various points and in answering questions that he would issue additional executive orders next Monday, April 27, in relation to reopening businesses.

COVID-19 Data

• Texas has tested more than 205,000 individuals
• 19,945 positive tests
• 511 fatalities connected to COVID-19
• 1,491 hospitalizations related to COVID-19
• 6,486 recoveries from COVID-19

• 4.8 million masks
• 453,000 face shields
• 2 million gloves
• 16,000 gowns

• The state has fulfilled 1,579,000 unemployment claims.
• The state has paid out $1.4 billion in unemployment benefits.
• 80% of unemployment claims have been processed and paid to date. Additional hours and staff to continue to process claims.
• Texas has opened new portal, www.workintexas.com, for individuals looking for job openings.

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, Thursday, April 23, 2020
A steady flow of items have been donated to the Central Fire Station. Over 92 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.

• Isolation gowns
• Gloves
• Masks – N95s, surgical, procedure, etc.
• Hair Covers
• Full Face Shields
• PAPR Hoods – Typically only used when doing an aerosolizing procedure.
• Eyewear – Face shields, reusable goggles or disposable glasses
• Boot Covers / Shoe Covers
• Germicidal Wipes
• Disinfectant Spray / Paper Towels

• Shoe/Hair Covers: 2,736
• Gloves: 12,380
• Face Shields: 224
• Masks (homemade, surgical, N95): 1,240
• Isolation Gowns: 56
• Safety Goggles: 318
• Sanitizing Wipes: 24
• Sanitizer Bottles: 12
• Large Liquid Soap: 2
• Paper Towels: 176
• Commercial Paper Towels: 6,818
• Cleaners: 28
• Alcohol: 4
• Spray Bottles: 28
• Powered Air Purifier: 1
• Other: 2

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

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