Local & National Resources
Helplines
- Harris County “Ask a Nurse” Hotline
713.634.1110 (9am – 7pm, 7 days a week)
Intended for residents of Harris County who do not have access to healthcare - United Way Help Line – 211
Other Resources
- Department of States Health Services
- TexProtects Guide for Parents and Families
- Essential Workers Childcare Assistance
- Houston Health Department
- Harris County Public Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- CDC Travelers Health Notice
- University of Houston Community Coronavirus Information
- PBS: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
- Health Matters
Surveys
Local News Coverage
Health & Science
Houston doctor suspended for vaccine misinformation sues Methodist Hospital
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The Latest from Town Square
How is the Houston Marathon keeping runners and spectators safe from COVID-19?
Education News
HISD closed its campuses and offices Tuesday because of COVID-19
Posted on · Sealy ISD also announced campus and office closures.
Health & Science
Houston’s addiction treatment centers are feeling the effects of the omicron variant
Posted on · Houston inpatient addiction treatment centers are experiencing staffing shortages and other issues during the latest wave.
Town Square
Reexamining the Movie Industry
Posted on · Experts discuss the pandemic's impact on movie attendance and where the industry is headed.
The Coronavirus in Greater Houston
Houston fire and police staff still have the lowest COVID-19 vaccine compliance rates among city employees, records show
Posted on · Mayor Sylvester Turner's requirement has been in effect since October.
Health & Science
Texans looking for COVID tests after the holidays find long lines, delayed results
Posted on · Across the state, people are waiting hours in line to get tested and seeing delayed results as cities and counties deal with a testing shortage.
The Coronavirus in Greater Houston
Harris County’s COVID-19 threat level raised to ‘red’ as region’s infection rate hits record high
Posted on · This comes after the county's positivity rate surpassed 34% as of Monday -- the highest it’s ever been since the pandemic began.
Town Square
Reflections on the January 6 Insurrection
Posted on · Political leaders give their recounts of that tragic day on Capitol Hill and what the way forward looks like.
Coronavirus
Harris County can now impose mask mandates, a state appeals court rules
Posted on · Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court.
Town Square
A Closer Look at the revised CDC Guidelines on Quarantine and Isolation
Posted on · Experts share lessons we should be learning as we live through this COVID-19 Pandemic.
Town Square
What does it take to become a vaccine ambassador?
Posted on · Building trust within the local community is key in encouraging others to get vaccinated, experts say.
Town Square
COVID Cases continue to surge in 2022. Here’s what you need to know
Posted on · Experts provide local and international perspectives and updates on Omicron, vaccines, boosters, and rapid testing.
Health & Science
The number of Texas kids hospitalized with COVID-19 nearly tripled in 2 weeks
Posted on · The number of pediatric hospitalizations is lower than its September peak, but it indicates increased risk for kids in recent weeks.
Health & Science
Medical labs face understaffing and burnout as demand for COVID tests skyrockets in Texas
Posted on · Experts say if labs get overrun, it could cause issues that trickle down to all parts of the health care system.
Health & Science
The U.S. hits a record number of new COVID cases
Posted on · The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases topped 280,000 this week as the omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University's tracker.
Health & Science
New CDC isolation guidelines raise concerns among health experts
Posted on · Cutting the isolation for positive cases to five days could lead to more infections if people don't take masking seriously. A testing requirement would have made the policy safer, experts say.
Coronavirus Prevention
News from NPR
Why many Americans continue to struggle despite trillions of dollars in pandemic aid
The government provided Americans with a vital financial lifeline during the pandemic, including through the Child Tax Credit. The help improved lives – but for many it still wasn't enough.
Inflation is still surging and some Democrats see one culprit: Greedy companies
Consumer prices are soaring at their highest annual pace in almost 40 years. Some progressives such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren blame corporate profiteering, but most economists scoff.
Employers added only 199,000 jobs in December even before omicron started to surge
U.S. employers added 199,000 jobs in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, marking a second consecutive month of disappointing numbers.
Things seem grim now. But America's COVID situation could get better in 6-8 weeks
In the face of rising COVID-19 cases, Dr. Bob Wachter of the University of California, San Francisco, offers reasons to be hopeful about the pandemic's outlook in the months ahead.