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
Surveys
Local News Coverage
News
Help Us Investigate COVID-19 Testing Result Times
Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott Loosens Coronavirus Restrictions For Restaurants And Other Businesses In Most Regions Of Texas
Posted on · Restaurants, retail stores and office buildings will now be able to operate at 75% capacity, Abbott said. Three regions — the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Victoria — were excluded from the loosening of restrictions, however.
Coronavirus
Contradicting the CDC, Trump Says COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Ready By End of Year
Posted on · President Trump says there could be widespread distribution of a vaccine against the coronavirus in a much shorter timeline than described by the CDC.
Town Square
Town Square: Relationships in the Time of Covid (Sept. 16, 2020)
Posted on · Experts in online dating and infectious diseases discuss how to date and maintain intimacy during a pandemic.
Coronavirus
Share Of Positive COVID-19 Cases As Texas Reopened Was Higher Than Originally Reported, New State Calculations Show
Posted on · Public health experts say discrepancies in key metrics, such as the positivity rate, made it difficult for officials to make informed policy decisions.
Education News
HISD Still Not Meeting Virtual Attendance Projections 1 Week In, District Leader Says
Posted on · The comments came during a wide-ranging interview with Town Square host Ernie Manouse on Tuesday, in which the interim superintendent also addressed recent COVID-19 positive cases.
Coronavirus Prevention
News from NPR
Wanted in Israel: More Shofar Blowers For Socially Distanced Jewish New Year
The shofar is a hallmark of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The pandemic means there will be more and smaller prayer gatherings this year, so some cities have offered free shofar-blowing courses.
Millions Of Gig Workers Depend On New Unemployment Program, But Fear It'll End Soon
Gig workers are now relying on a safety net program that didn't even exist six months ago. It provides unemployment benefits to the growing number who don't have a traditional payroll job.
Why Can't America Make Enough N95 Masks? 6 Months Into Pandemic, Shortages Persist
There's just not enough PPE to satisfy demand. Medics are re-using masks and small practices can't even find supplies they can afford. Some domestic manufacturers could help, but it's a risky move.
Jobs In The Pandemic: More Are Freelance And May Stay That Way Forever
Before the coronavirus hit, many workers chose freelance or contract jobs because they preferred the flexibility and variety it offered. But now millions are turning to freelancing out of necessity.