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
Education
Frustration Grows Among Fort Bend ISD Parents Over Conflicting Mask Mandate Messaging
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The Latest from Town Square
COVID-19 Boosters Were Supposed To Rollout Today – What Happened?
Health & Science
Is The Worst Over? Modelers Predict A Steady Decline In COVID Cases Through March
Posted on · Though infections are still sky-high, the U.S. may be turning a corner, according to a consortium of researchers who forecast the pandemic. And we may well be spared a winter surge.
Education News
Texas’ Ban On School Mask Mandates Draws Federal Investigation For Possibly Violating The Rights Of Students With Disabilities
Posted on · The U.S. Department of Education announced the inquiry days after the Texas Education Agency quietly updated its guidance to say school districts can’t require masks.
Harris County
Doctor Accused Of Stealing COVID Vaccines Sues Harris County For More Than $1 Million
Posted on · Dr. Hasan Gokal was fired in January after allegedly stealing doses and giving them to friends and family, a claim he has denied for months.
Health & Science
Pfizer Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine Works In Kids Ages 5 To 11
Posted on · The vaccine maker said Monday it plans to seek authorization for this age group soon in the U.S., Britain and Europe -- a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.
COVID-19
New Details Emerge In NYC Restaurant Brawl Over Vaccine Proof Involving 3 Houston Women
Posted on · Attorneys for Carmine’s and for three women from Texas who are facing charges tell the New York Times that the women had provided documentation of COVID-19 vaccinations but that the altercation escalated after two men who joined the party didn’t have proof.
Politics
Federal Judge Allows Texas’ Ban On Mask Mandates To Continue — For Now
Posted on · Disability Rights Texas had asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order to allow schools to require masks ahead of a trial date in October.
Town Square
How President Biden’s Six Point COVID Plan Can Impact The Nation’s Health And Economy
Posted on · Experts look at how President Biden's new plan can change the way businesses approach COVID, including requiring their employees to vaccinate.
Health & Science
Nearly 2 Million People In Texas Are Overdue For A 2nd Dose Of The COVID-19 Vaccine
Posted on · More than 11% of those who received their first dose haven’t gotten a second shot, and more than 1 million people are more than 90 days overdue.
Town Square
Director of the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences Dispels Vaccine Myths And Misunderstandings
Posted on · We take a look into variants, boosters, and why the mRNA vaccine became the way to combat COVID.
Harris County
Harris County Residents Can Now Apply For $1,500 In COVID-19 Direct Relief Funds. Here’s How
Posted on · The one-time payment can go to things like rent, utilities, food and other emergency items.
Town Square
What We Know About The WHO’s Latest “Variant Of Interest” – The Mu Variant
Posted on · Experts discuss the latest COVID headlines – including the Mu variant, boosters, pediatric case numbers and the fall “forecast” for COVID.
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott Wanted State Lawmakers To Ban Mask Mandates In Public Schools. They Didn’t
Posted on · As Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to punish any school district that defied Abbott’s ban on mask mandates, Republican legislators were largely indifferent on the matter.
COVID-19 In Greater Houston
Houston COVID Numbers Are Flattening, Doctors Say. But The ‘Plateau’ Is Higher Than Ever
Posted on · Doctors in Harris County say Houston is hitting a plateau of cases and hospitalizations -- but the numbers are still at a pandemic peak, worrying hospital leaders.
Town Square
Texas Averaging 16,000 COVID Cases A Day
Posted on · Experts look behind the headlines behind small towns and big vaccine developments as the pandemic surges on.
Health & Science
Houston Confirms City’s First Pediatric COVID-19 Death Without Underlying Health Conditions
Posted on · The boy was between the ages of 10 and 19, and was unvaccinated for COVID-19, according to the Houston Health Department.
Coronavirus Prevention
News from NPR
Nurses Are In Short Supply. Employers Worry Vaccine Mandate Could Make It Worse
President Biden has ordered more than 17 million health care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Some health care employers fear losing large numbers of workers who don't want the shots.
How Some Schools Are Using Weekly Testing To Keep Kids In Class — And COVID Out
Many K-12 school districts are tapping federal funds to pay for regular surveillance testing of students. It's an effective pandemic tactic when used alongside mask-wearing and other precautions.
The Fed Says Inflation Is Hotter Than Expected — But It Should Cool Next Year
The Federal Reserve is projecting higher inflation this year than it had previously forecast, but says prices will cool more next year.
Is The Worst Over? Models Predict A Steady Decline In COVID Cases Through March
Though infections are still sky-high, the U.S. may be turning a corner, according to a consortium of researchers who forecast the pandemic. And we may well be spared a winter surge.