Houston Matters
Special Edition: Dr. Umair Shah and Dr. Catherine Troisi (June 25, 2020)
Posted on · Harris County’s top health official and an epidemiologist answer your questions about COVID-19.
Health & Science
Transportation
METRO Requiring Masks For Passengers, Resuming Fares Amid COVID-19
Posted on · METRO Chairman Carrin Patman says the agency has been asking everyone to wear a mask, but now feel they should make it mandatory.
Coronavirus
Houston Hospitals Ready For COVID Surge, CEOs Say
Posted on · The heads of four hospitals in the Texas Medical Center said that, despite fears to the contrary, they have ample bed capacity and PPE to deal with the spike in cases
Texas
Gov. Abbott Suspends Elective Surgeries In Large Texas Counties Amid Pause In Reopening
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott has suspended elective surgeries and procedures at hospitals in Texas' largest counties as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge across Texas.
Texas
Gov. Abbott Says Texas Facing ‘Massive’ COVID-19 Outbreak
Posted on · Abbott said some new local restrictions may be needed to protect hospital space for new patients.
Houston Matters
Special Edition: Kinder Institute Director Bill Fulton and Dr. Peter Hotez (June 24, 2020)
Posted on · Experts in urban research and infectious diseases discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Houston’s economy and the sharp increase of cases in the city.
Harris County
As COVID-19 Continues To Spread, Harris County Courts Are Moving Forward With Evictions
Posted on · County and city officials have declined to take actions that are currently protecting renters from eviction in other Texas cities.
Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott Recommends Texans Stay Home As Coronavirus Cases Surge
Posted on · The governor also moved for the first time to allow the tightening of two kinds of restrictions that had been eased under his reopening plan.
Harris County
Early Action Among Reasons For Low COVID-19 Death Rate In Harris County, Health Official Says
Posted on · In addition to an early response from the city and county, Houston's lower population density when compared to other large cities played a role, according to Dr. Umair Shah.
Texas
Texas Heading Down A Dangerous Path, Local Leaders Warn As Coronavirus Cases And Hospitalizations Surge
Posted on · When Gov. Greg Abbott let businesses start reopening, he pointed to two metrics as encouraging signs: the hospitalization rate and the infection rate. Both of those metrics are on the rise in Texas.
Texas
The Texas Restaurant Association Wants A Statewide Face-Mask Mandate
Posted on · The Texas Restaurant Association is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to enforce a statewide face-mask policy, instead of relying on businesses to enforce their own policies.
Business
There’s A New Harris County Mask Order. What Does That Mean For Businesses?
Posted on · Businesses in Harris County are now required to have both staff and customers wear face covers.
Coronavirus
Is Greg Abbott Reopening Texas Too Fast? A Timeline
Posted on · New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking, but Gov. Greg Abbott is making no moves to slow or reverse the pace of reopening the state
Houston Matters
Special Edition: Greater Houston Partnership’s Bob Harvey and UH College of Medicine’s Dr. Lechauncy Woodard (June 22, 2020)
Posted on · Conversations about Judge Lina Hidalgo's recent mask order and the current state of COVID-19 in the Houston area.
Coronavirus
Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund Opens For Applications Tuesday
Posted on · The $30 million fund will take applications online and by phone Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24.