Statewide Emergency Orders:

• Statewide Essential Services and Activities Protocol
• List of Essential Services
• Request for Certification as Essential Business

Harris County Stay Home, Work Safe Order Information:

• Website
• Violation Reporting Hotline: 832-839-6941
• Violation Reporting Web Form
• Email: [email protected]

You can find the most current information about Houston Independent School District (HISD) on their website.

• Information about home-based education can be found here:
• HISD Home-Based Ongoing Mobile Education (@H.O.M.E).
• Texas Education Agency (TEA) also has Resources for Schools.

Individual Tax Filing has been delayed until July 15, 2020. Individuals can learn more here.

Businesses and Employers can also reach out to the Comptroller of Public Accounts or call 800-252-8880.

The Supreme Court of Texas issued the Seventh Emergency Order suspending residential evictions until April 30. Read it here.

Resources can also be found at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Texas businesses can contact the Texas Workforce Commission for Employer Resources.

• Employer Resources
• Phone: 866-274-1722
• Unemployment Tax Resources for Employers
• Phone: 512-463-2699

Texas Workforce Commission – Jobseekers

• Website
• Phone (Jobseekers Only): 800-939-6631

Listen to the Experts

We are all in this together, and we can combat the spread of COVID-19 by taking care of ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities, and by heeding the advice of experts. A lack of human contact doesn’t have to mean a lack of human connection. Talk to loved ones by phone and text, and set up video conferences with friends to encourage one another. Maintain key elements of your daily routine, such as exercise. Going for a walk, jogging and hiking are healthy activities that can be done while following social distancing protocols.

When shopping for groceries or household supplies, you should aim to buy only what you need rather than stockpiling supplies. There are currently no supply shortages for basic groceries, but buying more than what is needed is straining Texas grocery stores’ ability to keep shelves stocked.

The City of Houston and Harris County are discouraging gathering in groups greater than 10 people, per CDC recommendations.

Practice Common-Sense Public Health Hygiene

Although COVID-19 is a novel virus, meaning no one has preexisting immunity. It is a respiratory virus that in certain patients can lead to pneumonia and hospitalization. As such, everyday practices like washing your hands for at least twenty seconds, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and staying home when sick are tried-and-true methods that will protect you and your loved ones. Experts advise that washing one’s hands with soap is more effective than purell and other disinfectants, though using such sanitizers can be helpful in preventing the spread of the virus as well. In addition, disinfecting commonly touched objects and surfaces, like doorknobs, cellphones, car keys, and other items will further prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Furthermore, public health officials are recommending healthy individuals practice social distancing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Good social distancing practices include avoiding in-person contact with individuals outside your immediate family. You can continue to exercise and shop for essential items, but you should try to maintain a six-foot distance between you and other individuals. Families should avoid taking their children to playgrounds or other areas where the disease can spread.

We are all in this together. Making these common-sense practices second nature during the COVID-19 outbreak will keep you and your loved ones safe. Helping engrain these practices with your family and neighbor will help all of us to stay healthy.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the flu, including coughing or shortness of breath, fever, and coughing and arise within 2-14 days of exposure. Those who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19 are those who have travelled to other countries or states where the virus has been spreading geographically. If you think you are sick or have been exposed, the best course of action is to isolate yourself and monitor your symptoms. If you develop symptoms, the steps you should take depend on whether you are generally in good health or among individuals with underlying health conditions.

If you are generally in good health and have mild symptoms, you should isolate yourself at home and take care of yourself as with any cold or flu. Monitor your symptoms and immediately seek medical care if they worsen. If you live with your family or other individuals in the same home, it is important to minimize close contact to avoid spreading the virus.

Individuals at higher risk should monitor their symptoms and immediately call a healthcare provider if they develop a fever. High-risk individuals include people who are 65 and older, those with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure.

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and have travelled to a COVID-19 outbreak area within the past 14 days, or who have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, should contact their healthcare provider to obtain a physician's order for a COVID-19 test. Individuals without insurance or a healthcare provider should contact the Harris County Ask My Nurse triage hotline at 713-634-1110. COVID-19 testing is also available at private labs in the Houston area, including LabCorps and Quest Diagnostics, but this testing must be coordinated through a healthcare provider. Please note that individuals who meet CDC guidelines are eligible for COVID-19 testing.

As of March 18, 2020, the City of Houston and Harris County Public Health Department are working to finalize testing sites within the Greater Houston Area. Despite rumors, drive-through test sites are not yet open in the Greater Houston area. These entities will distribute additional details once they are finalized. My office will disseminate this information once we receive it.

Individuals who do not have health insurance can still receive a test for COVID-19 through their local health departments or at a private lab. Uninsured individuals can receive referrals to testing and healthcare providers by dialing the state hotline 2-1-1. Testing at a local health department is free of charge, while a private lab may charge a fee that varies from lab to lab. Harris County residents can also contact Harris Health’s Ask My Nurse triage hotline at 713-634-1110.