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Town Center lights show support, Township COVID-19 April 15 Update and Testing

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On Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 updates and information.

Message of Support Lights The Woodlands Town Center
The lights in Town Center have been turned to blue to show support to all medical personnel serving on the frontlines of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The turning basin lights on the water wall  have also been changed and are lit up red, white and blue.

The Woodlands Town Center Blue Lights

Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, confirms there are now 331 total positive cases of COVID-19, up 23 cases from yesterday. 94 people have recovered from COVID-19. Details on Montgomery County cases can be found here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/.

Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management updates a dashboard for the cases here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

Updated COVID-19 graphics with a total of 331 positive cases as of 3 p.m. today.

Posted by Commissioner James Noack- Montgomery County Precinct Three on Wednesday, April 15, 2020

4/15/2020: We can confirm there are now 331 total positive cases of COVID-19, up 23 cases from yesterday. Case details…

Posted by Montgomery County Public Health on Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count 
As of April 15, 2020 (4:00 p.m.), Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has 138 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the total to 1,766 positive cases. HCPH is also confirming that 541 of its patients have recovered. Harris County lists by quadrants, and the Village of Creekside Park is located in the NW Quadrant, where there are 618 active cases, 303 recovered and 16 deaths. There have been 32 total deaths of COVID-19 in Harris County. None of these numbers include the City of Houston. A full description of the numbers can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/tzymvk5

For additional updated interactive graphics on cases in Harris and Montgomery Counties, visit the links below:

Two Mobile Testing Sites Coming to Precinct 4 Harris County
Tomball, Humble to Be Home to COVID-19 Testing Sites Within Week

Harris County Commissioner R. Jack Cagle announced the opening of two COVID-19 testing sites in Precinct 4 within the week at locations in Tomball and Humble. Harris County Public Health opened the first testing site in Tomball on Tuesday, April 14. That site will perform testing on registered visitors from April 14-16 and April 27-29. A second Public Health testing site will open in Humble on Monday, April 20. The Humble location will test registered visitors from April 20-22 and May 7-9. Each site is expected to handle as many as 100 tests per day, with that number increasing daily. The addresses of the sites will be provided to those successfully completing their registration, but will otherwise remain undisclosed to discourage unregistered visitors. Unregistered visitors will not be tested and will be turned away by security officials.

To determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, please visit https://checkforcorona.com/harris-county#/welcome. Those deemed to be at risk for coronavirus will be given a code and phone number to call. After a telephone consultation, those still deemed to be at risk will be given another unique code and information on where and when they are to be tested. Those assigned for testing should bring a photo ID and any other information requested by the phone screener. Walk-ins will not be tested.

Those with questions may call Harris County Public Health at 832-927-7575 for more information. Commissioner Cagle thanks Harris County Public Health officials for working with Precinct 4 staff to make both sites available as soon as possible.

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COVID-19 Testing in Montgomery County: Why is it So Difficult to Get Free COVID-19 Testing in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County Public Health District shared the following response in a press release on April 14, 2020:

Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with
Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, would like to clarify a frequently asked question we receive from residents and a frustration we share with all of you regarding the lack of free COVID-19 testing in Montgomery County.

On the week of March 8th, Montgomery County Public Health District entered a STAR Request (the process required to order emergency supplies from the State of Texas) for 1000 COVID-19 test kits. After some delay, the Public Health District received six COVID-19 test kits. Likewise, the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management entered a STAR Request for COVID-19 test kits and was told that the State of Texas would consider sending the test kits… in August.

Next, the major hospital systems in the greater Houston Area decided they would combine their resources and set up free testing sites in Houston and the surrounding counties. Unfortunately, they too never
received enough test kit resources to be able to provide free test sites in the areas outside the greater Houston Area. SETRAC (Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council) was finally able to get some test kit resources from the State of Texas stockpile and, along with the larger Houston-area hospital systems, set up a free testing center located at Butler Stadium in Southwest Houston. Please note that this is the primary free testing area for all interested residents of Southeast Texas. You can go to this site if you wish to be tested for free.

The Montgomery County Public Health District and Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have reached out to all the major healthcare suppliers since March 16th and
have been told the test kits are on backorder. To date, neither MCPHD nor MCOHSEM have received none of the kits they have ordered.

Now, testing kits sourced internationally are being purchased at a price of $30 to $60 per kit. Individual healthcare agencies who are charging for COVID-19 screening, must cover the cost of the test, the cost of the laboratory procedure that determines the test results, and the cost of the physician who screens the patient.

The free screening and testing site for the greater Houston Area is in Houston at Butler Stadium. We know this is frustrating for residents of Montgomery County, and we share your frustration. We will continue to try and secure additional tests for our residents.

In the meantime, if you would like to be tested, please call the MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Hotline at 936-523-5040. Many of the testing centers available in Montgomery County are offered through insurance with no co-pays. For insured patients, some testing sites are offering lower-cost options. Our staff will work with you to find a testing center in our area.

Montgomery County Public Health District

Board of Directors Meeting 
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting via videoconference at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16, 2020. Watch the video at  https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/778/Meeting-Videos.

View the full April 15 update by The Woodlands Township at https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=3011

Source: The Woodlands Township

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