On June 11th, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo released public health recommendations to better understand how to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. HCPH has compiled resources intended to help the public in better understanding theCoronavirus (COVID-19), ways to stay healthy, suggestions for supporting their communities, and more. LIST: Mask mandate, virtual option for Houston-area school districts The new guidance does not affect mask mandates on public transit, the agency said. Effective immediately upon signing, the Local Health Authority for Harris County hereby imposes the following control measures on all public and non-religious private schools (School System) offering instruction to students in any and all grades from pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 and on all Licensed Child Care Centers offering child care and education (Child Care Centers) in Houston and Harris County, for the 2021-2022 school year: School Systems and Child Care Centers within Harris County shall follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for universal indoor masking and require all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face mask indoors while on school property and school buses. School officials say face masks are an effective strategy in limiting the spread of COVID-19, with only vaccines offering greater prevention. Commercial entities must post the health and safety policy in a conspicuous location sufficient to provide notice to employees and visitors of all health and safety requirements. Sources say the CDC will relax its recommendation to wear masks indoors publicly in most areas.. The appeal before the 3rd Court hinged on whether language in the Texas Disaster Act empowered Abbott to ban local rules enacted to protect public health. Next stop is the Texas Supreme Court https://t.co/VTA8PVw7R7. April 19, 2022. All people should follow CDC recommendations for how to wear and take off a mask. Based on available information from medical professionals, it has been found that adults over the age of 65 as well as people of any age who have severe underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk from serious illness from COVID-19. In January, a Texas appeals court ruled that Harris County can. 0:00. With widespread population immunity, the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower as the virus continues to circulate in our communities, she said. It's not clear whether the county currently has plans to drop its mask mandate soon, which has been in place since June. Fifth mega COVID testing site opens in Houston, 'I just think this virus is rampant' | Houston ISD launches on-campus COVID testing. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. Published August 13, 2021. RELATED: Harris County Judge Hidalgo lowers COVID-19 threat level to orange. The CDC now considers three metrics: new COVID-related hospital admissions over the previous week, the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, as well as new COVID cases per 100,000 people over the previous week. Texas appeals court upholds Harris County's mask mandate by: Chad Washington. Harris County can now impose mask mandates, a state appeals court rules HARRIS COUNTY, Texas Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Thursday that a mask mandate has been issued for all county schools and childcare facilities. While were moving in the right direction, there are no guarantees we wont see another wave in the future.". Paxton has been engaged in a drawn-out legal battle to enforce a ban against mask mandates that Abbott imposed in hisJuly 29 executive order. AISD said the ruling provides further legal support for the district's own mask mandate, which is still in effect. COVID-19 Community Levels and Masking Requirements by Location "I encourage all employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot when eligible," says Turner. Texans largely have not been required to wear masks indoors, but many people have continued to voluntarily follow guidance to wear masks from restaurants, retail outlets, hotels and grocery stores. GALVESTON: County Courts (1/4/22) 13th Supplemental Court Operations in Houston During COVID-19 (uscourts.gov) Mask Mandate (6/30/21) - Southern District of Texas-Houston. Here is everything you need to know about the new Harris County face HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The CDC is significantly loosening the federal mask-wearing guidelines. Says local officials act as the governor's designated agents during emergencies. That decision will end up before the Supreme Court as well. Clear Creek ISD schools are located in both Harris County and Galveston County. The Leading Harris County: Benchmarks for a Healthy Community guide outlines this process. KTRK - Houston. Harris County. Were in a stronger place today as a nation, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a call with reporters on Friday, pointing to progress on vaccinations, boosters, testing availability and access to treatment. On Tuesday, officials in Travis and Harris counties both early and adamant adopters of stay-at-home orders, mask mandates and other limits that covered nearly 6 million residents between the . Click herefor reopening guidance for construction industry workforce. Now, the country is entering another lull following the omicron surge that quickly sickened a record number of people and stressed hospitals. "(The disaster act) does not give the governor carte blanche to issue executive orders empowering him to rule the state in any way he wishes during a disaster, Kelly said in anopinion joined by Chief Justice Darlene Byrne and Justice Gisela Triana. facemasks are no longer required on Fort Bend County Transit vehicles. If you or a loved one need help in coping with anxiety, grief, or other issues, please reach out to the Harris County COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at833-251-7544. in Houston and Harris County, for the 2021-2022 school year: . The latest round of a mask mandate fight between Texas Gov. "Nothing in the Act, however, suggests that these authorities are mutually exclusive," she added. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Harris County can move forward with its mask mandate in schools, daycares and businesses after a ruling by a Texas appeals court. In a Wednesday letter to city employees, Turner said with vaccines, boosters and testing becoming more widely available as well as a declining positivity rate in Houston and more manageable hospitalizations, the "country is beginning to move into a new phase of the pandemic. Abbott and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has concluded with a victory for the county. Ready Harris > County Orders "Even a statewide disaster may have distinct and disproportionate impacts in each of the states 254 counties and that, as a result, some measures for addressing a disaster in some counties may not be necessary or even appropriate in other counties," Kelly wrote. 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Select resources are available for general guidelines, recommendations for everyday activities, and more. For additional information, please visit cao.harriscountytx.gov. City employees will also no longer be required to conduct temperature screenings upon entering city buildings. We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Abbott to allow mask mandates in schools. The action coincides with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxing its indoor mask-wearing guidelines Friday, as COVID-19 case counts drop across the country. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Judge Hidalgo said this ruling will help save lives as she considers raising the countys COVID-19 threat level to red. Businesses who don't comply could face a $1,000 fine per violation, a penalty signed off . You can follow Roxie on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also lowered the the COVID-19 threat status from the highest level red to orange for the first time since Jan. 10, as cases and ICU populations are decreasing. HISD had previously planned to reassess its COVID protocols on March 11. Abbott to allow mask mandates in schools, Federal judge blocks Gov. AISD said it has a similar lawsuit pending in the Third Court of Appeals and expects the court to issue an opinion on its cases at the beginning of February. Students, staff, teachers, and visitors shall remain off campus and not attend any school-sponsored events during their quarantine period. In addition, the 3rd Court of Appeals has yet to rule on Abbott's challenge to another Mauzy injunction thatallowed a number of school districts to impose mask requirements on students, staff and visitors. Houston drops mask requirements in city buildings as COVID-19 cases drop. The BenIndy on our 2020 Election; Valero PAC Financial Disclosures; . COVID-19 case numbers are declining across the country. Masks are mandatoryinside all district buildings and schools and AISD further recommends wearing an N-95 mask or double mask for "extra protection.".