Dear Neighbor, 

Across our community, neighbors are concerned about the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus.  With news reports of developments relating to coronavirus changing daily, I am committed to ensuring our community has the information and resources it needs.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that coronavirus could pose a serious and potentially wide-scale public health threat in our country, and the Trump Administration has declared a public health emergency.  It is crucial, now more than ever, that we all take the time to prepare and help contain the virus.

• Commits more than $3 billion to the development of treatments and a coronavirus vaccine and includes an additional $300 million to ensure Americans will have access to the vaccine regardless of their ability to pay;
• Protects against price-gouging of medicines developed with taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the federal government will only pay a fair and reasonable price for coronavirus vaccines and drugs and providing HHS the authority to ensure that they are affordable in the commercial market;
• Provides $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness and response, including nearly a billion dollars specifically to alleviate the immense financial strain on state, local, tribal and territorial hospitals and health systems;
• Protects public health by allowing Medicare providers to extend telemedicine services to seniors regardless of where they live, at an estimated cost of $500 million; and 
• Supports small businesses impacted by this epidemic, allowing for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest SBA loans to those affected.

My team and I are closely monitoring the situation, and I urge you to do the same.  I have included resources below from the CDC that should be helpful in these efforts.  My website will also provide updates and guidance from the CDC, which you can find here. 

Harris County Public Health has a website to address the situation in our community and the City of Houston have set up a resource center with up to date local information.  You can visit HoustonEmergency.org or call 832-393-4220 to speak with a representative. 

If you have any concerns, you are always welcome to call my office at the numbers provided below or email us here.

Sincerely,

 

There is a lot of information out there about coronavirus.  It is important to make sure the information you are getting is accurate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the leading agency when it comes to public health emergencies in our country.  Its recommendations are included below.  A link to its website is here.

Prevention: 

The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including coronavirus:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well to wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus;
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms to help prevent the spread of the disease to others and by health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility);
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and 
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

If you feel you are at risk: 

Call your health care professional if you develop symptoms and if you have been in contact with a person known to have the coronavirus or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of the coronavirus. 

The CDC has issued the following recommendations: 

• Stay home except to get medical care;
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home;
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor;
• Wear a face mask;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes; and
• Clean your hands often.

Resources:

For latest updates from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), click here. 

For latest updates from the Harris County Public Health Department, click here. 

For latest updates from the Houston Health Department, click here. 

For latest updates from the World Health Organization, click here.

If you are planning on traveling, please visit the CDC's Information for Travel guide.

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