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Posts published in “Day: April 2, 2020”

SAY “YES” TO CENSUS, BE COUNTED

Apr 2, 2020
Montrose Bridges over the Southwest Freeway were lighted in Yellow this week to mark CENSUS WEEK.

HARRIS COUNTY – Since 1790, as mandated by the Constitution, Americans have come together every 10 years to be counted. This record of every person residing in the United States is important as it provides the basis for the reapportionment of congressional seats, redistricting, and distribution of over $675 billion in vital annual federal funds to support state, county and community programs across the country. For perspective, it’s estimated that our community lost millions of federal funding because of undercounting. This is important for residents of Harris County. In 2020, let’s make sure everyone counts!

CENSUS 101

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in Census 2020. There will be four options to complete: By phone, by mail, in person and, for the first time, online. Respondents will also have the opportunity to complete the census on their mobile device.

YES! TO CENSUS 2020

To ensure we are not overlooked, the City of Houston and Harris County have created the YES! TO CENSUS 2020 campaign, a local initiative inviting families, friends and neighbors to show pride in our communities by responding to the census.

HOW THE CENSUS BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY

Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on accurate census statistics like population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Our community benefits when we have more clinics, better schools, safe roads, and an expanding workforce. High-quality census data gives community leaders important information needed to make decisions about building community centers, opening businesses, and planning for the future. Standing up and being counted is an important way for individuals to impact where money to build and improve infrastructure is allocated across the U.S. This information is also critical to local disaster and emergency preparedness funding.

COVID-19 Virus changed everyone’s life

Apr 2, 2020

People around the world, including Harris County residents are experiencing the biggest changes in their whole life, due to the incredible spread of the Coronavirus known as COVID-19.

School closings, businesses and restaurants closed due to the public orders to “Stay Home Work Safe,” financial markets in turmoil, and medical facilities overwhelmed with patients that are sick and dying are the signs of the path of destruction that this virus has wrought.

Starting in Wuhan, China, it seemed that the problems were far away, but modern lifestyles including worldwide travel, brought the deadly virus into hundreds of countries in just a few short weeks. Every country has fought the epidemic on their own terms, but with thousands sick and hundreds dying, the World Health Organization soon labelled this disease a Pandemic.

In this country, federal officials and the President at first tried to minimize the threat and say that they had control of the disease, but eventually had to admit that there was a lack of medicines and medical supplies to properly deal with the problem.

In only a short month, since last February, Houston has seen a total of 377 confirmed positive cases and 4 deaths. Harris County outside Houston has recorded 303 cases and 2 deaths. Although the common flu is more prevalent each year than Covid-19, the new virus spreads faster and is more virulent, therefore more dangerous, say the medical experts. The U.S. has experienced 174,467 cases of the virus, with 3416 deaths. Experts at the Center for Disease Control in Washington have predicted that the toll might rise above 100,000 deaths, and the president conjectured that it might be 200,000. But in a strange viewpoint, he said that would be a victory, since the toll could be higher, perhaps even 2,000,000.

Without a vaccine to defeat the virus, medical professionals are telling the public that the only way to control the spread is to stay 6 feet away from others, wash hands thoroughly and often, clean surfaces and don’t touch them unless necessary, and control your cough and cover it with a clean tissue.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extends “Stay Home Work Safe” order to April 30

Apr 2, 2020

Harris County, Texas – March 31, 2020 — As the region continues to see growth in COVID-19 cases, County Judge Lina Hidalgo today announced she will extend the county’s Stay Home-Work Safe order to 11:59 p.m. on April 30. The order advises nonessential businesses to shut down and for residents to stay home except for essential activities.

“During this critically important time for our region, we need to maintain our efforts to drastically reduce public gatherings and activities,” Judge Hidalgo said. “The increase in cases we have coming into our hospitals, the projections from our healthcare leaders show this is by no means the time to go back to normal. We all see the case rate growing.

Texas Medical Center CEOs commended the county’s decision in a joint statement, saying the extension is necessary “to save lives and protect our patients, families and the region.”

Congress passes $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package

Apr 2, 2020

• $1,200 for individuals earning $75,000 annually or less

• $2,400 for a marriage couple earning $150,000 annually or less

• $500 per child

• No need to fill out an application, the government will deposit it into your bank account based on your 2018 or 2019, the latest you have declared

• Only people with a social security number qualify for this stimulus check

• Checks could be deposited within 3 weeks or could take up to 4 months

Pct. 2 expanding ‘Homebound Senior Food’ delivery program

Apr 2, 2020

New online portal and phone hotline will enroll qualifying seniors for daily hot meal delivery

Harris County, TX — With the thought that no one should go hungry during the current Harris County Stay-At-Home order, and because many in elderly population already have difficulties getting out anyway, Commissioner Adrian Garcia is expanding the existing homebound senior daily free hot meal delivery program in Precinct 2. Any Precinct 2 resident who is age 60 or older possessing limited resources and is unable to leave their home due to illness, disability, or lack of mobility could qualify.

Seniors that qualify will receive daily, nutritious hot meals delivered directly to their door by Precinct 2 staff. Anyone who believes they are eligible for this service is asked to register on an online form on the Harris Co. Precinct 2 website (www.hcp2.com/ programs/precinct-2-mealprogram). Those without internet access are asked to apply over the phone via the Precinct 2 Hotline (713-274-2222) which is active Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.