Welcome to Houston HealthScope,
the Houston Health Department newsletter!

We welcome your feedback at hhdcommunications@houstontx.govAugust 10, 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition 29
 
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Better. Together.

We are better when we all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Together, we can put Houston on the road to recovery. Thank you for making Houston Better Together!

????WASH HANDS  ┃ ????WEAR A MASK
↔️ SOCIAL DISTANCE ┃ ????GET TESTED

HoustonEmergency.org/covid19
 
 

Testing decline bad sign for disease containment

Unfortunately, fewer people are taking advantage of our free COVID-19 mega testing sites. We fear people see declining hospital numbers and think we’re out of the woods. We’re not. Getting tested empowers you to protect your family and community and is vital to identify and contain disease. Call 832-393-4220 or visit houstonhealth.org to find a site near you.

 

Directly in the hardest hit communities

Our commitment to empowering Houstonians with the knowledge to prevent COVID-19 continued Saturday at 981 more apartment units in high-positivity majority-Hispanic communities. Last Friday, we did the same at 708 other priority apartment units. This community canvassing effort is part of our Better. Together. campaign.
 

Level 1: Stay Home

Level one signifies a severe and uncontrolled level of COVID-19, meaning outbreaks are present and worsening and  testing and contact tracing capacity is strained. People should minimize contacts with others wherever possible and avoid leaving home except for essential needs. Learn More

 

Houston Health Department Launches COVID-19 Education Campaign, Mayor Turner Proclaims August Better. Together. Month

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Health Department launched Better. Together., a multilingual public health education campaign empowering Houstonians with the knowledge and skills to protect their families & communities from COVID-19.

Mayor Turner also proclaimed August 2020 Better. Together. Month, encouraging Houstonians to work toward the goal of reducing city’s COVID-19 positivity rate, currently at 23 percent, to 5 percent or lower.  Learn More

 

We’re tracking your ????

Led by Dr. Loren Hopkins, the Houston Health Department is using your waste to track COVID-19. Learn more about our innovative approach:

NPR: Houston Officials Are Using Sewage To Help Fight Coronavirus
ABC13: City of Houston plans to test human waste for COVID-19 hot spots
Fox26: Experts say raw sewage can be used to track spread of COVID-19
 
Spotlight Houston: COVID-19 Call Center
With as many as 12,000 calls per day, the Houston Health Department COVID-19 call center is available to help you find free testing sites, provide info and link you to resources. Call 832-393-4220 Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 

Working with health department contact tracers helps slow the spread

Making a choice to work with contact tracers helps protect you, your family and your community by slowing the spread of COVID-19. Learn More

 

Free COVID-19 Testing

Visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 to learn how to get tested for COVID-19. With sites across Houston, there’s one near you!

 

Share your COVID-19 experience 

The COVID-19 Registry is a research study that provides real-time information to health departments on the spread of COVID-19, who is being affected, and how.  Take the Survey