Stay in-the-know with updates, advisories, and information from these local and national resources providing public health updates.
While the City of Houston adapts to a developing situation, it’s important that Houstonians and visitors know where to find the most up-to-date information and how they can take precautions to make the smart decisions for themselves and their families.
Even as 365 Houston is not a health resource, we do take the novel coronavirus and COVIG-19 pandemic seriously and whole-heartedly support the Houston Health Department’s recommendations on social distancing, self quarantine, and other preventive measures.
The Houston Health Department recommends these general guidelines to the public:
- Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue then throw it away. If you don’t have a tissue, use the elbow of your sleeve. Do not use your hands to cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching hands, faces, and bodies of people whom you care about, but aren’t in your family or household, or with whom you are not in a committed relationship. It’s very hard. But bumping elbows, acknowledging the awkwardness, and verbally expressing shared care is what this risk requires. You don’t want to accidentally harm your loved ones or their people, and they don’t want to accidentally harm you or yours.
- Especially avoid close contact with people who are sick. This is even more true if you are at higher risk for the coronavirus due to age, diabetes, or respiratory complications, or other added health complications.
- Younger people should remember that, while they’re likely to be at less risk for being harmed by the virus, they can still be carriers infecting their communities and still may be directly effected by it due to as-of-yet-discovered complications.
- Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep, and manage your stress to keep your immunity strong. Sleep is currently an under-stressed facet of maintaining your health during this crisis.
- Do not go to the emergency room unless it’s a medical emergency. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
For more information on public guidelines, visit the City of Houston Emergency Operations Center homepage.
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others, call 911.
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline
- 1-800-985-5990
- Text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517)
If you feel like you may need to be tested, Harris County and the Houston Health Department have a self-assessment tool that will help determine whether or not you need to be screened for the Coronovirus. Click here to view the self-assessment tool.
Additional Resources
In addition to these general guidelines, here are helpful places where you can find updates, information, advisories and best practices:
National
- Centers for Disease and Control
- National Institutes of Health
- Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
Local
Click the links below for the latest information, news, and recommendations from trusted local and regional sources.
- City of Houston Emergency Operations Center
- ReadyHarris.Org
- Harris County Public Health
- Harris County: What to do if you are sick with COVID-19
- UTMB Health
- Latest News from the Houston Chronicle
- Latest News from Houston Public Media
- Latest News and Updates from KHOU-11
- Texas Department of State Health Services
If you have specific questions, you can also utilize these phone numbers based on your residence:
Harris County Residents
- Harris County Public Health – Updates on public health
- 832-927-7575 (9am to 7pm)
- Ask-My-Nurse – A call line for everyday clinical-related questions
- 713-634-1110 (9am to 7pm)
City of Houston Residents
- Houston Health Department
- 832-393-4220 (Monday through Friday 9am to 7pm; Saturday 9am to 3pm)
Fort Bend County Residents
- Fort Bend County Health & Human Services
- 281-633-7795 (Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm)
Please be safe and practice that Houston spirit: be respectful, treat each other with kindness, and promote community care.