The Woodlands Township COVID-19 Update, Thursday, September 10, 2020

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Special Meeting Tonight
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will hold a Special Board Meeting via videoconference tonight, September 10, 2020, at 6 p.m. The meeting can be viewed online at http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/778/Meeting-Videos. You may view the agenda here: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/991/Agendas-Minutes-and-More.

The Township has been informed by its meeting vendor that the phone numbers posted for public comment (346-248-7799 or 888-788-0099 toll-free, then enter ID 844 3846 9125 #) may not be operational at the time of the meeting. If the phone numbers are not working, residents who wish to comment during the September 10, 2020 meeting may still participate in the public comment portion of the meeting through the Zoom desktop client, web client, or mobile app, which are free of charge.

Please click the link below to join the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84438469125?pwd=RjY4ZkRyWDlMODN6d2UrcWxuUUdrZz09 Passcode: 830375

This link is active only for this Board meeting. New information will be issued for each future meeting during the public health pandemic emergency. Those who do not wish to comment but would like to view the meeting should continue to access the meeting through the Township website at http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/778/Meeting-Videos.

Patriot Day of Remembrance and First Responders Day
Join us for Patriot Day of Remembrance and First Responders Day this Friday, September 11, 2020. Patriot Day of Remembrance will be held at The Woodlands Central Fire Station at 7:30 a.m. and First Responders Day will be held at Town Green Park at 5:30 p.m. Can’t make it? Tune in to The Township’s Facebook page to watch it live. Watch the video of Chairman Bunch discussing these events.

Patriot Day of Remembrance / First Responders Day
Join the Township for the Patriot Day of Remembrance and First Responders Day tomorrow, September 11, 2020. Patriot Day of Remembrance will be held at The Woodlands Central Fire Station at 7:30 a.m. and First Responders Day will be held at Town Green Park at 5:30 p.m. Read more about these events.

Development Standards Committee Approves Restaurant Guidelines
The Woodlands Development Standards Committee (DSC) adopted new guidelines for restaurants at their meeting on September 2, 2020. In an effort to help the local economy while remaining within safe social distancing, the Committee approved an extended outdoor seating arrangement regarding outdoor dining facilities and best practices limited to sidewalks on the conditions listed.

“The changes allow restaurants, bars and other food establishments to serve customers on expanded areas of sidewalks in the assorted shopping centers and mini-malls around the Township,” said DSC Chairman Walter Lisiewski.

Read more about guidelines for restaurants in The Woodlands pertaining to COVID-19.

County News
Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count
Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, is saddened to confirm four additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 129.


• A man in his 50s, from Spring, died in the hospital. There were no co-morbidities noted in the medical record.

• A woman in her 90s, from The Woodlands, died in hospice care. She had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.

• A man in his 70s, from Conroe, died in the hospital. He had co-morbidities in addition to testing positive for COVID-19.

They can also confirm:


• TOTAL cases of COVID-19 increased by 120 to 9,586 since yesterday’s (9/9) report.

• They are continuing to process cases that were reported to The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) directly by healthcare providers and entered into the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), run by the CDC. Out of the 120 new cases today, 59 were tested prior to 7/31.

• ACTIVE cases of COVID-19 increased by 46 to 1,258 since yesterday’s (9/9) report.

• 24 residents are known to be in the hospital, as a result of contact investigations. Contact investigations have not been initiated on all reported cases.

• 6,601 people have clinically recovered.

*These numbers do not reflect antigen or antibody testing. Have questions? Please go to https://mcphd-tx.org/ and scroll down to the FAQs.

You can find more information on the SETRAC website, setrac.org.

Take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Consider staying home unless it is necessary to leave your home.
Avoid groups of people.
Practice social distancing.
Wear a mask (if it is necessary to leave your home).
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
Disinfect surfaces in your car and around your home.
You can view the case-by-case updates on the MCPHD website here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/. You can refer to the dashboard here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

Just a reminder, online registration is available for COVID-19 testing through the MCPHD/MCHD voucher program. Click on “Need to be tested?” on www.mchd-tx.org or www.mcphd-tx.org and follow the instructions.

The COVID-19 Call Center’s number is 936-523-3916. It is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) publishes their daily case count, combined with the City of Houston’s daily case count, here. Cases by zip code in Harris County can be found by clicking on areas of the map.

The Village of Creekside Park is located in two zip codes: 77375 and 77389, and these also include Magnolia, Augusta Pines/Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road in northwest Harris County. Today, Harris County is reporting zip code 77375 has 930 confirmed positive cases with 37 active cases, and 77389 has 480 confirmed positive cases with 27 active cases.

COVID-19 Case Count Brief from The Woodlands Fire Department
As of Thursday, September 10, 2020, + or – signifies change since previous report.

Montgomery County


• 9,586 - Confirmed, +120

• 1,258 - Active Cases, +46

• 132 - Deaths, +3

• 6,601 – Recovered, +71

• 24 – Hospitalized, -1

Harris County


• 46,731 - Confirmed +457

• 1,713 - Active Cases -11

• 590 - Deaths, +6

• 44,475 – Recovered, +512

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
In this time of global uncertainty and concern over the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to take care of your mental health and to be there for those around you. National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week is September 6 – 12, 2020. Please know that anyone can battle suicidal thoughts – mental health struggles do not discriminate based upon one’s background, age, gender, race, education level or socioeconomic situation. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Learn more at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Please also see the Suicide Prevention article in the September 2020 edition of The Woodlands Community Magazine for more resources.

Get Tested for COVID-19
Free COVID-19 testing is available for residents of Montgomery County online at https://www.mchd-tx.org. Call 936-523-3916 for more information.

Harris County residents may also sign up for free COVID-19 testing online at hcphtx.org. Call 832-927-7575 for more information.


Genalyte Expands COVID-19 Antibody Testing in The Woodlands
Genalyte announced the opening of a new COVID-19 antibody testing site at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, Texas, 77380). Genalyte’s SARS-CoV-2 MultiAntigen Serology Panel tests for antibodies the body can produce in response to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Register today.

Around the Township
Restaurant Weeks Extended through September 30, 2020!
There are many Woodlands restaurants participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks this year. Here’s your chance to eat for a cause! Dine at the participating restaurants for brunch, lunch, or dinner and they will donate a portion of proceeds from each meal purchased to the Houston Food Bank.

Restaurant Weeks specials are available for dine-in, and new for this year, several restaurants are allowing the Houston Restaurant Week menus to include to-go orders and even delivery. Be sure to call the individual restaurants ahead of time to confirm ordering options and hours. To view menu offerings, pricing, and more information visit Restaurant Weeks.

New Elliptical SUPs at Riva Row Boat House
The Woodlands Township Riva Row Boat House is now offering elliptical stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) as a new and exciting activity that can be rented for just $30/hour. Riva Row Boat House is currently open from 9 a.m. until sunset, with the last boat going out one hour before sunset. Both Riva Row Boat House and Lakes Edge Boat House will be open on Labor Day; closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information, please read the complete press release.

Community Resources
Numerous resources are available in the community for support. These vary from food banks to financial assistance and much more. Please visit the Community Resources webpage to find more information about resources in the community related to COVID-19.

September is National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved this September. Learn more now.

Township’s Coronavirus Page
The Woodlands Township’s COVID-19 page can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19. This page features Montgomery and Harris county hubs, community resources and news from the Federal Government and the CDC. It also includes the latest news from the Township, partner agencies, important links, FAQs, live Twitter feeds and more.

Stay Connected
Please stay connected to The Woodlands Township through our many communications channels. Learn more and sign up at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/stayinformed.

Stay Informed with The Woodlands Township
Sign up for news and alerts from the Township at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme. During a weather-related event, additional information can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/emergency.