
“The best way for residents to understand the current state of coronavirus is to rely on information from trusted sources. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo launches coronavirus rumor control website to combat misinformation


Here’s a look back, in chronological order, at the judge’s communications about the coronavirus. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic since the beginning. The property tax cut, which must be approved by voters in November, would be the largest in Texas history.HOUSTON – Since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, the message from government officials has evolved. The House passed Senate Bills 2 and 3, providing property tax relief for homeowners and business properties and franchise tax relief for small business owners.Abbott issued a stay home order for the whole of Texas, to run from April 2 to April 30. Brazoria County followed suit March 25 and Montgomery County on March 27. Mayor Turner said the region was in a health crisis, "and in order not to prolong this crisis, in order to blunt the progression of this virus, we both recognize that steps need to be taken in order to slow the progression, to blunt it, so that we are not in this situation longer than we need to be."įort Bend, Galveston, Liberty and Chambers Counties issued similar orders the same day. "To put simply," Hidalgo said, "this means that all of us should stay home unless our jobs are essential for the health and safety of our community." She announced a "stay home, work safe" order. Hidalgo said she had consulted with medical officials who warned her that the region was on a path to New York City-levels of infection. Turner and Hidalgo both issued orders for the city and county amid the coronavirus pandemic.įinally, on March 24, Hidalgo and Turner stood together before a podium at TranStar. Ohio and Oregon on March 23.Ĭity of Houston Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announces a stay-at-home order on March 24, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner looks on. The city is not shutting down."īut state after state followed California's lead. "Let me just start off by saying the city is not shutting down," Turner said. Rumors swirled on social media that Houston would soon follow suit. That same day, the entire state of California was placed under a stay-home order. The first death in Harris County was announced March 19. “The decisions we make, the decisions you make, to go out in groups or to stay home will very much determine whether people live or die." "The reality is we're at a pivotal point right now,” HIdalgo said. On March 16, Hidalgo ordered the closing of all Harris County bars and nightclubs, and limited restaurants to takeout and delivery service. Meanwhile, at the local level, controls tightened further. Greg Abbott: "To ensure that the state of Texas and our cities and counties are fully capable to prepare and respond to COVID-19, I am at this moment declaring a state disaster for all counties in the state of Texas," Abbott said.Ī wide range of directives followed, aimed at mobilizing the state's power to combat the spread of the virus – some of them highly controversial, such as a restriction on all elective medical procedures that banned most abortions in the state.

“Two very big words."Īnd one in Austin from Gov.
#Houston new lockdown order full
One in Washington from President Trump: "To unleash the full power of the federal government today, I am officially declaring a national emergency,” he said. On March 12, Houston ISD canceled classes through the end of the month. And it will also impact the remaining concerts and events at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo." "And so as of today," Turner said, "starting tonight the concerts will come to an end as they will phase down. With that, on March 11, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced an emergency health declaration, canceling all city public events for March – including the Rodeo.
