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Tropical storms Marco and Laura continue to head west to the Gulf of Mexico and could threaten Texas next week.
Tropical storms Marco and Laura continue to head west to the Gulf of Mexico and could threaten Texas next week.
Photo: National Water Service
Tropical storms Marco and Laura continue to head west to the Gulf of Mexico and could threaten Texas next week.
Tropical storms Marco and Laura continue to head west to the Gulf of Mexico and could threaten Texas next week.
Photo: National Water Service
Chron.com follows the latest headlines about the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area
9.30am: The latest numbers from Houston, Texas
COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Houston region as two tropical storms continue along the Gulf and could pose a threat to Texas.
As of Friday night, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has increased from 581,999 to 587,514, while deaths have increased by 246 to 11,374, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data. The state’s positive test rate increased to 14.38 percent and the rolling average of viral tests stands at 42,569.
In the Houston region, cases increased by 1,471 to 140,116; deaths increased in total by 29 to 2,600. Harris County reported 1,027 new cases and is now at 96,658 cases in total.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Two tropical storms pass through the Gulf nearby. Here is the last one.
City and county officials urge Houstonians to be aware if the possibility of a double dose of severe weather is in the midst of the pandemic. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that on Friday the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has been activated to level 3 in preparation for the potentially severe weather.
While the potential for severe weather is waning, keep in mind that we are all ultimately responders first. Take the time this weekend to build a kit, check your emergency plan and stay up to date via local media & at https://t.co/qS98pi06fL https://t.co/90S2V7F3xr
– Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) August 22, 2020
To respond to Houston’s emergency alarms, click here, and to respond to Harris County’s emergency alarms, click here.
For live coverage of rainfall and intensity of rainfall, continuously updated flood alarms and street closures, visit the Houston Chronicle’s Texas Flood Map and Tracker.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Hurricane season in a pandemic? With an oil accident? Disaster expert makes Houston the worst for
NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Thursday, August 20th through Friday, August 21st. It is not yet clear how many of the state’s new cases can be assigned to inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Houston Chronicle’s analysis of data on COVID-19 now includes probable and pending cases. This change is based on interviews with multiple public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as in compliance with CDC reporting guidelines. DSHS now uses death certificate data for its COVID deaths count, leading to some Texas counties having dramatically higher counts than others and some counties having higher numbers than state figures.
