This story will be frequently updated with outbreak-related news and links to other in-depth coverage.
5 p.m. March 25: There are a total of 27 cases in Galveston County and 119 in Harris County.
March 25: The number of cases in Galveston County is 22.
March 24: The number of cases in Galveston County has risen to 21.
8 p.m. March 24: In an effort to curb the rising number of cases of coronavirus cases in League City, the City Council on March 24 passed an ordinance that allows police to fine residents up to $2,000 for violating a stay-at-home order over at least the next three weeks.
10:30 a.m. March 24: Harris County has issued a stay-at-home order effective late March 24.
6 a.m. March 24: Local nonprofits have shared ways they are responding to the outbreak and helping vulnerable populations.
9 p.m. March 23: The Clear Creek ISD board has voted to postpone May elections to November. All Bay Area spring elections—for CCISD, Nassau Bay and Clear Lake Shores—have now been delayed.
8 p.m. March 23: Galveston County has issued a stay-at-home order effective late March 24.
6:30 p.m. March 23: Harris County has suspended runoff elections for the most recent election from May 26 to July 14.
4:30 p.m. March 23: The total number of COVID-19 cases in Galveston County has reached 18.
11:30 a.m. March 23: A total of 17 Galveston County residents have been confirmed to have COVID-19.
March 22: As of late March 22, the Galveston County Health District has reported a total of 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. The carries include eight women and four men. At least three are the victims of believed community spread.
2:00 p.m. March 20: Space Center Houston will be closed through at least April 12, according to a press release from the museum.
Originally, the center announced it would be closed March 15-27. That was extended a couple weeks in the interest of ensuring the safety of guests, employees and volunteers.
"We will not reopen until we can safely welcome back guests and our team," the release reads.
10 a.m. March 20: Clear Lake Shores City Council voted to postpone May elections until Nov. 3.
3:30 p.m. March 19: COVID-19 drive-thru test sites have begun to open around Houston.
12:30 p.m. March 19: Gov. Greg Abbott has mandated all restaurants and bars in the state stop offering dine-in services. Until now, many Galveston County eateries have remained open because Galveston County has not ordered restaurants to close, unlike Harris County.
11:30 a.m. March 19: League City Mayor Pat Hallisey signed a local disaster declaration the morning of March 19 that recommends bars close and local restaurants stop dine-in services, according a press release.
March 18: Galveston County Health District has confirmed two additional positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to four. No additional information about the residents was released.
9:30 p.m. March 18: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a waiver to allow restaurants to deliver alcohol with food orders to help ease the financial hardship caused by the coronavirus.
9 p.m. March 18: San Jacinto College has announced that, starting March 23, all general education courses will be delivered online, technical courses will be done through a combination of online and face-to-face appointments, and college staff will work from home.
5:30 p.m. March 18: Nassau Bay has reported it is strongly considering postponing elections to November.
2:30 p.m. March 18: Clear Creek ISD and Clear Lake Shores have reacted to the news that May elections may be delayed to November.
Noon March 18: Gov. Greg Abbott has proclaimed that school districts and municipalities have the option to postpone local May elections until November. Community Impact Newspaper will report any Bay Area elections that are postponed.
Noon March 18: League City has shared information on what several local groups are doing to help the community during the outbreak.
League City has suspended all late payments for utility bills and disconnects for non-payment.
The Galveston County Food Bank and League City Rotary Club will be hosting a free, drive-thru, mobile food distribution on Friday at Hometown Heroes Park. It will start at 1 p.m. and last until 3 p.m. or the truck has been emptied. Each vehicle will received an assortment of food. Those who wish to volunteer can email [email protected].
Additionally, the food bank is preparing to serve the League City community with drop-off service to quarantined residents, should the need arise. Interested volunteers can call 409-945-4232.
Clear Creek and Dickinson ISDs are providing free weekday drive-thru meals for students. Families can go to Greene, League City, McWhirter, Stewart and Whitcomb elementary schools between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to receive a meal for each student 18 or younger in the vehicle.
Also, various nonprofits are helping in-need residents, including Interfaith Caring Ministries and Family Promise of Clear Creek. Family Promise is calling on the community to donate food, supplies and funding to local shelters because it is expected the nonprofit, which services poverty-stricken families, expects to see layoffs and other issues as a result of COVID-19.
11:45 a.m. March 18: The Helen Hall Library in League City will close 6 p.m. March 19 until further notice. Library programming is canceled as well. Ebooks can still be checked out online.
5 p.m. March 17: League City Police Chief Gary Ratliff has announced the League City Police Department will make temporary changes during the outbreak.
Residents who want to report something to the police should continue to contact the department as normal. An officer will contact the resident, and if there is no evidence to process, the report will be handled over the phone. Otherwise, the officer will respond, according to a LCPD press release.
Additionally, the department will not tolerate price gouging. The department will investigate reports of businesses increasing prices unreasonably, and any information will be reported to the Texas Attorney General's Office, the release reads.
"The objective is to keep League City Police Department employees healthy for as long as possible while ensuring continuity of essential services to the citizens we serve. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our community and will get through this by working together," Ratliff said in the release.
3 p.m. March 17: Several Bay Area restaurants and businesses have adjusted hours and operations to accommodate customers during the outbreak. While Harris County has closed restaurants, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has refused to do so, saying the action would be "illegal."
Noon March 17: Harris County and the city of Houston have extended their coronavirus disaster declarations by at least an additional week.
11:45 a.m. March 17: The Galveston County Health District has confirmed its second presumptive positive case of COVID-19. The case is not linked to travel, suggesting the first signs of community spread in the county.
March 16: Bay Area businesses, real estate agents, museums and others have shared details of the fallout from the outbreak.
7 p.m. March 16: Clear Creek ISD has decided to close all schools through April 10.
6:15 p.m. March 16: Officials have announced all Harris County and Houston restaurants and bars must close for at least 15 days starting March 17. These businesses will be able to offer takeout only.
6:15 p.m. March 13: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city is working with the Texas Medical Center to expand testing capabilities and discouraged residents from raiding grocery stores.
1:45 p.m. March 13: Gov. Greg Abbott has announced a state of disaster for all Texas counties.
12:50 p.m. March 13: The Galveston County Health District stated it has its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in a Friendswood resident who is quarantined in Austin.
Noon March 13: The Harris County Public Library has closed facilities and transitioned to online services through April 1.
March 13: Clear Creek ISD, University of Houston-Clear Lake, San Jacinto College and College of the Mainland have announced in-person classes will be canceled through at least the rest of March.
10 a.m. March 13: The Harris County Toll Road Authority has announced collectors will no longer accept cash at toll booths in an effort to minimize spread of the coronavirus.
3:30 p.m. March 12: Harris County and other Houston-area officials have recommended gatherings of over 250 people to be canceled or postponed through the end of March.
3:45 p.m. March 11: Analysts predict the energy industry will go through difficulties due to the coronavirus.
2 p.m. March 11: Houston-area officials have canceled the Houston Rodeo.
7:15 p.m. March 6: A total of eight cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the Greater Houston area.
6:45 p.m. March 5: County officials have confirmed two residents with COVID-19 contracted the illness while traveling abroad.
