Posted 8 p.m. April 12
Offiicials with the Harris County Public Health Department released data for coronavirus cases by ZIP code April 12.
The areas with the most confirmed coronavirus cases can be found in the western and northwestern parts of Harris County, including the 77433, 77084 and 77449 ZIP codes. Each of those three ZIP codes contributed between 61-95 cases, according to Harris County data.
Certain parts of the southwestern part of Harris County have yielded between 41-60 cases, including the 77077, 77082, 77024 and the 77036 ZIP codes.
As of April 12, Harris County has confirmed 3,629 cases, including those in the city of Houston. A total of 3,000 cases are active, while another 585 have recovered and 44 have died, according to data from the Harris County Public Health Department and from Houston Health Department.
Posted 6:30 p.m. April 9
The number of staff members at the Harris County Jail to test positive for COVID-19 grew to 29, the Harris County Sheriff's Office reported April 9. Positive cases among jail staffers are up from April 7, when 20 were reported.
Another 77 Sheriff’s Office employees have been tested but are still awaiting results, officials said.
The number of inmates at the Harris County Jail to test positive also increased from three to five April 9. Another 69 inmates are in quarantine with coronavirus symptoms.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an order to temporarily release some nonviolent inmates from the jail, but that order was blocked by another judge April 3. Hidalgo described the current situation as a "standoff" in a discussion at an April 7 commissioners court meeting.
Total coronavirus cases increased by 615 in the city of Houston April 9, while the rest of Harris County added 91 new cases. In the Greater Houston area's five largest counties, active cases increased by 660, recoveries increased by 82, and six new deaths were reported.
Posted 5:50 p.m. April 8
Thirty-four residents and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 at LaPorte Healthcare Center, Harris County officials reported late April 7. The facility is under strict health control orders in an effort to prevent additional spread of the virus.
The Harris County Public Health Department first announced it was investigating a potential outbreak April 4, declining to name the facility at the time.
Outbreaks of coronavirus have been reported at several other senior-living facilities in the Greater Houston area, including The Resort at Texas City in Galveston County and The Conservatory at Alden Bridge in Montgomery County.
Total cases in Harris County, including the city of Houston, rose by 195 on April 8 to 2,341.
The total number of coronavirus-related deaths increased by eight in Harris County on April 8. Deaths in the city of Houston rose from 11 to 12, while deaths in the rest of Harris County rose from 12 to 19.
At the same time, Houston area counties continue to report on individuals who have recovered. Across the Houston area's five largest counties—Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Galveston and Brazoria—total recoveries have increased from 341 on April 6 to 590 on April 9.
Posted 6:20 p.m. April 7
The number of members of the Harris County Sheriff's Office working at the Baker Street jail to test positive for coronavirus increased to 20 on April 7, up from 12 the day before, officials said in a statement.
The number of inmates who have tested positive remains at three, although more and more inmates are being quarantined after demonstrating symptoms. A total of 52 inmates were quarantined as of April 7, up from 34 inmates April 6.
HCSO officials said roughly 7,600 inmates are housed in the jail, and 2,200 county employees work there. All inmates and employees are required to use face masks, and all employees must undergo temperature checks before entering the jail. Regular temperature checks are also being performed among inmates. All surfaces are being cleaned on a frequent basis.
"Social distancing practices that are encouraged in the free world are difficult to implement in the jail, although employees and inmates are encouraged to do so when possible," officials said in an April 7 press release.
In Galveston County, officials confirmed another four coronavirus-related deaths on April 7, bringing the total to five. Of those who died were a female between the ages of 31-40, a male between the ages of 81-90, a female over the age of 91 and a male between the ages of 61-70. All four individuals had pre-existing medical conditions.
Posted 5:50 p.m. April 6
The city of Houston confirmed 402 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the total cases in the city to 1,145.
On Twitter, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the large increase can be attributed to a backlog of results going back to mid-March that were just reported. The city did not report any new coronavirus-related deaths on April 6.
The 402 confirmed patients marked the largest one-day increase of any county in the Greater Houston area so far. Fort Bend County and Galveston County, the two Houston-area counties with the most confirmed cases behind Harris County, have total case counts of 318 cases and 256 cases, respectively.
The uptick in cases comes after new testing sites have opened in the Greater Houston area, including those that are both publicly and privately run, including in Montgomery County, Fort Bend County and in Houston.
Elsewhere, Montgomery County officials reported the first positive COVID-19 case in the Montgomery County Jail. A female inmate, who is in her 20s, has been placed in isolation.
Previous reporting on coronavirus cases can be found here.
