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MCTX COVID-19 UPDATE: Let’s Celebrate the Holidays Safely

The Holiday season is upon us and so is the COVID-19 Omicron variant. As the MCTX community is getting ready for celebrations this season, remember to be cautious and to follow the 3 W’s:

  • Wear a face mask.
  • Watch your distance.
  • Wash your hands.

Both Fort Bend and Harris Counties are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Harris County has also recorded a death associated with the Omicron variant; as such Harris County has raised its COVID-19 threat level to “orange” which is the second highest level signifying an uncontrolled level of transmission and warning to minimize all contacts unless fully vaccinated. At this time, Fort Bend County’s COVID-19 threat level remains at yellow.

Given that the test positivity rates are increasing around the region, here are some additional recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to safely enjoy holiday traditions and to help slow the spread of COVID-19:

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
  • Test to prevent spread to others.

Studies thus far on the Omicron variant shows that it is highly transmissible with a greater reinfection rate than the Delta variant. To ensure proper protection against all variants, emergency officials are recommending all individuals 5 years and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible. According to the City’s Medical Advisor Dr. Joe Anzaldua: “Booster shots have been shown to increase protection against infection. Researchers are broadly optimistic that if fully vaccinated (including booster) this will blunt severe disease and death due to Omicron.”

Whether you are looking for a first dose or a booster dose, COVID-19 vaccinations are readily available at various providers. Most sites are now accepting walk-ins, however, for additional details click on the links below for the appropriate entity:

Low or no-cost COVID-19 testing is offered at several community-based testing sites, local pharmacies and other locations. Some urgent care centers may also offer testing; however there might be an associated cost. Residents may visit the following links for more details on some of the local testing sites:

Residents and businesses are encouraged to follow the COVID-19 protocols and guidances that are in place to help stop the spread during the holiday season. For more information, visit the City’s Emergency Management website, www.missouricityready.com.

CDC HolidayTraditions

For more updates, please watch the City website: , like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).

City to Contract With GFL Environmental for Debris Pick Up on Sept. 25 & Oct. 2

GFL Photo

The City is contracting with its municipal solid waste provider, GFL Environmental to schedule an additional pick up day to assist citizens with debris removal from Hurricane Nicholas. Neighborhoods are assigned one storm debris pick up day based on their regular solid waste schedule as follows:

  • Monday/Thursday areas will be on Saturday, Sept. 25
  • Tuesday/Friday areas will be on Saturday, Oct. 2. 

To ensure pick up, residents must place their storm debris at the curb by 7 a.m. on their assigned days. GFL Environmental will collect more fence and tree debris than their normal limits, however, all items must be bundled and should be no more than 4 feet long.

Citizens may also dispose of leaves, tree branches and other general yard waste during their weekly yard waste collection day as well. To verify weekly schedules for yard waste/recycling/solid waste, residents may enter their address on this interactive map: https://bit.ly/3pS5Inp.

For more details on what items are considered debris and other requirements, please call GFL’s customer service at 281.403.5800.

For more updates, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).

Use Caution if Travelling; Down Trees, Power Outages & More | Solid Waste Service to Delay Start

UPDATE 9.14.21 7 a.m.

️The City’s municipal solid waste provider GFL Environmental plans to provide trash service today. However, start times have been delayed until after 7 a.m. to ensure their employees may travel safely. All routes will be running slower than usual as well due to road conditions. Please watch this page for updates or call GFL at 281.403.5800.

UPDATE 9.14.2021 5:30 a.m.

Nicholas has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm and things are slowing down. Travel still not advised as road conditions might not be favorable due to down trees/lines, street flooding or signal outages. Use extreme caution if travelling and remember, #TurnAroundDontDrown.
Also, offices, stores and businesses might have delayed start today including City offices to open at 10 a.m.; H-E-B stores to open at 8 a.m. and METRO services still suspended. Check before you make plans 🗒 Stay tuned for more updates!

UPDATE 9.14.21 3:30 a.m.

As Hurricane Nicholas pass through our area, strong winds and heavy rain are occurring. If you have power outages in your areas, visit CenterPoint Outage Tracker to stay informed on estimated restoration times – http://ow.ly/aLXt50G9lw3 – & enroll in their free Power Alert Service to receive outage alerts via text – http://ow.ly/ngOL50G9lw4.

UPDATE 9.13.21 10 p.m.

Nicholas strengthens to a Category 1 Hurricane. Emergency officials are closely monitoring all roadways, and no issues reported within Missouri City as of yet.
All non-emergency City offices will have a delayed start at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 14 and the Recreation & Tennis Center is scheduled to open at noon.
Avoid travel if possible, but if you have to, please be cautious and remember, Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

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As Tropical Storm Nicholas moves inland, the National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning and a Flash Flood Watch for the region. Tropical storm-force winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected along with total rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with predictions for local totals to reach a higher level of up to 15 inches.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is currently activated to Level 3 at Increased Readiness and preparations are in place to weather Tropical Storm Nicholas. Tune in to the City’s Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX today, Monday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. for the latest updates from Mayor Robin J. Elackatt, City Council and emergency preparedness staff.

Watch Full News Conference

All non-emergency City offices closed at 3 p.m. today, Monday, Sept. 13. This includes: 

  • City Hall Front Lobby, 1522 Texas Pkwy. 
  • Inspections & Permits, 1522 Texas Pkwy. 
  • Animal Shelter, 1923 Scanlin Rd. 
  • Municipal Court, 3845 Cartwright Rd. 
  • Recreation & Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr. 
    • Youth Dance and H.I.I.T. Fitness Classes for this evening are cancelled. 
    • Acrylic Painting scheduled for tomorrow is also cancelled.

The Quail Valley Golf Course and Bluebonnet Grille will close at 5 p.m. today and will remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Here are some additional cancellations/closures that are reported:

  • Fort Bend ISD campuses and facilities closed early and all after-school activities, events and meetings for today are cancelled. Campuses will also be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 14.
  • Houston ISD campuses and facilities are also closed this afternoon and all after-school activities/events are canceled. In-person and virtual classes are also cancelled for tomorrow.
  • Houston Community College campuses closed at 2 p.m. today and will be closed tomorrow.

Residents are advised to secure loose objects in their yards and on the exterior of their residences, including trash receptacles; to park their vehicles in driveways/garages rather than on the streets to avoid any damage due to street flooding; to keep streets clear for proper drainage and to allow for the passage of emergency vehicles. City staff will continue to monitor all roadway conditions; if there are areas of concern in your community, please call 281.403.8700.

Prepare now, be weather aware and remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Citizens are encouraged to follow the City’s official websites and social media outlets to receive timely, accurate information. All updates including road conditions, event cancellations, office closures, municipal solid waste service and more will be shared on these official communication outlets.

The two main platforms used by City staff to share real-time information are the MCTX Emergency Management website, www.MissouriCityReady.com and the MCTX Twitter account, Twitter.com/MissouriCityEM. To ensure that the message is available to the public at-large, information will also be shared on the City’s main website—www.missouricitytx.gov; Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX; Twitter—@MissouriCityTX; Instagram—@MissouriCityTX, municipal television station—MCTV (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse); and Nextdoor.

Tropical Storm Nicholas Expected to Strengthen | Tropical Storm Watch & Flash Flood Watch in Effect

As Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches the Gulf, it is expected to strengthen and a Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for the area until further notice. A Flash Flood Watch will also be in effect from 7 p.m. today, Sept. 12 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14.

A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds (35-45 mph with gusts to 55 mph) are possible from Monday evening until Tuesday afternoon. Residents are encouraged to secure loose objects in yards and outside including trash receptacles by tomorrow evening.

Flash Flood Watch means periods of heavy rainfall is expected to result in Flash Flooding across the region. Widespread total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected across the area within the watch with some locally higher totals of 15 inches.

Citizens are encouraged to park their vehicles in driveways/garages rather than streets to avoid any damage due to street flooding; to keep streets clear for proper drainage; and to allow emergency vehicles to pass through.

Prepare now, be weather aware and follow the City’s official outlets for the latest emergency updates.

Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

For more updates, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).

MCTX COVID-19 UPDATE: Cases Increasing in the Region

As COVID-19 cases increase in the region, the City’s Medical Advisor Dr. Joe Anzaldua is encouraging citizens to follow the “3 Ws” – wear a face mask, watch your distance and wash your hands. See Dr. Anzaldua’s latest update below:

“The use of face masks and even vaccinations are controversial with many weighing in with differing opinions. Also federal government agencies responsible for setting public health policy and guidance have put out what appears to be conflicting information. Controversy among experts as well as some media misinformation has no doubt lead to distrust among a lot of people. Messaging has been inadequate, especially with our most vulnerable and underserved populations. This has not made it any easier for us to provide a unified message with respect to public health guidance and policy recommendations. 

Over the past several days I have been watching reports indicating a rise in COVID-19 cases, both locally and nationally. The Texas medical center is also reporting an increase in COVID-19 effective reproduction rate as well as testing positivity rates. In addition more breakthrough cases amongst previously infected as well as vaccinated individuals are being identified and reported.  To help provide clarity and direction, I offer the following information for your consideration and invite further discussion.

Although this is not being mentioned a whole lot at the moment, based on the current numbers, I believe we are entering (or have already entered) a fourth wave. On July 22, Harris County’s COVID-19 threat level was raised from yellow to orange. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Fort Bend County follows suit by going back to their previous higher community risk level.

And although there has been an increase in hospital admissions to general beds and the ICU, this current surge is not expected to overwhelm our hospital systems. And hopefully that remains the case. And unfortunately, we are also seeing an increase in deaths among residents of nursing homes. The rise in cases is probably due to the increased transmissibility (but probably not more virulent) of the delta variant, and the fact that vaccination rates appear to be flat or declining.

I do not expect that this current surge will be as bad as the previous ones. This is mainly due to our current vaccinations which seem to still be protective, even with the delta variant which is now considered our predominant strain. So although there is an increase in cases it is unlikely that we will see serious illness or even death among those who are fully vaccinated. Another way to put this, is that the overwhelming majority of hospital admissions for serious illness are those Individuals that are not vaccinated.

With respect to breakthrough cases, please keep in mind that these cases are relatively rare.  As of July 12, more than 159 million people in the United States had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Of those, just 5,492 had breakthrough cases that resulted in serious illness, including 1,063 who died. That is less than 0.0007 percent of the vaccinated population! Meanwhile, 99 percent of deaths from Covid-19 are among the unvaccinated.    

But please keep in mind what our public health objective is here: We are trying to prevent a peak as bad as previous in terms of case numbers. “Long COVID” symptoms are becoming more common and more are being reported, so this is also a public health concern. In addition, increased transmission gives way to possibility of even more variants where vaccine may not be effective or variants that are more virulent, and as I alluded to earlier, we still have a large percentage of the population that cannot be vaccinated and is vulnerable. 

Although there is no mandate to wear face masks, pursuant to Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent executive order, I think it would be reasonable and prudent at this time and to the extent permitted by law, to strongly encourage the use of face masks indoors for all individuals – unvaccinated as well as partially/fully vaccinated individuals. I do not believe that encouraging the use of facemasks indoors is in conflict with the Governor’s executive order. So, no mandate, just strong encouragement. And, in order not to stigmatize those that want to wear masks, maybe we should use the “wear mask OPTIONAL” approach.

It is probably a good idea to reinstitute or reemphasize some non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as the “3 Ws” that I have mentioned in the past:

  • Wear a face mask
  • Watch your distance 
  • Wash your hands 

In conclusion, I still believe that the key to ending this pandemic is vaccination. We are not likely to eradicate SARS-CoV-2 in our lifetime but we certainly can (and will) put the brakes on this pandemic. To this end, we must still make every effort to encourage getting vaccinated. We need to redouble our efforts on getting this message out.”

For more updates, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).