Vivien Chen, the 2020 valedictorian at Westfield High School, contributed as a volunteer with Harris County Animal Shelter.

Officials with the Harris County Public Health Department and Houston Health Department confirmed 469 new cases of COVID-19 over the Memorial Day weekend, bringing the county's case total to 10,995.

In the eighth program of its weekly COVID-19 series, Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) hosted a discussion on the reopening of Houston with the city’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar Marvin Odum and Harris County Public Health Executive Director Dr. Umair Shah.

Dr. Umair Shah, of Harris County Public Health, said that there has yet to be a downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases being reported in the county.

Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, said he has seen “slight upticks” but not “a significant increase thus far” in cases. He is concerned, however, about the state’s reopening. “There’s mixed messages from the federal, state and local levels,” Shah said. “It’s summer, it’s 90 degrees right now outside — for people to start getting complacent and feel, ‘Oh, the virus is yesterday’s news’ . . . we have that concern.”

Harris County Public Health reported on Wednesday 10,095 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county. Of those 5,971 cases are active, 3,914 people have recovered and 210 people have died.

A full list of steps retail businesses should take is available on the Harris County Public Health website. The county's public health department also has construction reopening advice.

The importance of COVID-19 testing was addressed as Dr. Umair Shah with the Harris County Health Department stated that they want to be able to identify where the cases are.

Before going to a bar—or gym, restaurant, etc.—you should assess the level of risk you're willing to take, says Umair Shah, M.D., MPH, and Executive Director of Harris County Public Health in Texas. "You have to be thinking about those around you—including those at work. You’re potentially bringing pathogens back into your home," he says.

Hidalgo's two sets of rules are for the safety of workers, one being for public-facing service workers such as retail stores and restaurants and one for manufacturing. These rules were made in coordination with the Harris County Public Health Department and with state and federal recommendations.