General Public Guidance

HCPH has compiled resources intended to help the public in better understanding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), ways to stay healthy, suggestions for supporting their communities, and more. Select documents may be available in multiple languages.  

Resources are organized based on topic. Click on the options in the navigation to jump to each section or scroll down to view more.

About The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. To learn more about this virus, refer to the documents below or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

COVID Reopening Benchmarks

On June 11th, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo released public health recommendations to better understand how to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Leading Harris County: Benchmarks for a Healthy Community guide outlines this process. 

To see the newest benchmarks, please click here or go directly to Ready Harris. The status of these benchmarks can also be seen on the Harris County / City of Houston COVID-19 Data Hub.

General Guidance

Select resources are available for general guidelines, recommendations for everyday activities, and more. This section includes all General Public Guidance materials. For specific topics, it is encouraged to view individual sections below.

If the information you are searching for is not shown here, refer to the remaining sections of this General Public Guidance resource as well as Reopening Guidelines and Documents resources.

Cleaning and Disinfection

Maintaining cleanliness - including disinfecting surfaces - is essential in helping to decrease the spread of illness. Select resources for cleaning protocols are below with additional materials available on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Health Equity Toolkits

Harris County is home to many individuals from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and races. To help ensure everyone represented has the resources needed for learning more about COVID-19 and staying healthy - especially any information that is unique to a community - Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has compiled select Health Equity Toolkits that can be downloaded and shared. Find them in the Community Support Resources or from the link below.

Community Resources

Resources are available for the following:

• Food Fairs
• Food Assistance
• Financial Assistance
• Mental Health Services
• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
• General Information

For a complete guide to these resources, view the materials available in our Community Support Resources.

COVID-19 Vaccination

The COVID-19 vaccine is here. To help educate our community on the types of vaccines available, how they work, and how they will be distributed, resources can be found on the COVID-19 Vaccine Information page here.

Face Coverings and Masks

The use of face coverings and face masks may help to reduce the spread of the virus. This is not intended to replace social distancing or hand washing recommendations. Select resources are available for the proper use of face coverings.

For more information about the use of cloth face coverings, visit the CDC's resources for Using Cloth Face Coverings to Slow The Spread of COVID-19.

For details regarding Mask Order Policies in Harris County, please refer to the County Order resources on Ready Harris.

Mass Gatherings and Community Events

As per the CDC, large events and mass gatherings may contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Examples of these events include (but are not limited to) conferences, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, etc. 

For guidance on the following, please see the CDC website...

Mental Health

Resources are available for those whose mental health may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether this is you or a loved one, find materials on supporting mental health and reducing stress during the spread of COVID-19 in our Community Support Resources.

If you or a loved one need help in coping with anxiety, grief, or other issues, please reach out to the Harris County COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at 833-251-7544.

Personal Health

As our community continues to stays safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to remember to continue practices and routines that help maintain your and your family's personal health. This includes healthy living practices as well as routine health screening and appointments.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Select resources are available regarding the use of PPE, including face coverings.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Select resources are available for those individuals who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Additional resources - including those for caring for young children - may be found on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Return to Work 

General Operations

Select resources are available for those returning to work and normal operations.*

*Resources for business owners reopening and managing their company during COVID-19, please refer to the Reopening Guidance Documents section.

Employees Returning to Work After COVID-19 Illness or Exposure

Please see the following resources for returning to work in non-healthcare settings following COVID-19 isolation or quarantine. This includes those individuals who may or may not have experienced symptoms but have tested positive for COVID-19 as well as those who were exposed to COVID-19 without wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

School Guidance and Updates

For more information about returning to school and associated benchmarks, view our School Guidance and Updates resources.

Social Distancing and Self Monitoring

Select resources are available concerning social distancing guidelines and recommendations for self monitoring.

Social Media Toolkits

In an effort to educate and share awareness regarding COVID-19, HCPH encourages you to utilize and share the social media images created by our departments throughout your own social media platforms. 

Testing and Results

COVID-19 testing is available at many locations across Harris County. For testing locations nearest you as well as details regarding acquiring test results, please visit the Testing Locations and Information resources.

Vulnerable Populations

Based on available information from medical professionals, it has been found that adults over the age of 65 as well as people of any age who have severe underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk from serious illness from COVID-19. More information about those conditions that may impact vulnerability can be found in the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) resources for those who are recommended to take extra precautions as well as those who are at higher risk.

In addition to information available from the CDC, HCPH has put together resources that vulnerable populations may find helpful. 

World Health Organization (WHO) Myth Busters

In an effort to combat misinformation, the World Health Organization created several infographics regarding frequently asked questions about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. We encourage you to share these across your network to help set the record straight about COVID-19.

For a complete list of WHO Myth Busters, go to the World Health Organization (WHO) website.

Additional Resources

• Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
• Reopening Guidelines and Documents
• Support and Call Center Information