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 below to jump to each section or scroll down to view more.

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.

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 the Business and Industries and 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.

Community Health Guides

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 Community Health Guides that can be downloaded and shared.

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 below. Please check back often as these guides are updated periodically.

Face Coverings and Masks

The use of face coverings 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.

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...

• Considerations For Postponing Or Cancelling A Mass Gathering
• Steps To Plan, Prepare, and Proceed With A Mass Gathering
• Follow-Up After A COVID-19 Outbreak Has Ended

Mental Health

Select resources are available for supporting mental health and reducing stress during the spread of COVID-19.

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 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.

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. 

• HCPH Social Media Toolkit (Updated 9/15/20, 2:00 PM CST)

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.

Travel

Information regarding traveling can be found in the Travel resources. This included both Domestic Travel and International Travel. It is recommended to review this information prior to finalizing preparations for upcoming trips.

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. 

Additional Resources

• Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
• Guidance for Veterinarians
• Guidance for Businesses and Industries
• Reopening Guidelines and Documents
• Phone Line Information Resources