TAC has compiled the following information and resources for county government to aid in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please see our updates regarding COVID-19.
Updated 6-2-21
Joint Government Response
County governments are on the front lines protecting communities from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — officially known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. By working with agencies such as the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas counties have played a key role in implementing a state-managed, federally supported response to and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Federal and state information and resources:
Current Cases of COVID-19
Resources from the National Association of Counties (NACo)
Related Legislative Activity
About the Virus and How to Prevent its Spread
- www.coronavirus.gov — A comprehensive CDC website about COVID-19. Details about the virus and its global spread, and resources for communities, health departments, schools and more.
- How COVID-19 is spread, the symptoms, what to do if you think you may have it —Includes info for public, travelers, hospitals and health care workers, labs, public health organizations, first responders and more.
- Interim guidance for business and employers from CDC — Includes recommended strategies for employers to reduce the virus’ spread.
- Interim guidance for mass gatherings or large community events from CDC — Includes tips to prepare before a COVID-19 outbreak hits your community.
- Guidance for businesses and employers from the Small Business Administration (SBA) — Includes tips on how to respond and share facts about the virus with employees.
- Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with COVID-19 — This kit from the National Association of Counties provides a framework for actions local health departments can recommend in their communities to prepare for and mitigate the virus' spread.
Disaster Declaration and Disaster Relief Resources
- Gov. Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34 on March 2, 2021 — GA-34 lifts Abbott's statewide mask mandate and allows all businesses and facilities to open to 100% capacity. It rescinds or supersedes all but two (GA-10 and GA-13) of Abbott's previous executive orders related to COVID-19.
- Executive Order GA-10, issued March 24, 2020 — Requires hospitals to submit daily reports of bed capacity to DSHS, to be shared with the CDC. Also requires local health departments and other testing facilities to submit daily test results to DSHS, to be shared with the CDC.
- Executive Order GA-13, issued March 29, 2020 — Prohibits the release on bond of potentially violent individuals from county and municipal jails during the pandemic.
- Disaster Declaration, issued March 13, 2020 — Gov. Abbott certified that COVID-19 represented an imminent threat to Texas and declared a state of disaster for all 254 Texas counties.
- Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce from the Office of Homeland Security – Identifies essential critical infrastructure workers during COVID-19 response.
- Resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Includes information on emergency declarations, best practices, fact sheets and assistance measures.
- Proclamation and press release from the office of Gov. Greg Abbott declaring a State of Disaster.
- Centers for Disease Control to Award Over $560 Million to State & Local Jurisdictions in Support of COVID-19 Response — Details on resources available to state, local, tribal and territorial entities.
- Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus from the SBA — Information about low-interest federal loans available to small businesses in areas with an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
- Statue Suspensions Relating to County Responsibilities:
- Other Statute Suspensions:
Attorney General Guidance
County Budgeting Resources
Judicial and Court Resources
Communication Tools
Cybersecurity Information
Additional Information
Texas Association of Counties Events and COVID-19
TAC will be reviewing event dates as pandemic conditions change. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 (the disease caused by the new coronavirus) outbreak in Texas and coordinating with hotel staff and local emergency management officials in our event locations so that we have the most updated information on the outbreak in those areas.
Should there be changes, we will contact all registered attendees via email and post updates on our website. Thank you for your patience.