COVID-19 Information & Resources

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:

• The White House's seven-point plan to beat COVID-19
• Economic assistance available through the U.S. Treasury Department
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Texas Division of Emergency Management
• Texas Department of State Health Services
  • COVID-19 vaccine information
  • COVID-19 testing information

Current Cases of COVID-19

• Texas Cases — Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) 
• U.S. Cases — Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 
• Texas and County Cases – A tracking tool by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
• County Cases – An interactive map by The Associated Press

Resources from the National Association of Counties (NACo)

• County Governments and COVID-19: Key Issues and Resources – A legislative brief that summarizes key federal policy priorities, the county role and response, impact on county budgets, federal actions and more.

Related Legislative Activity

• Trump signs massive measure funding the government, COVID relief – On Dec. 27, President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package.

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:
  • Registration and Title Requirements, Parking Placards, Temporary Registration Permits
  • Open Meeting Laws Subject to Temporary Suspension
• Other Statute Suspensions:
  • STAAR Testing Requirements
  • Student Work-Study Programs Regulations
  • Allowance of Alcohol Industry Trucks to Deliver Grocery Supplies
  • Other Waived Trucking Regulations
  • Expiration Dates for Driver Licenses
  • Certain Regulations for Telemedicine
  • Proclamation Allowing for Postponement of Local Elections
  • Secretary of State Elections Advisory: Actions for May 2 Uniform Election Date
  • Residential Eviction Proceedings

Attorney General Guidance

• Guidance for Houses of Worship During the COVID-19 Crisis — Official guidance regarding the effect of the governor’s Executive Order GA-14 on religious services conducted in churches, congregations and houses of worship.

County Budgeting Resources

• COVID-19 County Budget Timeline Questions and Items of Interest — Fact sheet from TAC that covers several  FAQs about county budgets.

Judicial and Court Resources

• Guidance from the National Center for State Courts — Information including how COVID-19 is affecting courts, how courts are handling potential dangers and more.
• Court Procedures for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus — Information provided by the Texas Judicial Branch.
• Texas Justice Court Training Center updates and resources – Information about conducting magistrations, eviction case issues,  inquest issues and more.

Communication Tools

• Video conferencing software offered by TAC — Videoconferencing software free to counties until Sept. 30.
• Video, social media toolkit and printable materials from the DSHS — Tools to share info on prevention, symptoms and what to do if you are sick.
• The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America: 15 Days to Slow the Spread — On March 17, President Trump announced these new guidelines to address COVID-19.

Cybersecurity Information

• Cyber scam alert from Attorney General Ken Paxton – Tips to avoid cyber scams during the Coronavirus emergency.
• COVID-19 Exploited by Malicious Cyber Actors — An April 8, 2020, alert from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Center.

Additional Information

• Key federal agency contacts for state and local officials, and pertinent resources and guidance from federal agencies — Names, emails and phone numbers for primary points of contact at federal agencies and links to resources and guidance, provided by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

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.