What you need to know

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  1. ** IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT CALLING 911 **

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

During this situation and any other public health concern, it is crucial to ensure you are receiving information from legitimate sources. Beware of inaccurate information online during emergencies.

Alert 1a

COVID-19 and Mosquito Bites

Everything we currently know about SARS-CoV-2 transmission indicates that mosquitos cannot transmit or spread SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus known to cause COVID-19 illness. Researchers have reported that when they fed mosquitos coronavirus-infected blood, these mosquitos did not become infected and were not able to transmit the replicating virus. These studies included using common mosquitos such as the Culex species known to cause West Nile Virus as well as the Aedes species are known to cause Zika and Dengue.

Importance of Getting the Flu Vaccine this year during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The CDC has emphasized the added importance of getting a flu vaccine during the 2020-2021 flu season because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While it is unclear how the pandemic will affect the flu season, CDC is preparing for COVID-19 and seasonal flu to spread at the same time. Co-circulation could place a tremendous burden on our health care system and result in many illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Getting a flu vaccine is something easy people can do to protect themselves and their loved ones and to help reduce the spread of flu this fall and winter. The flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19. But vaccination has many other benefits and is part of a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce the burden of flu, which can flatten the curve of respiratory illnesses overall, help protect essential workers from flu, and preserve medical resources for the care of patients with COVID-19. October is a good time to get vaccinated, but as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination can continue—even in January or later. The more people who are vaccinated against the flu; the more people are protected from the flu.

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu. It protects the person getting vaccinated and the people around them. Flu vaccines have been shown to prevent flu illness and reduce the risk of hospitalizations and deaths. Flu vaccination is proven to help protect pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions while reducing the burden of flu on our communities and the health care system. This year, especially, it will be most important to protect those at higher risk for flu complications. Many of these people are also at high risk for COVID-19 illness or serious outcomes. It is also important for caregivers and essential workers to protect themselves and those around them from flu by getting a flu vaccine.

[Source: CDC website: CDC 2020-2021 Flu Vaccine Campaign Kickoff, October 1, 2020]



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Know Your Risk Chart

The Texas Medical Association released a ranking of certain common activities (like opening the mail, pumping gasoline, attending social events, etc...) and their asociated risk of contracting COVID-19. The rankings were evaluated by physicians from the Texas Medical Association’s COVID-19 Task Force and Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Remember

The best way to prevent infection is to take steps to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the steps you take to avoid the flu. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of any respiratory virus, including COVID-19:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. 
  • Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Online App for Contact Tracing

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) uses a public health process called contact tracing to help slow and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Texas.

Contact tracing is a method used to find and follow up with people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. People who were around this individual are called contacts. By tracing the contacts of COVID-19 cases, having them self-isolate, if necessary, and testing, when appropriate, we can reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Important message about calling 911

LOOK OUT FOR THE HELPERS THAT HELP YOU!

When calling 911 for an emergency:

  • It is critical to tell the dispatcher if you or the person or person’s involved are ill, have a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing

This will allow us to respond with the appropriate equipment and are able to keep our first responders responding within the community. Our resources are limited and critical. Your assistance is needed looking out for the helpers that help you.

  1. Authoritative Sources of Information

    For accurate and reliable information, please be sure to visit the following resources. They are the authoritative sources of information:

    Please also check the Fort Bend County COVID-19 Response Hub

  1. About Case Reporting

    The city of Sugar Land does not have its own municipal health department. Fort Bend County Health and Human Services serves as the local health department for the city. The State requires laboratories, hospitals, and health professionals to report positive test results of COVID-19 to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or the local health department. If a positive test result is reported directly to DSHS, that information is then shared with with the local health department.

    Fort Bend County’s COVID-19 Response Hub is the authoritative resource for official case information.

  1. Wear that Face Mask
  1. Stop the Spread of Disinformation