COVID-19 Services Scheduled Right Away

 The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in responding to the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) that is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness worldwide. 

Governor Abbott has issued several Executive Orders opening businesses and activities in Texas. Additional information on recommended minimum standard health protocols and other guidance can be found on the Opening the State of Texas page.

State agencies, business owners, employers, and members of the general public can also find workplace-specific recommendations in the following:

Letter to Texas Employers (ENGLISH) ( 5/7/2020)

Letter to Texas Employers (SPANISH) (7/10/2020)

DSHS Interim Guidance for Mail 

COVID-19 Self-Checker

Use this Self-Checker tool to help determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19. You can complete this assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone else, if they are not able.

 During January 1, 2020–May 18, 2020, approximately 1.3 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 83,000 COVID-19–associated deaths were reported in the United States (1). Understanding the demographic and clinical characteristics of decedents could inform medical and public health interventions focused on preventing COVID-19–associated mortality. This report describes decedents with laboratory-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using data from 1) the standardized CDC case-report form (case-based surveillance) (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/reporting-pui.html) and 2) supplementary data (supplemental surveillance), such as underlying medical conditions and location of death, obtained through collaboration between CDC and 16 public health jurisdictions (15 states and New York City). 

What is the difference between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19?

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.

While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. This table compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.

To learn more about COVID-19, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19).

To learn more about flu, visit Influenza (Flu).

•  What you need to know
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Stay at least 6 feet away, both in and out of the water, from people you don’t live with.
• Wear a cloth face covering when you are not in the water.
• Wash your hands often and don’t share items with people you don’t live with.

Before you go

• Use social distancing in and out of the water
• Wear a cloth face covering
• Wash hands often and avoid sharing items
• The places we visit to swim, play, and relax in water include beaches — swim areas in oceans, lakes, and other natural bodies of water — and pools, water playgrounds, and hot tubs. There is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread to people through water in these places.
• In or out of the water, stay at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with
• The virus is thought to spread mostly person-to-person, by respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.