CHIEF SAM PENA

HOUSTON Houston Fire Capt. Tommy Searcy, 45, died Tuesday after a monthslong battle with coronavirus, the Fire Department confirmed to KPRC 2. His death will be classified as a line-of-duty death by HFD, the union wrote on Facebook. We are praying for his three daughters, Kaylin, Krista and Kinley, and his twin brother, Tony, who is a senior captain in HFD. All of us @houstonpolice mourn the loss of another one of our HFD colleagues.

HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that the citys coronavirus positivity rate was headed in the right direction as school districts in the area continue to reopen. Turner said the Houston Health Department is reporting 158 new coronavirus cases and eight additional virus-related deaths as of Monday. He said the number of new COVID-19 cases is low and he was proud to say the city is moving in the right direction. As of Monday, Turner announced that the citys positivity rate is 7.8%, which is a significant decrease compared to last weeks positivity rate at 9.8%. Houston Health Departments Dr. David Persse said it is important for the positivity rate to stay low ahead of school reopenings and virus season.

HOUSTON The Houston Fire Department is asking for prayers for one of their own. Leroy Lucio, a 30-year veteran of the department, is in the ICU with COVID-19 at a San Antonio hospital, according to HFD Chief Samuel Pea. Pea asked all Houstonians to come together to pray and send positive energy to Lucio and his family. HFD says 175 Houston firefighters are currently in quarantine and 59 firefighters have tested positive. Keep him in your prayers, Pea said during a news conference Wednesday.

HOUSTON A Houston firefighter is in an Intensive Care Unit after contracting coronavirus, according to the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. A crew member at his station also tested positive, the union tweeted Sunday. Please stay safe.A Houston firefighter is hospitalized in ICU w/COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/z0HGjeCpii Houston Firefighters (@FirefightersHOU) June 21, 2020Half an hour before the tweet from the firefighters union, Houston Fire Chief Sam Pea said he was working to confirm that the firefighter was in the ICU. He tweeted that the crew member in question was an HFD captain.