HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO
Harris County reduces COVID-19 threat level from red to orange
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo lowered the county’s COVID-19 Threat Level Indicator from Level 1: Red, the system’s highest threat level, to Level 2: Orange, the system’s second-highest threat level, due to a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
VIDEOS: The most powerful, emotional moments from mourners at funeral for Pct. 4 Deputy Kareem Atkins
Monday was a solemn day for the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and the family and friends of Precinct 4 Deputy Kareem Atkins, who who was <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/10/16/harris-county-pct-4-deputy-killed-2-others-injured-after-possible-ambush-at-a-bar-in-north-houston/" target="_blank">shot and killed</a> in mid-October in an ambush outside a north Houston bar. Atkins was laid to rest Monday.
Harris County flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of fallen Pct. 4 Deputy Kareem Atkins
At the request of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Governor Greg Abbott today permitted Texas flags in Harris County to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the life and public service of Harris County Constable Precinct 4 Deputy Karrem Atkins, who was shot and killed Saturday in an <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/10/16/harris-county-pct-4-deputy-killed-2-others-injured-after-possible-ambush-at-a-bar-in-north-houston/" target="_blank">ambush outside a north Houston bar</a>.
Harris County works to expand coronavirus testing system
Houston – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she is spending most of the weekend with officials from the Texas Medical Center and the city to build a testing system that will help the county better understand the scope of the new coronavirus. “One thing we hear a lot from health officials is that they need additional testing capacity to be able to accurately assess what's happening,” Hidalgo said. The city of Houston tweeted Saturday, that the Houston Office of Emergency Management and the Houston Health Department, are preparing for an expanded COVID-19 testing system starting next week and FEMA has offered to assist with one of the two mobile sites. Local officials are working to figure out the logistics of the testing system, but Hidalgo says the goal of these testing sites is to be effective, safe and accessible. You can call it Drive-thru perhaps one will be a drive-thru and one will not be,” Hidalgo said.