Harris County COVID-19 threat level rises to Red for the third time

The rampant rise in COVID-19 cases has led Harris County officials to raise the COVID-19 threat level to red, the highest and most severe level.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised the threat level to red, or level 1, on Monday amid spiked amounts of hospitalizations and ICU cases.

“Level 1 signifies a severe and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in the County, meaning outbreaks are present and worsening and public health capacity is strained or exceeded,” according to Harris County Public Health.

“We are in the midst of another COVID-19 tsunami,” Hidalgo said. “It’s like nothing we’ve seen before in this pandemic.”

“We owe it to our nurses, doctors, and teachers to take steps to protect ourselves and give them a break. If you have been on the fence about getting vaccinated, now is the time to roll up your sleeve.”

It is not likely that any lockdown measures will take place due to Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order that bans local governments from mandating closures and vaccinations.