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UPDATE: Follow the Houston Chronicle's coronavirus live blog for Friday, March 20, here.

10:10 p.m.

A couple who tested positive for COVID-19 attended mass March 8 at St. Angela Merici Parish in Missouri City, the church announced late Thursday on social media.

The husband collapsed during the 8 a.m. service and was helped out of the church, according to the post.

A group of people came to his aid. EMS was called and treated him for dehydration. At the time he was asymptomatic, the post said.

"We have already notified all but one those individuals who came to the parishioner’s aid of the COVID-19 diagnosis," according to the post, signed by Father John E. Cahoon. "If anyone has contact information for Christina Carritne (who also assisted at the scene), please call Margaret Myers at the parish office at 281-778-0400, as soon as possible."

The couple had been sitting in the 7th row from the front of the church, which will be thoroughly cleaned a sanitized before reopening. The post encouraged anyone seated in the area during the service to review all CDC recommendations and contact a health provider.

Cahoon said he and another priest are in self-quarantine.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust

9:44 p.m.

Two DPS employees have tested positive for COVID-19, the agency announced, without releasing any other details.

"Public safety is our number one concern, and the department will work in conjunction with public health authorities to provide any additional information necessary to notify the public of these positive cases," according to a statement.

The announcement came after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the agency earlier this week to temporarily waive license renewal requirements, causing crowds at some Houston-area offices. On Wednesday night, Abbott ordered that all the offices close.

9:18 p.m.

Texas Medical Center hospitals are preparing for a surge in patients by suspending elective surgeries, reports the Chronicle's Todd Ackerman.

Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, Baylor St. Luke's, Harris Health and Texas Children's Wednesday night informed their staff and patients of the new policy, which should be fully phased in by Monday and stay in effect until at least mid-April.

“We realize that this change will cause ripple effects across people’s schedules and lives as well as across our own operations,” said a letter to Memorial Hermann Health System doctors and staff jointly signed by President Dr. David Callender and Chief Physician Executive Dr. Jamie McCarthy. “Our goal (is) to take the most proactive and preventative measures possible to ensure we can protect the health of everyone.”

9:09 p.m.

Texas beaches appear to be one of the only remaining refuges for people attempting to escape the new coronavirus, reports the Chronicle's Nick Powell.

While Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed an executive order banning gatherings of more than 10 people and closing all gyms, bars and restaurants until April 3, many public beaches continue to be open for business.

The state General Land Office, which has jurisdiction over all public beaches, has advised local governments to make a decision regarding those closure at their discretion.

Read more at HoustonChronicle.com.

9:03 p.m.

What do the first 50 COVID-19 patients in the Houston-area tell us? An analysis by the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith found that they reflect a national trend:

People of all ages are at risk of infection, not just older adults.

Of the first 50 local cases, only 20 are 60 to 80. The youngest patient is somewhere between the ages of 15-25. Four others are in their 20s. Five in their 30s. Thirteen in their 40s. Eight in their 50s.

“That feels like the kind of dispersion we’re likely to see,” said Dr. Clive Fields, chief medical officer of VillageMD.

Read more at HoustonChronicle.com.

8:39 p.m.

Humble ISD students and parents are starting to adapt to the districts new distance learning format, reports the Chronicle's Savannah Mehrtens.

Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said the overall reactions to the coronavirus containment methods and strategies remind her of how the district responded to Hurricane Harvey. Teachers are working across different online platforms to provide educational resources while counselors are helping students cope with what might be a scary situation.

Read more on HoustonChronicle.com.

8:30 p.m.

Montgomery County reported its ninth positive case of COVID-19, involving a man in his 50s.

The patient lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is hospitalized in critical but stable condition. His travel history is under investigation.

This brings the regional total to 71 cases.

8:14 p.m.

The Galveston County Clerk’s Office will close its office at the League City Annex and reduce staff at the main office at the Galveston County Justice Center, effective Friday until further notice, officials said.

The clerk's office is taking additional precautions, including:

Please do not bring in children for in person service to minimize risk of possible COVID-19 spread

Please try to limit the number of people you bring with you for in person service

If you are sick or have recently been exposed to someone who is sick, please do not make a physical appearance in the office, call 409-766-2200 to speak with a County Clerk’s Office representative

8:04 p.m.

During a virtual town hall, Gov. Greg Abbott said there may be a decision as early as tomorrow on postponing the May 26 Texas primary runoff, reports the Chronicle's Taylor Goldenstein.

NEW: On postponing the Texas primary runoff on May 26, Abbott says: "We may be making a decision as early as tomorrow." — Taylor Goldenstein (@taygoldenstein) March 20, 2020

7:48 p.m.

Lone Star College plans to cancel all spring 2020 graduation ceremonies, previously scheduled May 6-9, the school announced.

“This was not an easy decision to make,” said LSC Chancellor Stephen C. Head. “I know what a special time this is for our students, but given the circumstances, we felt it prudent to err on the side of caution."

Head added that the school is working on "alternative arrangements" to help commemorate and celebrate the graduates.

Right now all LSC facilities are closed to students until April 13. LSC online classes that started before spring break will resume March 23.

"Discussions are also ongoing as to which classes will be moved online and which will remain face to face and that information will be shared with students by April 10," according to the announcement.

7:39 p.m.

A shortage of protective equipment, including surgical gowns and masks, forced the city of Houston to delay opening its drive-thru testing sites, one of which is expected to open tomorrow, the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer reports.

Because of the shortage, Houston health care workers’ are limited in their ability to draw and analyze testing samples and determine how many people have been infected, a major roadblock to fighting the disease.

Once they receive enough gear, Houston and Harris County officials intend to operate four drive-thru testing sites: two in the city and two in the county.

Read more at HoustonChronicle.com.

7:31 p.m.

Read more about the scene today at the first drive-thru testing site in the Houston area, reported by the Chronicle's Samantha Ketterer.

The line outside the Acres Homes center at times stretched 3 miles long.

It began to form at least two hours before the testing started at 10 a.m. Drivers slowy inched up, and some people stepped out of their cars for a smoke break as the line stalled. Testing was expected to lasted until 8 p.m. and and resumes 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

7:25 p.m.

The City of Conroe Parks and Recreation Department has suspended all programs and classes indefinitely at the C.K. Recreation Center, Conroe Aquatic Center and the Oscar Johnson, Jr. Community Center, reports the Chronicle's Catherine Dominguez.

The centers themselves are also closed until further notice as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

The action comes after both the city and county issued disaster declarations regarding the new coronavirus forcing the closure of schools, business and canceling dozens of public and private events.

6:58 p.m.

Harris County Public Health just released new details about its five most recent COVID-19 cases.

The five patients are:

A 40-50 year-old woman, who lives in the northwest quadrant of Harris County (contact with a positive COVID-19 individual)

A 50-60 year-old man, who lives in the northwest quadrant of Harris County (travel-related)

A 40-50 year-old woman, who lives in the southeast quadrant of Harris County (travel-related)

A 60-70 year-old woman, who lives in the northwest quadrant of Harris County (travel-related)

A 20-30 year-old woman, who lives in the northwest quadrant of Harris County (travel-related)

6:50 p.m.

The U.S.-Mexico border could be closed to "non-essential" travel as early as Friday, in an effort to thwart the ongoing pandemic, reports the Chronicle's Benjamin Wermund.

The White House is "talking to the Mexican government, so it doesn’t become a one-way street,” U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, told Hearst Newspapers. “They are talking to the Mexicans and hopefully this will be done in a way that the U.S. and Mexico can agree on what restrictions.”

Cuellar, who said he has been in close contact with Customs and Border Patrol leadership about the potential closure, said “if anything happens … we should hear about it by” Friday.

6:42 p.m.

For those still without hand sanitizer, some Houston-area distilleries are coming to the rescue, reports the Chronicle's Emma Balter.

The Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) just relaxed its rules to make it easier — and faster — for distilleries to produce their own hand sanitizer products.

The latest distillery entering the field is Grateful Dane Distilling, which makes rum in Bellaire. On March 21, from 1 to 5 p.m., owner Ian Mook will be giving away two bottles of hand sanitizer for every bottle of rum purchased, as well as selling the hand sanitizer separately, at cost.

6:38 p.m.

Four coronavirus patients in Fort Bend County have recovered, officials said in a tweet.

The county had reported 19 total COVID-19 cases.

6:36 p.m.

The Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals, which were shut down after a worker was tested positive for COVID-19, will resume normal operations Friday, reports the Chronicle's Erin Douglas.

The Port Authority says it conducted an investigation regarding the worker’s potential exposure, finding that his exposure to others was “fairly limited.”

All of those who the worker was in contact with dare in self-quarantine.Vessel operations will resume this evening at 7 pm at both container terminals. Normal business operations will resume Friday morning.

6:28 p.m.

Today was the single biggest increase of known cases of the novel coronavirus in Texas, jumping from 200 cases to 306 as of this time, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis.

The number of deaths due to the disease also nearly doubled, with five Texans now dead from the virus. Spikes were seen in the major metropolitan areas, with Dallas County reporting 20 new cases, and one death while Harris County jumped from 28 to 35 cases, and one death.

The number of known cases in the Greater Houston region now stands at 70. Testing has increased across the state, with more than 2,300 people having been tested, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

At this time, there are:

306 cases statewide (single biggest day increase)

5 deaths

70 regional cases

2,335 people tested statewide

872 tested in public labs

1,463 in private

6:23 p.m.

There may be trouble in the homebuying market.

Large homebuyers RedfinNow and Opendoor have both announced they have paused their purchase of homes in response to the increasingly disruptive effects of the novel coronavirus, reports the Chronicle's Rebecca Schuetz. Both are part of a cohort of companies known as iBuyers, for their instant online offers to buy homes directly from sellers.

Their decisions to temporarily stop purchasing homes flagged potential issues for the broader homebuying market.

“With whole cities shutting down nearly all commerce, no one can say what a fair price is right now, so we’re not making any instant offers,” said Redfin’s chief executive, Glenn Kelman, in an emailed statement.

Opendoor cited fears that the need for social distancing would make it difficult for the many in-person aspects of the homebuying transaction, such as home assessments and repairs.

“Following the latest guidance from federal, state and local governments and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our employees, partners and customers, we are temporarily pausing new instant home offers,” said an Opendoor spokesperson in an emailed statement.

6:17 p.m.

A Texas A&M University student has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Brazos County, where the university resides, to four, according to university and county health officials.

Texas A&M President Michael K. Young wrote in a letter to the university that county health officials notified the college that a female student, in her 20s, contracted the virus after traveling to New York. University officials confirmed that the student the did not return to campus after her travels.

“We send our best wishes for recovery and are supporting our student and the health authorities,” Young wrote.

6:12 p.m.

More Texans are looking into unemployment programs -- so much that it's slowing the Texas Workforce Commission website, reports the Chronicle's Erin Douglas.

The website, which provides information about state workforce programs including unemployment insurance, saw a huge bump in traffic on Tuesday, with 40,000 visitors, and Wednesday, with 50,000 visitors.

Typically, the site has around 10,000 visitors per day. That overwhelmed the website, at times not loading, and at other times users experienced slow functionality.

“We recognize the inconvenience this is causing for our customers and are working quickly with our agency partner, the Texas Department of Information Resources, to resolve issues and accommodate the increased number of users on TWC’s website,” said Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the Texas Workforce Commission.

The TWC increased the memory to accommodate the number of users on the server, and the state will make additional changes to help remedy the issue early Friday between 3 and 4:30 a.m.

6:07 p.m.

Houston ISD parents will be able to connect with district staff and educational materials through a new online portal, expected to launch March 31, reports the Chronicle's Jacob Carpenter.

District employees will spend the next week working on the portal, called HISD at H.O.M.E., and identifying families in need of various forms of support, such as technology access and food. HISD staff will be expected to continue working remotely throughout the closure, which will last through at least April 10.

“What I’m asking not only trustees, but our staff members and parents, is to be patient with us as we work through pushing out online learning,” Lathan said.

6:03 p.m.

Montgomery County reported its eighth positive COVID-19 case, the 70th in the Houston region.

The patient, a woman in her 40s, lives in southeast Montgomery County. She recently traveled to Germany and is in isolation at home.

5:56 p.m.

Classes at the University of Houston will be offered remotely for the rest of the semester, according to an announcement.

Graduation ceremonies have been postponed until late summer/early fall. Also, the university implemented a 30-day "hiring pause" in order to avoid new financial obligations as the economy continues to break down.

"The Board of Regents has asked us to not take any new financial obligations because they (and we, too) are witnessing layoffs and pay cuts in almost all businesses around us," according to a university statement. "To comply with this directive and to be committed to the people already on the payroll, I have asked vice presidents to put a 30-day pause on signing off on any kind of new financial obligation including hires, contracts, procurement, etc."

5:45 p.m.

Getting fresh air is one of the few reasons to leave the house these days.

The Chronicle's Julie Garcia compiled a list of outdoor spots to get away from the noise amid the spreading coronavirus pandemic.

Remember, practice staying 6 feet away from others. Also check for park and trail closures.

5:35 p.m.

Mattress Firm is furloughing workers in response to the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic, reports the Chronicle's Paul Takahashi.

The Houston-based company on Thursday said it furloughed an undisclosed number of employees at its stores, distribution centers and corporate office; suspended some benefits, including disaster pay and paid time off for vacations and personal days; and reduced salaries and store hours at some locations.

Furloughed employees will continue to receive health care benefits.

5:20 p.m.

The Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office will close at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Anyone who wants to file documents may do so electronically or leave them in a drop box at the main entrance of the Fort Bend Justice Center, according to a statement.

"We encourage the utilization of other means available to minimize public contact and to observe social distancing rules," according to a statement. "These methods include telephones, emails, faxes and a strategically places document drop box."

5:11 p.m.

More federal money is coming for Texas health care providers, reports the Chronicle's Gwendolyn Wu.

A coronavirus relief bill signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump could be the government intervention Texas’ hospitals need as they hurry to respond to the costs of testing and caring for patients who contract COVID-19, the sickness caused by the new coronavirus.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act will infuse $104 billion into federal and state emergency response, allow federal Medicaid assistance funds to reimburse hospitals for the care of uninsured and Medicaid patients and increase Medicaid allotments for each state through 2021.

Read more on HoustonChronicle.com.

5:02 p.m.

The city of Galveston is closing all beach park public service amenities due to the coronavirus outbreak, reports the Chronicle's Nick Powell.

The order goes into effect as of 5 p.m. Thursday, and includes amenities at East Beach, Stewart Beach, Seawall Urban Park, Dellanera RV Park and Seawolf Park.

"We’re asking the public to postpone their next visit to the island until the curve has been flattened,” a city spokeswoman said in a statement.

4:46 p.m.

During an afternoon news conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced one of two city testing sites will open tomorrow, focusing on first responders and medical workers, reports the Chronicle's Dylan McGuinness.

Mayor @SylvesterTurner holding press conference at City Hall focusing on millenials. He wants to emphasize they're impacted as well.



"We have felt a false sense of security," his daughter, Ashley, says.



Live updates are below:https://t.co/su1z4mrYFq — Dylan McGuinness (@dylmcguinness) March 19, 2020

"And then we will scale up," he said.

The site is located at Butler Stadium, 13755 S Main. Tests are free, but they don't have enough equipment to test everyone, he said.

Turner added that going forward, the city will offer a website where people with symptoms can register for a test time.

4:32 p.m.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for the new coronavirus, reports ESPN.

Payton is the first NFL member to test positive, according to ESPN.

He said he is fatigued, yet optimistic, and resting at home.

4:10 p.m.

Two of Montgomery County's seven COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized in critical condition, including the Patton Village police officer who attended a rodeo cook-off, according to a news release.

The officer caught the virus through a community spread, officials said. The other hospitalized patient, a woman in her 40s, traveled to New Orleans.

The other five patients are recovering in isolation at home.

3:56 p.m.

Five additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Harris County, Public Health Executive Director Umair Shah said during a press conference.

That brings the county's total to 24, he said. He said totals are rising as more test results come back from the state and private labs.

"It's hard to know many more cases we have," Shah said, emphasizing that there is evidence of community spread in the county.

3:48 p.m.

First time claims for unemployment insurance in the Houston region have more than tripled this month compared to last year, data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows.

According to the Chronicle's Erin Douglas, nearly 26,800 people have filed for unemployment insurance so far in the Houston region since March 1. Last year at this time, only about 8,000 people had filed a claim.

3:39 p.m.

Fort Bend County reported seven more positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the county's total to 19, officials said.

The seven patients include people with domestic and international travel histories.

The cases include:

A woman in her 40s with international travel who has moderate symptoms and is in isolation at home.

A woman in her 50s with domestic travel to a region with widespread local disease. She has moderate symptoms and is in isolation at home.

A man in his 40s with domestic travel and mild to moderate symptoms. He is in isolation at home.

A minor child with domestic travel and mild symptoms who is in isolation at home.

A man in his 40s with domestic travel and moderate symptoms who is in isolation at home.

A woman in her 30s with domestic travel and moderate symptoms who is in isolation at home.

A man in his 30s with moderate symptoms who is recovering in isolation at home.

3:20 p.m. The 11th Houstonian has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said Thursday afternoon.

A woman in her 50s to 60s has been hospitalized after contracting the illness. She has no known travel history or exposure to prior COVID-19 cases, according to a Houston Health Department news release.

There are 57 known coronavirus cases in the Houston region, 30 of which are in Harris County. Among those cases, one person — a man in his 90s — has died.

Health officials said new cases would be announced daily at 3 p.m.

2:46 p.m. Harris County has had its first death of a person with the novel coronavirus. A man in his 80s, among the positive cases reported on Wednesday, died at a hospital.

He was a resident of a nursing home prior to being hospitalized. The name of the nursing home was not disclosed.

The man is the 5th known death in Texas related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the first in the greater Houston region.

On Sunday, a man in his 90s died in Matagorda County. Since then, three others have died in Collin, Dallas and Tarrant County.

2:42 p.m. Rough weather heading for Houston on Friday has prompted Houston ISD to postpone Friday’s curbside meal pickup for Monday, district officials said.

A cold front with rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds is scheduled to blanket the region late in the morning through the afternoon, which would have meant a wet day for anyone lining up outdoors to receive meals. Anywhere from half-an-inch to a full inch of rain is predicted to fall.

The district has been offering food at 39 campuses, with one pickup date and time window for each location. All families can receive food, regardless of whether their children attend HISD schools. The district is allowing families to walk to sites, though they must stay 6 feet apart from each other.

The pickups scheduled for Friday will be held Monday instead. No pickups are available during the weekend.

2:34 p.m. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is considering the release of a “small percentage of inmates” through personal recognizance bonds to help reduce the risk of novel coronavirus infections inside the Harris County Jail.

The Chronicle’s Gabrielle Banks reports that more than 8,500 people are currently housed inside the jail and thousands more are moving in and out of the building and back to their communities each day. The number of inmates that could be released are in the hundreds, rather than the thousands, according to officials.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez fears an outbreak of COVID-19 in the jail could be catastrophic to the region and overwhelm hospitals’ limited capacity to treat patients. To tackle this, he is seeking the compassionate releases of vulnerable people who pose a low risk to public safety.

For that to happen, judges would need to sign off.

An inmate could be considered for release if they’re elderly, if they suffer from another infectious disease or respiratory condition and if they are awaiting trial on a non-violent offense.

“Jails and prisons are fertile ground for the spread of infectious disease,” Gonzales said.

1:48 p.m. Some companies are trying to make things easier for consumers at risk of losing their job amid the mounting pandemic and weakening economy.

For drivers of recently-purchased Ford vehicles, Chronicle's Paul Takahashi reports the Detroit-based automakers is offering customers six months of payment relief in the form of a three-month discount and a three-month delay in starting the first payment.

The company also announced its offering zero percent interest for 84 months on most 2019 model-year vehicles.

Loan lender Ally Financial on Thursday said it would allow existing customers to defer auto loan payments for up to 120 days, and give new customers the ability to delay the first loan payment for 90 days.

1:39 p.m. Jury duty through the Harris County District Clerk's Office has now been suspended through April 30, officials said Thursday.

The announcement is a change from the original March 31 suspension, which the Chronicle's Samantha Ketterer reported on earlier this week.

The change means no trials will take place until jury duty summonses has been restored.

1:33 p.m. Mattress Mack is stepping up to help Houston families who may be struggling to get a bite to eat because of COVID-19.

Until 7 p.m. Thursday, the Houston icon is giving away free grab-and-go meals at his Gallery Furniture store at 6006 North Freeway.

In a video posted to Twitter, McIngvale says families and children in need can receive free sandwiches, fruit and juice at the pickup location in the parking lot of the store.

"It’s such a pleasure to help bring unity in the community because in Texas, tough times never last, tough Texans do," McIngvale says in the video.

Join Mattress Mack today, Thursday 3/19, at the GF 6006 N. Freeway showroom where kids & senior citizens get a FREE Grab & Go Meal from 10am-7pm! It’s such a pleasure to help bring unity in the community because in Texas, tough times never last, tough Texans do! pic.twitter.com/UGhVuNuyIa — MattressMack (@MattressMack) March 19, 2020

1:18 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a sweeping statewide order -- part of a public health disaster declaration, the first of its kind since 1901 -- limiting the gathering of 10 people or more and forcing bars and restaurants to close starting Friday at midnight.

The order, which closes Texas schools, is effective through April 3 at the earliest. The move comes days after at least 20 states and territories across the U.S. have adopted restricted bars and restaurants and the majority, 43, have shut down schools, according to the National Governors Association.

“Let’s muster our traditional Texas spirit, and together defeat COVID-19,” Abbott said.

Abbott banned sit-down dining and drinking at bars, restaurants and food courts and closes gyms, but "highly encouraged" the use of drive-thru and delivery options.

The order also states that most visitations at nursing homes should end. Chronicle reporter Emily Foxhall previously wrote about Houston-area families struggling to deal with not being able to visit their relatives in nursing homes.

The move comes days after at least 20 states and territories across the U.S. have adopted restricted bars and restaurants and the majority, 43, have shut down schools, according to the National Governors Association.

12:48 p.m. A Dallas County man became the fourth Texan to die from the novel coronavirus, local health officials reported.

The man, who lived in Richardson and was in his 60s, was found dead at his home and was one of 20 new positive cases in Dallas County.

Across the state, the number of positive cases grew to 263 as 32 counties have reported cases. In the Greater Houston region, there are 56 known cases of the virus, including a worker at a Port of Houston terminal that was recently diagnosed.

The state has ramped up its testing for the disease, with more than 2,300 people having been tested, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

12:31 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said a shelter-in-place order, such as the one in San Francisco, would be weighed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

She said the county must keep options open and be prepared to implement more drastic measures that may be needed to prevent a surge in cases, reports Chronicle’s Zach Despart. She said her team is studying the effectiveness of measures taken by other cities and countries.

“We have got to be flexible. We have got to be smart. We can’t be catching up,” Hidalgo said. “If we do the exact same thing they’ve done in other places, where they’ve already overwhelmed the health care system, we know where we’re headed.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester on Tuesday said “there will be no shelter in place” for the city.

At least 16 counties in the San Francisco Bay area are under shelter-in-place orders, which mandate the closure of most businesses and urge residents to stay at home except for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy.

New York Mayor Bill DiBlasio said he is considering a similar order for that city.

12:15 p.m. Barbours and Bayport have been identified as the Port of Houston terminals that closed after a truck driver with access to the sites tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Chronicle's Erin Douglas reports the terminals closed Wednesday night.

Barbours Cut and Bayport handle 70 percent of the container cargo that travels through the port’s terminals, according to port spokesperson Lisa Ashley.

11:17 a.m. Parks in Houston and throughout Texas remain open amid the pandemic but with caveats.

The nice evening on Wednesday brought families to the arboretum in Memorial Park to admire the idyllic trails and turtles as a way to get out of the house. But facilities there have since closed to keep people away from each other.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department followed suit with changes by limiting operations at its recreational facilities. Beginning at noon Thursday, the state agency will be limiting park programming and closing public access to park headquarters, visitor centers and park stores.

The department’s director, Carter Smith, says they have tried to keep the parks open through Spring Break, but the changes are imperative for safety reasons. The parks will be suspending all cash transactions where feasible. Visitors are encouraged to use self-pay stations, and the online reservation system and credit card transactions.

Other reduced services include the suspension of equipment rentals and interpretive programs. These changes will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

11:09 a.m. The line for free COVID-19 testing at United Memorial Medical Center kicked off to a sluggish start at 10:42 a.m.

Dr. Joseph Varon, chief medical officer at UMMC, said he hopes to have 2,000 people tested on Thursday, but he doesn’t think that will happen. Testing was taking about 5 to 10 minutes per car at first.

Varon hopes to have 5,000 people tested next week.

Test results should come back anywhere from four hours to a full day, he continued.

Chronicle photographer Mark Mulligan saw one woman with a bad cough being pulled from the line and placed in protective gear. She was slated to be admitted to the hospital, Varon said.

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“This is the real thing,” Varon said of the woman.

10:28 a.m. Katy ISD's Legacy Stadium will serve as a testing site for the novel coronavirus with support from federal and local officials.

In a statement released Thursday morning, district officials said the site is not yet operational but health officials will provide more details about its opening in the coming days. Legacy Stadium is located at 1830 Katyland Drive in Katy. It is slated to run seven days a week, for a least 30 days.

People who visit the site must be referred by their healthcare provider and have a healthcare notification in order to be tested. The site will not be open to random testing, and Katy ISD officials asked people not to show up without a referral because it could put others at risk and cause delays.

Those who are directed to the site must remain in their vehicles and will not receive medical counseling or services onsite. Testing will consist of a nasal swab.

Katy ISD police officers and other law enforcement will secure the drive-through testing site and provide traffic control.

10:07 a.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that all 16 justices of the peace agreed to suspend evictions in light of the coronavirus emergency.

Both Travis and Bexar county judges had already declared a halt to evictions. Harris County left it up to the discretion of each justice of the peace. Earlier in the week, only one judge, Jeremy Brown, suspended evictions. More and more judges signed on after advocacy group pressure.

In Maryland, the governor forbade courts from evicting tenants able to prove that their inability to pay rent was a result of the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would suspend evictions. However, the suspension only applies to public housing — not privately owned, HUD-subsidized housing or tenants who lease from a private landlord.

9:53 a.m. A worker at a Port of Houston terminal has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and that terminal, as well as another, have been closed amid cleanup, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said.

During Thursday morning news conference, Hidalgo said she was unsure when the terminals would reopen and that officials were trying to minimize impact on trade. The closure would likely last days, rather than weeks, officials said.

Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo said the employee was a truck driver and that his path of interaction was being investigated.

"He spent a lot of time in the truck alone, which is good news," Campo said.

The port worker is among the 56 COVID-19 cases to be reported in the Houston region.

9:19 a.m. By 7:30 a.m., more than 20 people were in line to get a free COVID-19 test at United Memorial Medical Center. With about an hour to go until the testing clinic opens at 10 a.m., Chronicle photographer Mark Mulligan found a mile-long line of people waiting with their cars along West Tidwell and then snaking onto Yale Street.

Angie and Hezekiah Israel were among those waiting.

Angie is pregnant and her breathing has been different, she said. The couple just wants to be on the safe side.

Another person waiting in line, Jose Mateo, said he had a high fever and was coughing with a sore throat. His urgent care would not test him, he said.

9:05 a.m. Social distancing has been tough on families with loved ones who are among the most vulnerable to the illness -- and in nursing homes.



Mechelle Alvarado told Chronicle's Emily Foxhall that she visiting her father daily until two weeks ago when nursing homes across the nation began restricting visitors to protect their residents from the quickly-spreading novel coronavirus. The experience has been isolating for her father, a retired Marine.

The father and daughter stay in touch through phone calls and video chats.

“He wants to get out, but he understands that he can’t,” Alvarado said. “I know where he is, and I know he’s safe, so I’m OK.”

8:35 a.m. As of Thursday morning, Texas has 203 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with 53 of those in the greater Houston area.

Three people have died in Matagorda, Collin and Tarrant County.

Data journalist Jordan Rubio is keeping track of statewide COVID-19 cases, as well as regional, and will release updated numbers again at noon.

8:10 a.m. Crowds were inevitable Wednesday afternoon at a northwest Houston DPS office, where some Houstonians were simply trying to update their address for their taxes. Chronicle staff writer St. John Barned-Smith, during a visit yesterday, spotted at least 40 people, well over the 10-person limit that government officials have recommended for social distancing.

“I feel like I'm taking a bath in virus soup,” said Keren Daniel, who was among the crowd. “I'll wait outside.”

It wasn't until 9 p.m. that Gov. Greg Abbott's office ordered the closure of DPS offices.

8:00 a.m. The number of novel coronavirus cases in the Houston area went beyond 50 on Wednesday night as local and federal leaders promised the opening of testing sites.

A "no charge" testing site will open at 10 a.m. at the United Memorial Medical Center at 510 West Tidwell in Houston, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said in a statement.

The mounting pandemic sweeping the nation has prompted the Houston Chronicle editorial board to issue this message:

"Stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay home to save the lives of your grandparents, your parents, your favorite aunt, your best friend recovering from cancer, your neighbor with diabetes.

Stay home to save your own life."