Chron.com is compiling the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

AFTERNOON:

Two additional Harris County Sheriff's Office employees - one deputy and one detention officer - have tested positive for COVID-19, the sheriff's office reported on Friday afternoon. This brings the total of confirmed cases among agency staff to 15.

Both cases announced today involve employees who work at the Harris County Jail at 1200 Baker Street. Five employees total at that location have now tested positive for the virus, the sheriff's office said.

The announcements of the two new cases follow a court order from the Harris County Criminal District Court Trial Division, halting an order from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to release certain prisoners from the Harris County Jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Galveston County Health District on Friday announced that 83 residents and employees, out of 146 who were tested, at The Resort at Texas City have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes the 13 positive cases reported Thursday by the health district.

MORNING:

Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton targeted hate crimes against Asian-Americans in a statement released Thursday, hours after Fort Bend GOP Congressional candidate Kathaleen Wall put out a TV ad claiming "China poisoned our people" and praising President Donald Trump for calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus" - a name the president has since stopped using.

"The hate incidents targeting Asian-Americans in other parts of our country will not be tolerated in Fort Bend County," Middleton said in the statement. "In fact, crimes targeting anyone because of who they are violate the promise of freedom and personal dignity this country stands for. Convictions for hate crimes also face enhanced punishments."

Middleton also said children and other vulnerable people are at a higher risk of violence during the pandemic, specifically because of the regions many stay-at-home-style orders, a sentiment echoed by leaders in Harris County.

In other headlines, students at Texas A&M University are trucking a custom mobile clinic made inside a shipping container to Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital to help patients.

"Our Texas Aggie Medical Clinics may seem like a drop in the bucket, but we are trying to send them out to help as many people as possible," said Abby Launikitis, who leads the students group BUILD that made the clinic.

"We are so grateful to all our sponsors big and small for supporting BUILD and allowing us this amazing opportunity to aid in the fight against COVID-19," Launikitis said.

Check back for updates as they come in.