Mayor John Whitmire will join leaders Tuesday from the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, Houston Public Works, the Office of Emergency Management, and others to provide an update on the weather conditions and the city’s preparedness and response operations.

The Houston Health Department has reportedly just received its first shipment of monkeypox vaccines, officials say.

HOUSTON – On Thursday, the Houston Health Department received 9,000 additional doses. They’re focusing on vaccinating people at the highest risk levels and those in our most vulnerable communities. “Really we are trying to save lives,” said Stephen Williams, the director of the Houston Health Department. The Health Department shared a graphic with KPRC 2 News. AdThe department will provide approximately 5,300 doses to the Area Agency on Aging, 2,400 for providers in vulnerable communities, and 1,300 for previously scheduled appointments.

HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department said 1,600 new appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine were booked within five minutes on Friday afternoon. These two locations make the vaccine more accessible to all, complementing the health department’s health centers and multi-service centers,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. People who received their first dose of vaccine through the health department will be contacted about scheduling their second dose before the recommended due date. Updated guidance from the CDC says “the second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible. Visit the vaccine page of HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for the latest information about COVID-19 vaccinations through the Houston Health Department.

All 2,600 new appointments taken; Minute Maid Park to again serve as vaccine megasite this weekendHOUSTON – The Houston Health Department’s is holding another COVID-19 vaccination megasite at Minute Maid Park Saturday afternoon. Additional appointments were made available Friday-- approximately 2,600 -- for the weekend mega site at Minute Maid Park and filled in about 20 minutes, according to the department. #hounews — Houston Health Dept (@HoustonHealth) January 15, 2021We are pleased to offer ~2,600 new appts for our Jan16 #COVID19 vaccination mega site at Minute Maid Park. KPRC spoke to Director Stephen Williams about the site at Minute Maid Park and appointments filling up in a matter of minutes. Minute Maid Park’s home plate entrance will be used for the clinic.

HOUSTON – Better Together is a new multilingual campaign by the Houston Health Department to protect Houston families from COVID-19. According to Houston Health, the data-driven public health campaign will provide information to high-risk populations and neighborhoods with high positivity rates. Officials said the public health campaigns are apart of an overall mission to curb the spread of COVID-19. On Thursday, the Houston Health reported 1,304 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 45,415 cases within the city’s limits. Of those who died, nine were Hispanic, according to Houston Health.

HOUSTON Healthcare workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic are also battling mother nature. Theyre dealing with high temperatures while providing critical tests to our community. Sydney Marshall has been tested for coronavirus and hes concerned about healthcare workers working in temperatures that feel like 110 degrees. Its tough to be out there in the heat working, so we appreciate them doing not only this sacrifice but being there throughout, said Villareal. Something else theyre doing to beat the heat is providing cooling towels and vests.

HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner provides an update on Houstons coronavirus response. Houston Health confirmed 204 new COVID-19 cases in Houston. However, Turner said the numbers are lower than expected due to a state reporting issue. The city also confirmed one new COVID-19 related death, a Hispanic man in his 40s who passed on May 16.