CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The City of Alice Emergency Management Office, along with Jim Wells Co. Judge Juan Rodriguez and City of Alice Mayor Jolene Vanover, has issued a travel advisory to the Houston/Galveston area.
The advisory was issued just before 5 p.m. on Friday.
The media release reads:
"Based on the latest medical information and thru continual state surveillance for COVID-19 Jim Wells County Judge Juan Rodriguez and City of Alice Mayor Jolene Vanover are issuing a travel advisory for travel to the Houston / Galveston area. Any resident of our community or visitor from this area is strongly encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days and strongly encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 from 5 to 7 days on return."
The Alice Pediatric Clinic posted a similar advisory to its Facebook page a couple of hours prior to the city's. The clinic's Dr. Eric Nisimblatt told KRIS 6 News his advisory comes after a patient tested positive for COVID-19 after having traveled to Houston, and spending less than 48 hours in the area before returning.
On Thursday, Houston city and county leaders announced the region was currently at "Code Orange," or Level 2. Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo has implemented a new color-coded "COVID-19 public health threat level system." Code Orange means a significant threat. The next level, "Code Red," or Level 1, is a severe threat and could precipitate a lockdown. Harris county's stay-at-home orders expired Wednesday.
Local leaders have contributed spikes in cases to more visitors in the area during the Memorial Day weekend several weeks ago, as well as more people interacting after restrictions were lifted.