Name: Head of Harris County’s COVID-19 response to step down
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Head of Harris County’s COVID-19 response to step down

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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHarris County health authority Dr. Umair Shah will step down to take a job as Washington state’s health secretary, his office announced Tuesday.As the executive director of Harris County Public Health, Shah has led the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His last day will be Dec. 18.His departure comes as the pandemic worsens in Harris County. The Houston area reported 1,273 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, higher than any point since Labor Day.More from Zach DespartShah said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that teamwork was a key part of the department’s success during his seven-year tenure.“It’s never been about the ‘me,’ it’s been about the ‘we,’” he said. “So, while I may be cheering for this community from afar, it’s strong, it’s capable, and it continues to fight the mission of public health for our community.”Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo thanked Shah and said the county was grateful for his service.“He’s been a champion for investing in public health an preventative measures in communities before, during and after these crises,” Hidalgo said. “Residents should know that services will continue uninterrupted.”Commissioners Court will appoint an interim public health authority, likely at its Dec. 1 meeting. Hidalgo pledged to launch a national search for a permanent hire.Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a statement he as “no concerns whatsoever that we will be able to manage this transition in a way that prioritizes the health and safety of residents.”He said Shah’s departure creates an opportunity for the county to try innovative approaches to improving health care in the largest county in Texas.Shah, an Ohio native, became head of Harris County’s health department in 2013. He inherited an agency with 500 employees and an annual budget of $60 million, Harris County Public Health spokeswoman Elizabeth Perez said in a statement. It now boasts 700 employees and $100 million in annual spending.During Shah’s tenure, the agency became a nationally accredited health department. He also oversaw the development of a fleet of mobile units that were deployed to disaster-stricken neighborhoods after Hurricane Harvey.Shah also shepherded into existence a state-of-the-art testing laboratory to study mosquito-borne illnesses, including St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile Virus. His also helped lead the county’s response to several emergencies, including Zika and H1N1 outbreaks and several hurricanes.zach.despart@chron.com

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHarris County health authority Dr. Umair Shah will step down to take a job as Washington state’s health secretary, his office announced Tuesday.As the executive director of Harris County Public Health, Shah has led the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His last day will be Dec. 18.His departure comes as the pandemic worsens in Harris County. The Houston area reported 1,273 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, higher than any point since Labor Day.More from Zach DespartShah said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that...

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Head of Harris County’s COVID-19 response to step down

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