Texas reports single-day high in new coronavirus cases as statewide deaths near 1,900
Texas reported a single-day high of 2,504 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, dwarfing the previous high by 555 cases.
The previous high was 1,949 cases on May 31.
Texas also reported 32 COVID-19 deaths after reporting six and 17 the previous two days. It’s the most reported since 33 on June 4. The single-day high for pandemic-related deaths in Texas is 58 on May 14.
The state has had 79,757 coronavirus cases, including 1,885 deaths. It has 25,423 active cases, according to data compiled by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Gov. Greg Abbott told KDFW/Ch. 4 in Dallas on Wednesday night that although the increase in cases is concerning, it’s also to be expected as testing increases, as people relax social distancing guidelines and in the wake of recent gatherings spurred by Memorial Day weekend and protests over the death George Floyd.
“COVID-19 has not left. We still need to be safe in the way that we interact with others,” Abbott said.
Meanwhile, the third phase of Texas’ reopening of businesses was announced last week. Most businesses can operate at 50% capacity, with restaurants allowed to increase their occupancy limit to 75% Friday. Abbott told KDFW that there’s no reason to put that on pause.
“There is no evidence, according to what our doctors have shown us, that the restaurant capacity at 75% would expand the transmission of COVID-19,” Abbott said.
Abbott also emphasized that hospitals still have sufficient capacity to treat those who contract COVID-19. He has previously raised the possibility of reinstating measures like temporary bans on elective medical procedures as an option to free up hospital capacity if needed.
Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman with the DSHS, wrote in an email that several Texas counties saw large spikes. Jefferson County reported 537 new cases — more than 20% of the 2,504 cases reported statewide Wednesday — which may be related to Texas Department of Criminal Justice testing, he said.
Angelina County in East Texas, which has had outbreaks in a meat packing plant and a TDCJ facility, reported 44 new cases, Van Deusen said. Due to a glitch, Pecos County had reported its cases dropping by 90 Tuesday. Those 90 cases, and two more, were reported Wednesday, he said.
Texas has also reported three consecutive days of record hospitalizations for COVID-19, which is one of the three main data points health officials most closely monitor to assess the pandemic threat. The others are ICU admissions and deaths.
COVID-19 cases over time
Coronavirus daily case counts over time by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. Tap the arrow button to replay the animation. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services and local counties.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 4:57 PM.
