Texas reports record 5,489 new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations rise for 12th day
Texas reported a new single day-high of coronavirus cases Tuesday and reached a new all-time high of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the twelfth straight day.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,489 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and 4,092 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Tuesday’s hospitalizations were a jump of 381 patients from the previous record of 3,711 hospitalized Monday.
Gov. Greg Abbott had previewed the new single-day high during television interviews Tuesday afternoon before DSHS released specific figures.
“There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is really not a challenge,” Abbott told KBTX-TV, a CBS affiliate in Bryan-College Station. “Know this, and that is today Texas will report an all-time high in the number of cases of people testing positive of more than 5,000.”
The previous single-day high was 4,430 cases on Saturday. Since last Wednesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services has reported over 3,000 new cases each day, with 3,866 on Sunday and 3,280 on Monday. At least 2,192 deaths have been reported through Monday.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told lawmakers in Washington D.C. Tuesday that the next couple of weeks would be critical to address recent surges in states like Texas.
Hospitalization levels and the infection rate — the number of positive cases out of those tested — are two of the key metrics Abbott has said he is monitoring, and both have been on the rise since late May.
After reaching a recent low of 4.27% on May 26, the state’s seven-day average infection rate has more than doubled and was at 9.76% Monday, according to DSHS.
Hospitalizations have risen nearly every day of June and have increased by nearly 171% since the 1,511 patients hospitalized on Memorial Day.
During a press conference Monday, Abbott said COVID-19 is spreading at an “unacceptable rate,” but declined to reinstate restrictions. Abbott said closing down Texas “will always be the last option,” but warned that if new cases, hospitalizations and the infection rate continue to double over the next month, “that would mean that we are in an urgent situation where tougher actions will be required.”
Abbott touted actions the state is already taking, including the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s recent crackdowns on bars that violated reopening guidelines — which included temporary license suspensions for several North Texas bars. And he hinted in his interview with KBTX-TV that additional measures may be announced this week.
Tuesday afternoon, Abbott granted local officials the authority to impose restrictions on large outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people, and he also directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to enact COVID-19 health and safety standards at child care centers after the agency had repealed its earlier requirements.
Meanwhile, state leaders have doubled down on the need for people to recommit to best practices experts recommend.
“We want to make sure that everyone reinforces the best, safe practices of wearing a mask, hand sanitization, maintaining safe distance. But importantly, because the spread is so rampant right now, there’s never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you do need to go out,” Abbott told KBTX-TV. “The safest place for you is at your home.”
A new study released Monday from UT Southwestern Medical Center predicts a surge in COVID-19 cases in North Texas throughout the summer and into the fall — especially if residents follow social distancing guidelines even less. Over the next two weeks, the report predicts a 20% increase in hospitalizations.
In the Houston area, Texas Children’s Hospital has taken an unusual step and begun admitting adult patients in an effort to bolster hospital capacity amid a surge in COVID-19 patients, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Abbott has emphasized that the state still has an “abundant supply” of hospital beds. As of Tuesday afternoon, DSHS reported 14,260 available hospital beds, 1,483 intensive care unit beds and 5,781 available ventilators.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations over Time
Coronavirus daily hospitalization counts in Texas and the larger Trauma Service Areas, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
