‘Massive outbreak’: Texas reports all-time highs of new COVID cases, hospitalizations
Texas reported all-time highs in new cases and patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus Wednesday, as Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is seeing a “massive outbreak” of the virus.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,551 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday — a new single-day high and up 62 cases from Tuesday’s record of 5,489.
Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients increased for the thirteenth straight day, with 4,389 patients hospitalized — an increase of 297 patients from Tuesday’s record of 4,092. DSHS also reported 29 new deaths, bringing the state’s total to at least 2,249.
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.
Abbott had previewed the increase in cases Wednesday before official figures were released. He told KFDA-TV in Amarillo that “there is a massive outbreak of COVID-19 across the state of Texas.”
Nationwide, a new record of more than 36,000 COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday — with Texas, Florida and California leading the way, according to the Washington Post. The governors of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey also announced that travelers visiting from Texas and other states with significant community spread must now quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
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. 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. It was 10.42% Tuesday, according to DSHS. That’s the highest it has been since mid-April, and Abbott had previously said during a May 5 press conference that if the infection rate exceeded 10% for multiple days “that is a warning flag for us to keep track of.”
Hospitalizations have risen nearly every day of June and have nearly tripled since 1,511 patients hospitalized on Memorial Day. State leaders have emphasized that there’s still an “abundant supply” of beds available, even as local officials warn of intensive care units nearing capacity in some regions, like Houston.
Wednesday afternoon, DSHS reported 12,951 available beds, 1,320 intensive care unit beds and 5,850 available ventilators.
Abbott raised the possibility Wednesday of implementing restrictions specifically for harder hit areas.
“So we are looking at greater restrictions and some could be localized,” Abbott told KFDA-TV. “For example, there are some regions in the state of Texas that are running tight on hospital capacity that may necessitate a localized strategy to make sure the hospital beds will be available.”
During a press conference Monday, Abbott struck a newly urgent tone and said the virus is spreading at an “unacceptable rate” in Texas. But at the time, he declined to reinstate restrictions and said closing down the state “will always be the last option.”
Tuesday afternoon, Abbott introduced stricter measures. Citing a rise in coronavirus cases, Abbott gave local officials the ability to impose restrictions on outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people. Previously, they could only do so for gatherings of over 500. In addition, he 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.
Wednesday night, Abbott told KXAS-TV in Dallas that more announcements would be made this week and next.
“If we are unable to slow the spread over the next few weeks, then we will have to really evaluate the extent to which businesses are open, because if it’s not contained in the next couple of weeks it will be completely out of control and Texas will have to ratchet back,” Abbott said.
Amid record cases, state leaders have focused on the need for Texans to recommit to best practices, and that was a point Abbott reiterated Wednesday.
“We need you to protect yourself by wearing a mask, sanitizing your hands, maintaining distance from others. And in fact, if you don’t need to go out, if you don’t need to go to work, or go shopping, or something like that, the best and safest place for you to be would be inside your own home,” Abbott told KFDA-TV.
Staff writer Stefan Stevenson contributed to this story.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 5:14 PM with the headline "‘Massive outbreak’: Texas reports all-time highs of new COVID cases, hospitalizations."
