Texas reports single-day record coronavirus deaths, most new cases in a week
Texas health officials confirmed a record 313 new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, far exceeding the previous single-day high and reflecting a change in how deaths are confirmed and reported.
The previous high in COVID-19 deaths recorded by Texas in its daily reporting was 197 on July 22. The state also reported 9,042 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the most in six days.
The U.S. passed 150,000 coronavirus deaths Wednesday.
According to the state’s official data, in which deaths are confirmed to occur on a specific date, a record 170 deaths were recorded on July 12. The state altered its method of collecting and reporting coronavirus death data beginning Monday. The Texas Department of State Health Services changed its data collection method to speed up the time in which deaths were confirmed and reported to the public and also in an effort to report more accurate data.
Since recording the 170 deaths on July 12, the state’s data showed a drop in daily deaths, including just one death on Saturday and no deaths on Sunday, until Wednesday. But data for those days are subject to change as more death certificates are collected using the new reporting method. In fact, deaths from those days could be among the 313 reported on Wednesday.
When asked if the spike in deaths was a result of the agency’s recent change in classifying COVID-19 related fatalities, DSHS spokesman Chris Van Deusen wrote in an email Wednesday that he didn’t know for sure.
“We expect to get reports of fatalities more quickly, so that could factor in. We may be able to account for some deaths now that would not previously have been reported until later under the old system,” Van Deusen wrote. “This will be a more accurate reflection closer to when the deaths occur.”
Estimated active cases over time
Coronavirus daily active case estimates by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 5:33 PM.
