More than 5,900 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Monday in Texas, an all-time high
Hospitalizations of patients with the novel coronavirus in Texas reached an all-time high Monday after breaking records for nearly every day the previous two weeks.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,913 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Monday — a jump of 416 patients from the 5,497 hospitalized Sunday.
The state’s 16-day streak was broken Sunday, with hospitalizations breaking records from June 12 through Saturday. Hospitalizations have risen nearly every day of June, and have more than tripled since the 1,511 COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Memorial Day.
Monday, DSHS reported 4,288 new COVID-19 cases — the first time new daily cases have dropped below 5,000 since last Monday. Last Thursday, Texas reported a single-day high of 5,996 cases. DSHS also reported 10 new deaths, bringing the state’s total to at least 2,403.
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.
The state’s seven-day average infection rate — the number of cases that come back positive out of those tested — dropped slightly, and was at 13.74% Sunday compared to Saturday’s high of 14.31%.
Citing an infection rate over 10%, Abbott ordered bars and rafting and tubing businesses to shut down Friday. Restaurants were also required to reduce their capacity from 75% to 50%, and most outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people were banned unless approved by local officials.
A day before, Abbott had announced a pause on further reopenings, and suspended elective medical procedures in the counties of Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis in an effort to ensure sufficient hospital capacity.
As of Monday, DSHS reported 13,825 available hospital beds, 1,411 intensive care unit beds and 5,670 available ventilators.
“What we do next is we continue to follow the data. Hopefully the decisions already made will lead to a reduction in the amount of COVID-19 spreading. If it does not, we will have to find out the other ways that COVID-19 is transmitted, and we will have to make sure that we reduce transmission rates in those areas,” Abbott told KXII-TV in Sherman Monday night.
Local officials from Texas’ largest metro areas have called on Abbott to allow greater local control, with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins requesting a statewide mask mandate, a stay-at-home order for 30 days and the closure of all businesses and venues where wearing masks and staying six feet apart isn’t feasible.
Abbott has urged Texans to recommit to best practices, like staying home as much as possible, keeping six feet apart from others and wearing a face mask. When asked if Abbott would require a statewide mask mandate, he noted that a majority of Texans are already required to do so in businesses under recent local orders.
“Could there be the need to expand that more? The answer to that could be yes. It just depends,” Abbott told KXII-TV, reiterating that a mandate may not be necessary in areas with fewer COVID-19 cases.
Despite reaching record levels in recent days, officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth region have stressed hospitals still have sufficient capacity. DSHS reported 2,937 available beds, 431 ICU beds and 1,254 available ventilators in the DFW area, in addition to 1,288 COVID-19 patients hospitalized.
“In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we want to reassure the public that this pandemic is not eclipsing our capabilities,” Stephen Love, the CEO and president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, said in a statement Sunday.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 5:45 PM.
