TOPLINE
More people were being treated at hospitals for the coronavirus in Texas on Monday than at any point in the pandemic, according to statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services, as the state has continued to move forward with its reopening efforts.
AUSTIN, TX - MAY 18: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Texas Governor Greg Abbott announces the reopening of more ... [+]
KEY FACTS
The state reported there were 1,935 in-patients being treated for coronavirus on Monday, topping the old high of 1,888 on May 5.
The number of people hospitalized in Texas has increased 11 out of the last 14 days, gradually rising from 1,511 hospitalizations on May 25.
But that rise hasn’t dissuaded state officials from moving forward with reopening—the state moved to Phase 3 last Wednesday, allowing essentially all businesses to operate so long as they did so at 50% of their normal capacity.
Sports stadiums are now allowed to have crowds at 50% of their normal capacity, and restaurants can increase seating capacity from 50% at present to 75% starting this Friday.
New cases are also on the rise in Texas compared with what was seen in late May, though Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said in the past that the state should expect spikes as it increases testing.
The new record comes exactly two weeks after Memorial Day, when packed crowds were seen at popular vacation destinations.
KEY BACKGROUND
While much of the country had new case counts plateau around early- to mid-April, new cases in Texas continued to rise throughout May. Single-day new case highs were hit multiple times, with its highest being 1,949 new cases recorded on May 31. Abbott credited the rise to an increase in testing, saying clusters in the state are primarily confined to meatpacking plants, nursing homes and prisons.
The state, which is the second-largest by both population and area in the U.S., took an aggressive approach to reopening, entering its Phase 1 reopening on May 1, followed by Phase 2 on May 22 and Phase 3 last Wednesday. That approach has won Abbott praise from President Donald Trump.
TANGENT
California recorded its highest single-day increase in cases last Friday while Arkansas’ total case count has jumped by almost 30% over this past week alone.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Health experts have warned that rises in infections and hospitalizations from large gatherings likely wouldn’t be reflected in data for at least two weeks. With Monday being two weeks since Memorial Day, and also two weeks since protests started following the death of George Floyd, data should soon show if those large gatherings have led to an increase in coronavirus spread.
FURTHER READING
Almost all Texas businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott says (The Texas Tribune)
In easing COVID-19 restrictions, Gov. Abbott touted low hospitalizations. His numbers were way off. (Houston Chronicle)
Texas Moving To Phase 2 — Reopening Bars, Allowing Pro Sports To Return (Forbes)
