The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to rise in Texas with Dallas County having one of the highest numbers. Statewide, there have been 131,917 cases with 2,296 deaths. An estimated 74,496 patients have recovered.
As of June 25, there have been 18,135 reported, confirmed cases in Dallas County with 328 deaths.
The city of Garland is reporting 1,661 cases with 24 deaths. The number of recovered Garland patients is 895. Compared to last week’s count, Garland’s number of cases has increased by more than 300 and there have been two additional deaths. The number of recovered patients has grown by 112 in the last week.
With the increase, the number of hospitalizations has also grown prompting Governor Greg Abbott to issue an executive order to ensure that there will be an adequate number of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. The order, which is effective in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis counties, suspends elective surgeries and procedures that are not immediately necessary for a serious medical condition or to save the life of a patient. The number of counties included in this order could increase if necessary.
“As Texas faces a rise in COVID-19 cases, we are focused on both slowing the spread of this virus and maintaining sufficient hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients,” said Abbott. “These four counties have experienced significant increases in people being hospitalized due to COVID-19 and today’s action is a precautionary step to help ensure that the hospitals in these counties continue to have an ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients.”
Additionally, the number of younger adults (18-39) being diagnosed is increasing and half of the cases reported after the first of June have been in people in this age group.
The governor also announced today that there will be a pause in any further phases to re-open Texas. Businesses that have reopened under the previous phase may continue at the designated occupancy levels.
In his address, Abbott said that we have to be focused on strategies to slow the spread of the virus without another shutdown.
“The last thing we want to do as a state is go backward and close down businesses. This temporary pause will help our state corral the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business,” Abbott said.
The governor also asked everyone to help slow the spread of the virus by wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and practicing recommended social distancing.
“The more that we all follow these guidelines, the safer our state will be, and the more we can open up Texas for business,” he said.
Another recent development, which was announced Wednesday, June 24, is that Texans who travel to New York,
Connecticut or New Jersey will be required to quarantine for 14 days under restrictions announced by the governors of those states.
Source: https://hhs.texas.gov/