TEXAS COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE -Texas has hit a new record for the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state. Texas Public Radio’s Camille Phillips files this report.Texas began allowing its first businesses to reopen May 1st, then relaxed restrictions further May 18th and again on June 3rd. The number of COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals has been on an upward trajectory since Memorial Day, rising from just over 15 hundred to more than 19 hundred over the past two weeks.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas hospitals are now treating 1,935 patients with COVID-19. The previous record number of hospitalizations was set over a month ago. Despite the nearly 30 percent increase in COVID-19 patients since the holiday weekend, Texas hospitals remain well below capacity. I’m Camille Phillips in San Antonio.
TEXAS COVID-19 TRENDING UP - Texas has hit a new record for the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state. University of Texas at Austin researchers say forecasting coronavirus deaths is more challenging now that public spaces have reopened. UT's COVID-19 modeling consortium had projected the mortality rate in Texas to peak by early June using GPS data from mobile phones to measure social distancing behavior. But Professor Lauren Ancel Meyers says the estimate was based on that behavior continuing.
"There is a lot of uncertainty about what's about to happen in the next few month," Meyers explained. "We really don't know how much faster the virus is spreading in some our cities but it is possible that the virus has picked up steam over the last few weeks."
Governor Greg Abbott began a phased reopening of the Texas economy on May 1st.
