Texas sees record uptick in COVID-19 cases as protests continue

[TomCADem]

Source: ABC News

Two of Texas' biggest cities are reporting an uptick in COVID-19 cases over the past several days as concerns mount over how protests sparked by the death of George Floyd may be increasing the spread of the virus.

Dallas County announced an additional 298 positive cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, according to Dallas County Health and Human Services, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 11,541. Meanwhile, the city of Houston, in Harris County, announced there were 180 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 8,231. There have been over 13,600 cases in Harris County, most in the state.

The total announced Friday in Dallas County was the highest single-day amount of cases since the start of the pandemic. The previous high came just one day earlier, on Thursday.

"We're seeing the numbers increasing. They're not increasing exponentially, but they're increasing linearly in time with the same steady pace," said Dr. David Persse, medical director for the Houston Fire Department. "So the optimizations are in fact, increasing our case counts."

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-sees-record-uptick-in-covid-19-cases-as-protests-continue/ar-BB156EA7?li=BBnb7Kz

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I don't see how the protests, which just began this week, are the reason for the uptick. I would think that this would coincide with the easing of social distancing, which began about 14 days ago.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Incubation can be as little as 4-5 days, so protests could have some impact # of cases. Nt

[Newest Reality]

2. You are right.

Propaganda works. It is specious to equate the upticks with the protests at this point. We have plenty of information that indicates that PREMATURE, hasty "reopenings" have been going on long enough to be the more likely source of increased transmission.

The mistake of getting people back out and loosing up on the important guidelines for the sake of the economy is going to bite back hard and drag the pandemic out longer. It is bad enough that we may be looking at another 12-18 months before it fizzles, (if we are lucky).

The propaganda plus the fickle churn of the news cycle seems to have managed to put people off guard when they should actually be being more cautious prior to the Fall wave. How massive does this have to be? All bets are off for any recovery when everything we have done to restrict the spread is rapidly overridden with ulterior incentives.

I give up.

[RhodeIslandOne]

13. There were reports of upticks in Wisconsin less than a week after the Republican forced primaries...

.....and in Michigan after the MAGA "I want a haircut!" bullshit. Nobody here questioned the incubation periods. It was reported and we all said "see I told you so!". And rightfully so. 7 to 14 days isn't a hard timeframe.

It's an inconvenient truth. Whether it's this week or next week doesn't much matter, these protests will have done their part to fucking up the curve in addition to other reckless behavior by non protest idiots.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. We won't have to wait til fall for that second wave.

[soothsayer]

5. I dunno, did we finish the first wave?

I’m not sure. Places reopened without meeting criteria

[Sucha NastyWoman]

8. Restaurant workers are not required to wear masks according to Texas guidelines

And many dont.

[captain queeg]

4. Maybe they mean the anti lockdown protests.

I guess not when I reread it, but numbers going up right now are more related to the anti lockdown protests than the black lives matter protests, just given the time frames.

[LeftInTX]

12. We didn't have big anti-lockdown protests

[herding cats]

6. Rural counties which haven't had protest have also had upticks.

It's the opening and it's right on schedule. While the protest will most likely exacerbate the already growing cases, it's only a part of the reality.

Texas opened dine in eating and then bars. All at limited capacity (25%), now both up to 50%. But, in many places I've seen much more than that since the inception of the opening. These are two of the highest risk activities. Now they're opening theme and water parks and some stadiums sports. Albeit, at first at limited capacity. Texas is a ripe zit about to pop and the protest are a minor part of the equation.

[Nevilledog]

9. +1

[Sucha NastyWoman]

7. This isn't related to the protests, it's too son for that to show up

Here in Houston most people stopped wearing masks several weeks ago. Most younger people aren’t social distancing either. A lot of people act like the whole thing is over,

[CapnSteve]

17. About 75% Were wearing masks on Tues.

I did not march, but live downtown and witnessed. 60,000 people was too much for me even with masks. I am too aware of the math of infection. Totally support, but don’t want to give up the benefit of staying at home right before I get back to work.

My partner is a nurse, and she has now become the mask police at her work, sadly. Here’s the gist:

1) When out, always wear your mask.
2) Under the nose, under the chin, hanging off your ear, or in your pocket does not count!
3) Don’t lower your mask to speak.

We did venture out to eat a couple times here in downtown Houston last week. Sat outside. All the servers wore masks (some violations of rule #2) and we wore ours when not eating/drinking.

Was it a pain?

Yes.

Worth it?

Yes.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

21. 75% is a lot better than what I'm seeing out here in the Cypress suburbs

I suspect that is because a large percenatge of protestors were either people of color and/or liberals, both of whom, in my experience, tend to wear masks. Also older people.

[Dopers_Greed]

10. It's not the protests

There have been protests by my apartment all week, and nearly everyone is wearing masks.

More lamestream media lies trying to cover for Dump.

[LeftInTX]

11. Many are due to prisons and meat packing plants.

Also Texas has been open for over a month. Cases are spiking in San Antonio from people going to hair salons, gyms, restaurants, work etc etc etc

[RhodeIslandOne]

14. Thousands of people in one place at one time, chanting, masks or not, is bad.

You'd better come to grips and be honest, the protests will have a hand in upticks from here on out.

[stillcool]

18. no doubt....

You'd better come to grips and be honest, the upticks are occurring as a result of states opening. If you want to mitigate the coming up-ticks, wear a mask and social distance...if it doesn't infringe on your freedoms.

[Brainfodder]

15. Do any answer to Ted or Louie?

If you cringe when you hear them answer, you've probably found them.

Asking for a friend.

[tanyev]

16. This is probably just due to more opening up with Mother's Day and Memorial Day in the mix.

The protest numbers are still in the pipeline.

[Crowman2009]

19. It's all part of Gov. Abbot's "Let your grandparents die and get back to work peasants"...

....re-opening policy.

[Bengus81]

20. 11,837 cases in the last 7 days. Yeeee Haww

Hopefully that's only a load of old folks who the Gov said needs to move aside and give one up for the team.

[tclambert]

22. I never would have expected this!

Said no one except Republicans.

[yellowdogintexas]

23. Definitely the openings. We should see protest upticks

next week, I should think.

I wish I could have marched, but COVID is just too scary. My husband has 3 co morbidities, and I have one.. We pretty much only go to the grocery.

I am supposed to be an Election Judge for the runoff and I am not sure that I will

[Steelrolled]

24. Reporting on the covid-19 statistics has generally been bad from the start

The think the causes are three:

1. Lots of reporters aren't good with numbers and graphs confuse them and they can't (or won't) seek help.
2. Preconceived notions of many forms and for all kinds of reasons.
3. Gotta make a good story to sell ads.