Texas coronavirus death toll reaches 1,000 as Panhandle hot spots surge

[TexasTowelie]

The coronavirus death toll in Texas surpassed 1,000 for the first time Friday, a grim milestone, as salons and barbershops statewide reopened their doors.

State health officials reported 31 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,004, along with 1,219 fresh coronavirus cases.

Those figures are in line with daily totals from previous days and weeks, signs that the virus spread has reached a plateau, even as other measures offer hope. The state’s infection rate, touted by Gov. Greg Abbott, has dipped in recent days — 5.6% on Friday — as testing has increased. And the number of COVID-19 patients being treated in Texas hospitals — 1,734 on Friday — has remained remarkably steady over the past several weeks.

But the state is not meeting some benchmarks recommended by federal health officials as a precursor to reopening businesses, which include showing a reduction in cases for at least 14 days, dramatically boosting testing — Texas is not meeting Abbott’s own goal of 25,000 daily tests — and effectively tracking people with confirmed infections and those with whom they came into contact, known as contact tracing.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200508/texas-coronavirus-death-toll-reaches-1000-as-panhandle-hot-spots-surge

[duforsure]

1. Abbott's policies are a disaster

Waiting to happen after promoting this reopening, and the virus will spread even more now from it. He knew this could happen but did it anyway without regard for the safety and health of the people in Texas. He won't even make masks mandatory after its shown if over 80% wear masks the spread drops by a huge amount, with the businesses back up. This will backfire on him and trump trying to force people back with a still active virus spreading still , and little to no testing done.