COVID-19 increases in Houston area-News-Austin American politician

Houston-In the Houston area, authorities have begun to see a significant increase in cases and hospitalizations associated with coronaviruses.

The rise began two weeks ago and accelerated this week, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Health officials believe that people may have become less alert and more intimately contacted with others after they resumed business on weekends on state and Memorial Day weekends.

Before the increase, the Houston area had settled in the plateau for about a month before it increased, according to the newspaper.

“This is a trend we are always watching,” said Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge, a senior elected official in the county.

Regulations in the Houston area and other parts of Texas began to be lifted on May 1, with limited reopening of restaurants, retail outlets and shopping malls. Since then, additional businesses such as gyms, bars and beauty salons have been able to resume and the occupancy limits have been relaxed.

This week Governor Greg Abbott announced the third phase of the state’s resumption. This will expand the capacity of bars, restaurants and retailers and allow for more than 500 outdoor celebrations on July 4th, at the discretion of local authorities.

According to data compiled by the State Group’s Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Board, COVID-19 patients had higher levels in intensive care units in hospitals in District 9 of Houston at the first three days of June than at May. Occupied by. Coordinate local emergency response to disasters.

The number of cases of COVID-19 is also increasing. The moving average for the Houston area rose from 267 on May 22 to 358 on Thursday.

Health officials are also investigating the outbreak of COVID-19 in a health facility outside Houston, with 14 deaths reported.

The Harris County Department of Public Health announced Thursday that it began investigating outbreaks at the Oakmont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Humble on April 21 after the two tested positive for the new coronavirus. The Texas Health and Welfare Committee is also investigating.

13 deaths on premises have been confirmed to be associated with coronaviruses, and confirmation of another death is pending documentation. The facility provides elderly patients with short-term rehabilitation and long-term hospice care.

The Ministry of Health said 56 people and staff were actively monitored for coronaviruses.

In a statement, healthcare facility officials said they are doing everything they can “to ensure that this does not spread within our centers and communities.”

In Texas, nursing homes, prisons, prisons, and meat-packing factories are hot spots for the virus, officials said.

Health officials in Texas reported that hospitalization for the virus reached 1,855 on Friday. This is the second highest total since the state began reporting data. Since Wednesday, there have been nearly 370 new hospitalizations.

State officials reported 1,693 new cases and 21 new deaths on Friday, totaling 71,613 and 1,788 dead.

Mayor Galveston resigns

In Galveston, Mayor Jim Yarbro announced his resignation on 15 July due to health concerns during the pandemic.

Yarbro announced his resignation in a letter to the city council Wednesday, according to Galveston County Daily News.

Yarbro said only one lung was functioning and had been self-isolated since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Mr Yarbro told the newspaper that he needed a mayor to physically attend the city during the pandemic and hurricane season, which began on Monday.

Mayor Protem Craig Brown takes over the mayor’s duties until a new mayor is elected on November 3.