AUSTIN, Texas — State health officials on Friday reported 2,473 new coronavirus cases and 51 new deaths in Texas.
The number of infections and hospitalizations in the state continues to climb, placing a growing strain on hospital capacity and staffing, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Friday's numbers depart from a sharp upward trend in newly reported infections. The state reported record-breaking infection numbers on two days within the last week
The record for new daily cases — 14,648 — was set on Wednesday. Before that, the record, 13,998 cases, was set on Tuesday.
On Friday, the state reported 51 newly recorded coronavirus fatalities.
Over 8,500 COVID-19 patients were being treated in Texas hospitals on Friday, the most since Aug. 4. The statewide hospitalization figure has steadily increased since early October. The pandemic high, 10,893 hospitalizations, occurred on July 22.
Coronavirus patients have occupied more than 15% of the total hospital bed capacity in five of the state's 22 trauma service areas — El Paso, Midland-Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock and Laredo — for at least a week, a threshold that triggers tighter restrictions.
The rising case numbers and hospitalizations in Texas are part of a nationwide coronavirus surge. Health officials are urging people to avoid traveling for the holidays and to keep gatherings limited to their immediate households.
For the last several weeks, health officials repeatedly pleaded with residents to abandon plans to gather with extended family over the Thanksgiving holiday to avoid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
"COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising locally, across Texas and the United States," Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said in a written statement Friday. "It is critically important that everyone do their part to combat COVID-19 by avoiding gatherings and travel this holiday season."
Health officials advise those who participated in Thanksgiving gatherings to:
— Get tested at least three to five days after gathering or traveling through Austin Public Health. If the test is positive, they should isolate themselves to protect others from getting infected.
— Stay home for seven days after gathering or traveling. Even if the test is negative, they should stay home for the full seven days.
— Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe complications or death from COVID-19 for 14 days after gathering or traveling, regardless of testing.
Gov. Greg Abbott has said that he will not implement another statewide shutdown of businesses to curb the spread of the virus, adding that he is instead focusing on promoting available treatments and urging compliance with his mask order and other safety guidelines.
State officials on Monday released a plan for distributing a coronavirus vaccine in Texas, once it becomes available.
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