COVID-19 pandemic in Texas
| COVID-19 pandemic in Texas | |
|---|---|
 Map of the outbreak in Texas by confirmed new infections per 100,000 people (14 days preceding May 4)
1,000+
500–1,000
200–500
100–200
50–100
20–50
10–20
0–10
No confirmed new cases or no/bad data | |
 Map of the outbreak in Texas by confirmed total infections per 100,000 people (as of May 4)
10,000+
3,000–10,000
1,000–3,000
300–1,000
100–300
30–100
0–30
No confirmed infected or no data | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Texas, U.S. |
| Index case | San Antonio (evacuee), Fort Bend County (non-evacuee) |
| Arrival date | March 4, 2020 |
| Confirmed cases | 2,401,898 [1] |
| Active cases | 95,027 [1] |
| Hospitalized cases | 2,840 (current)[1] |
| Recovered | 2,646,788 [1] |
Deaths | 47,725 [2] |
| Government website | |
| www | |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Texas is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The state of Texas confirmed its first case on February 13, 2020, among U.S. nationals evacuated from China to Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland beginning in early February; however, retrospective analyses have suggested a much earlier origin than previously thought. The first documented case of COVID-19 in Texas outside of evacuees at Lackland was confirmed on March 4 in Fort Bend County, and many of the state's largest cities recorded their first cases throughout March. The state recorded its first death associated with the disease on March 17 in Matagorda County.
As of April 3, 2021[update], Texas has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the United States, behind California, and the 26th highest number of confirmed cases per capita. It has the third-highest number of deaths related to the virus, behind New York and California, and the 24th-highest count of deaths per capita.[3][4][5]
As of April 3, 2021, vaccination is Texas lags behind the US average, with rates lower than in three of its four neighboring states, having administered 12,565,129 COVID-19 vaccine doses, equivalent to 43,334 doses per 100k of the state's population.[6][7]
Timeline[edit]
The initial origin of community spread in Texas remains unclear, but numerous anecdotal accounts by those later confirmed have included onset dates as early as December 28 in Point Venture, and retrospective analyses have found unexplained statistical increases in deaths during this time.[8][9][10] Testing capacity across the state remained extremely limited until after the first recorded cases were announced.[8]
Research from Austin Public Health conducted in May found 68 COVID-19 patients in Central Texas who began reporting symptoms dating back to around the beginning of March.[11] On March 2, San Antonio Mayor Nirenberg issued a public health emergency after an individual positive for the virus is mistakenly released from quarantine at JBSA–Lackland.[12] Two days later, the DSHS reports a presumptive positive test result for COVID-19 from a resident of Fort Bend County in the Houston area. A man in his 70s, he is the first known positive case of the disease in Texas outside of those evacuated from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship.[13] The patient had recently traveled to Egypt and was hospitalized.[14] DSHS commissioner John Hellerstedt calls the confirmation a "significant development" but that "the immediate risk to most Texans is low."[13]
On March 5, at least eight cumulative cases, including both positive and presumptive positive cases, are identified in the Houston area. The cases involve individuals in the counties of Fort Bend and Harris counties. All individuals with confirmed cases were part of a group that traveled to Egypt in February, including the first confirmed case in Fort Bend County. The travel group rode aboard the Nile River cruise ship MS A’sara.[15][16][17] Additional individuals are also investigated as possible carriers in the Houston area in connection with the Egypt trip.[17] The state announces six public health laboratories within its Laboratory Response Network are capable of testing for COVID-19.[18]
On March 8, JBSA–Lackland receives around 100 evacuees from the cruise ship Grand Princess following a localized outbreak on board.[19][20] Rice University becomes the first university in the state to enact significant cancellations, suspending in-person classes and undergraduate labs during the week in response to an employee testing positive in connection with the viral cluster that traveled to Egypt.[21] The next day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Texas reported by the DSHS surpasses 10.[1] That same day, a resident in his 30s of Frisco in Collin County, a suburb of Dallas, received a presumptive positive test for the virus after recently traveling to Silicon Valley in California; he is the first case identified in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area.[22][23][24] His wife and 3-year-old child later contracted the disease, with the latter among the youngest confirmed to have the virus in the U.S.[25]
On March 11, local health officials report a positive test for COVID-19 in Montgomery County; they are identified as the first possible case of community spread—not directly related to travel or known contact with positive travelers—in Texas and in the Houston area. The patient's attendance of a barbecue at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on February 28 is reported as a possible but unconfirmed source of the virus.[26] The city of Houston orders the Houston Livestock Show and Radio to close after announcing an emergency health declaration.[27] Montgomery Independent School District in the Houston area and Alvarado Independent School District in the Dallas area become the first two public school districts in Texas to temporarily close classes over COVID-19, affecting approximately 12,400 students across 17 schools.[28]
On March 13, Abbott declares a state of disaster for all counties in Texas, invoking emergency powers for the his administration, and orders state employees to work from home. Day cares, nursing homes, and prisons are asked to limit visitations.[29][30] The state's first mobile testing center for COVID-19 opens in San Antonio.[31] Colleges and universities throughout the state extend their spring breaks with some transitioning to online instruction, including Baylor University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, and Texas Tech University.[32] School districts also announce temporary suspensions of classes statewide.[33][34][35]
On March 17, DSHS reports that a man in his 90s in Matagorda County died of COVID-19 after being hospitalized, becoming the first official COVID-19 fatality in Texas.[36] The Texas National Guard is activated, making Texas the 21st U.S. state to activate their National Guard; the security force is not yet deployed.[37] Abbott grants waivers to hospitals to bolster unused bed capacity without applying or paying added fees.[38] Abbott also asks the Small Business Administration to declare an Economic Injury Disaster Declaration for the state;[39] eligibility is granted three days later.[40]
On March 19, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Texas reported by the DSHS surpasses 100.[1] The DSHS declares a public health disaster, marking the first such declaration since 1901.[41] DSHS Director Hellerstedt issues the disaster declaration as the disease "has created an immediate threat, poses a high risk of death to a large number of people and creates a substantial risk of public exposure because of the disease’s method of transmission and evidence that there is community spread in Texas."[42] Abbott issues four executive orders to ban gatherings of more than 10 people; discourage eating and drinking at bars, food courts restaurants, and visiting gyms (and close bars and restaurant dining rooms); proscribe visitation of nursing homes, retirement centers, and long-term care facilities with exception of providing critical care; and temporarily close all Texas schools.[43]
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On March 26, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Texas exceeds 1,000,[1] and Abbott mandates visitors flying from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to self-quarantine for 14 days.[44] A team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin projects that the healthcare capacity of Greater Austin would be exceeded if "extensive social distancing measures" were not implemented. Their findings indicate that a 90 percent compliance scenario would maintain hospitalizations within capacity through August 17.[45]
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On April 17, Abbott announces the start of his plan to reopen the Texas economy, citing a "semi-flattened curve" of COVID-19 cases in the state.[46] The reopening is outlined in three executive orders issued by Abbott that allows for state parks to open under social distancing regulations on April 20, limited nonessential surgeries at hospitals beginning after April 21, and product pickup at retail stores beginning on April 24.[47] The reopening process also establishes the Strike Force to Open Texas, an advisory panel to Abbott for reopening economy. The panel is led by James Huffines with Mike Toomey as its chief operating officer; its consulting members are all members of the Republican Party. The panel also consists of a medical team and a special advisory council.[48] Abbott also calls for public schools to remain closed for the rest of the 2019–2020 academic year.[49] Ten days later, pursuant to the executive order establishing the Strike Force to Open Texas, Abbott releases the Texas Governor's Report to Open Texas, putting forth a phased approach to reopen the state's economy.[50][51]
On May 5, Abbott modifies his earlier reopening timetable, allowing barbershops, hairdressers, and nail salons to begin reopening on May 8 while maintaining social distancing. Gyms and exercise facilities are allowed to reopen beginning May 18 while operating at quarter occupancy.[52] On May 18, Texas enters Phase 2 of the governor's reopening plan.[53] On June 3, Texas enters Phase 3 of Abbott's reopening plan.[54]
On June 23, the state reports more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day for the first time, documenting 5,489. Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 also reach a record high with 4,092.[55] Abbott gives approval for mayors and county judges to enact restrictions on outdoor gatherings with more than 100 people, reducing the size limit from 500. Abbott also indicates that respirator enforcement is within the purview of local officials.[56] Abbott orders the HHSC to reinstate COVID-19 health and safety standards at child care centers, reversing the agency's lifting of those requirements on June 12.[57][58] Two days later, a record-high number of new COVID-19 cases, 5,996, is set for the third consecutive day in Texas; the three days contribute over 17,000 cases to the cumulative case count.[59][60] Abbott pauses the reopening of the businesses in the state as hospitalizations deaths and new COVID-19 cases begin to quickly rise, though prior relaxations of COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.[61][62]
On June 26, Abbott begins rolling back some of the lifted restrictions from his earlier state reopening plan, issuing an executive order that promptly closes bars except for takeout and curbside pickup and closes rafting and tubing businesses in addition to restricting indoor dining at restaurants to 50 percent capacity. The order also requires most outdoor gatherings with at least 100 people to seek approval by local governments.[63] Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo evaluates the county as having reached the highest threat level, indicating a "severe and uncontrolled level of COVID-19", and calls for the reinstatement of a stay-at-home order for the county in addition to prohibiting outdoor gatherings with more than 100 people in unincorporated parts of the county.[64][65][66]
On July 2, Abbott mandates the wearing of face coverings in public spaces,[67] and fines for non-first time offenders. Counties with 20 or fewer active cases, children under 10, and persons with interfering medical conditions are allowed to opt-out of the order,[68] as well as people attending church, voting at polling places, or exercising outdoors.[68][69] Austin Mayor Adler issues an executive order, restricting gatherings with more than 10 people outside of child-care services, religious gatherings, and recreational sports.[70]
On August 11, Texas became the third state in the U.S. after California and Florida to exceed 500,000 in total number of reported cases.[71] On a per capita basis Texas ranks 12th among US states, with Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, Mississippi and Georgia leading the list.[72] By October 29, larger hospitals in Amarillo, Lubbock, and El Paso did not have space available to accept transfers of seriously ill COVID patients from rural areas.[73][74]
Epidemiology[edit]
The first positive test result for COVID-19 in Texas, outside of the evacuees quarantined at JBSA–Lackland from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, was reported by the DSHS on March 4 and involved a resident of Fort Bend County.[13][14] The patient was a man in his 70s and had traveled on the Nile River cruise ship MS A'sara in Egypt.[14][75] A total of 12 positive test results were reported in Fort Bend and Harris counties from travelers aboard the same ship.[76][77] The first case of possible community spread—where the source of infection is unknown—was reported by public health officials on March 11, involving a man in his 40s in Montgomery County; he had recently attended a barbecue at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on February 28.[25][26][78][79] The first death in Texas identified in connection with COVID-19 occurred on March 14 from a man in his 90s at the Matagorda Regional Medical Center; Matagorda County officials reported the death on March 15 and the DSHS confirmed it the following day.[80][36][81] According to the DSHS, the state exceeded 100 total cases of COVID-19 by March 19 and 1,000 cases by March 26.[1] By the end of March 2020, there were 3,266 known cases of COVID-19 and 41 fatalities in Texas, with nearly half of the state's counties reporting at least one case.[82] An analysis of the first month of COVID-19's spread in Texas, published in the Journal of Community Health, found that while the total case counts were highest in the state's metropolitan areas, the highest incidence rates of the disease per capita occurred in Donley County, with 353.5 cases per 100,000 people. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 10.3 percent in Comal County; high CFR counties had "a higher proportion of non-Hispanic Black residents, adults aged 65 and older, and adults smoking, but lower number of ICU beds per 100,000 population, and number of primary care physicians per 1000 population."[80]
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases confirmed by the DSHS reached 10,000 on April 9 and 100,000 on June 19. The number of confirmed fatalities eclipsed 100 on April 4 and 1,000 on May 9.[1] Counties that adopted shelter-in-place orders early showed a 19–26 percent decrease in COVID-19 case growth 2.5 weeks following the enactment of those orders according to an analysis published in the National Bureau of Economic Research. The same analysis found that such orders in urbanized counties accounted for 90 percent of attenuated case growth in the state by May.[83] A surge in new COVID-19 cases began in June with large increases in the state's major cities and within a younger population compared to the beginning of the pandemic.[84][85]
Responses[edit]
State responses[edit]
Initial actions and first lockdown[edit]
In March 2020, The Texas Tribune described the state's pandemic response as a "patchwork system" characterized by its decentralized nature and reliance on locally enacted policies.[86] The following month, WalletHub ranked the Texas as one of the 10 least aggressive states for limiting COVID-19 exposure based on policy decisions, risk factors, and infrastructure.[87]
The DSHS activated a virtual State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) in January 2020 to coordinate data collection and activities between the state and local agencies. The department and local health departments also began assessing recent travelers to Hubei Province in China with respiratory ailments for possible testing for SARS-CoV-2, encouraging individuals to "contact their health care provider if they develop fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days of being in Hubei." The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) was tasked with logistical coordination on health supplies with local groups. A briefing was held by Abbott on January 27 concerning the COVID-19 outbreak; HHS Commissioner Courtney Philips, DSHS Health Services Commissioner John William Hellerstedt, and TDEM Chief Nim Kidd delivered the briefing.[88] On January 30, Abbott joined other state governors in a conference call with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, CDC Director Robert Redfield, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, and other health officials to discuss disease mitigation and prevention strategies.[89] State officials from emergency management, health services, law enforcement, public schools, and universities also met the same morning to outline logistics and coronavirus information.[90]
A state of disaster was declared by Abbott for all counties in Texas on March 13, giving emergency powers to Abbott and his administration to order lockdowns.[29][30] Throughout March, the state waived various healthcare and economic regulations.[91] These included waived trucking and licensing regulations for drivers, alcohol delivery from bars and restaurants, and Medicaid regulations.[30][92][93][94] Abbott and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) requested health insurers and health maintenance organizations to waive pandemic-related costs for patients on March 5.[95] The Texas Supreme Court ruled to suspend most eviction proceedings by at least a month on March 19.[96] Several regulations were waived to increase the state's medical workforce;[97][98][99] inactive and retired nurses were allowed to reactivate their licenses and temporary licensing was expedited for out-of-state medical professionals.[100][101] Local governments were authorized to delay local elections for 2020.[102] The federal government supplied $628.8 million in public assistance grants to Texas through FEMA following a federal disaster declaration on March 25.[103] Additional federal funding was also distributed through the CARES Act, Small Business Administration,[104][40]
On March 19, Abbott ordered the temporary prohibition of dining at bars and restaurants and the closure of gyms effective beginning the following day in a series of executive orders. Social gatherings involving more than 10 people were also prohibited.[43][105] Two days later, hospitals were allowed to have more than one patient per room and "elective or non-essential" medical procedures were ordered suspended.[106] A legal dispute emerged after Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed that most abortions were included in the suspension.[107][108][109] The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas blocked the abortion ban on March 30, which was overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on March 31.[110][111] A three-judge panel on the Fifth Circuit reaffirmed the ban on April 10.[112] Texas became the 21st state to activate its National Guard on March 17.[37] The state mandated 14-day quarantines for travelers arriving from pandemic hotspots in the U.S. beginning on March 26 until all travel restrictions were lifted on May 21.[44][113] Abbott initially decided against statewide shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders due to the fact that more than 200 counties did not have any cases in mid-March.[114][115] However, Abbott issued a de facto stay-at-home order on May 31 directing all Texans to remain at home unless conducting essential activities and services and to "minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household." The order exempted places of worship as essential services (subject to social distancing), but Abbott still recommended that remote services be conducted instead. Abbott specifically avoided use of the terms "stay-at-home order" or "shelter-in-place" to describe the order, arguing that they were either misnomers (shelter-in-place usually referred to emergency situations) or did not adequately reflect the goal of the order.[116][117]
Texas Historical Commission historical sites and state parks were closed beginning at 5 p.m. April 7,[118][119] remaining closed until an executive order reopened them on April 20.[120][121] The state government continued to relax regulations regarding medical protocols through April. Pharmacy technicians were authorized to accept over-the-phone prescription drug orders beginning on April 7 and telehealth services were authorized across a broad range of telecommunication media.[122][123] Local emergency medical service providers were allowed to utilize qualified individuals without formal certification.[124] Similar training requirements were waived for other medical fields.[125][126] On May 20, The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House released a letter detailing a plan to reduce the budget of many state agencies by 5 percent as part of the state's preparation for COVID-19's economic impact.[127][128]
Reopening efforts[edit]
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Between May and June 2020, the Texas state government began loosening restrictions on businesses and activities in a series of phases amid the pandemic, allowing businesses to reopen and operate with increasing capacity.[129] Texas was one of the first states to publicize a timetable for lifting restrictions and the underlying plan was one of the most expansive in the country for reopening businesses.[130][131] It began with Phase I on May 1 and continued through Phase III on June 3. Abbott suspended the reopening process on June 25 following a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases 113 days after the first case was confirmed in Texas.[129]
On March 23, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made controversial statements on the Fox News show Tucker Carlson Tonight, saying that "as a senior citizen", he was "willing to take a chance on [his] survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for [his] children and grandchildren," later suggesting that grandparents in the country would do the same and advocating that the U.S. "get back to work."[132][133] As Patrick appeared to insinuate lives were worth sacrificing for the health of the economy, his comments drew criticism on Twitter, where the hashtag #NotDying4WallStreet trended.[134] New York Governor Andrew Cuomo commented on Twitter that "no one should be talking about social darwinism for the sake of the stock market."[135] The editorial board of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram characterized Patrick's comments as "morbid" and a "recipe for embarrassing Texas".[136] On April 7, roughly a month after the first non-evacuee case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Texas,[13] Patrick created a task force to plan out the recovery of the Texas economy should businesses and industries reopen.[137] Two days later, Abbott stated that his administration was "working on very aggressive strategies to make sure Texas [was] first at getting back to work."[138] On April 17, Abbott began the process of reopening the Texas economy,[139] establishing the Strike Force To Open Texas in an executive order to "study and make recommendations... for revitalizing the Texas economy".[120][140] The team includes state leaders, medical experts, and a business advisory group; all consulting members were members of the Republican Party.[47][48] Abbott issued two additional executive orders relaxing COVID-19 restrictions: executive order GA-15 permitted licensed health care professionals and facilities to carry out elective medical procedures if they did not interfere with capacity provisioned for COVID-19, while executive order GA-16 allowed retail stores to deliver goods to customers beginning on April 24 as part of a "Retail-To-Go" model.[120][141][142] State parks were also ordered to reopen with COVID-19 regulations on April 20.[120]
Abbott announced a phased approach to reopening the Texas economy on April 27, with the state entering Phase I of the plan on May 1.[143] The first phase permitted the operation of retail establishments, restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, libraries and museums at 25 percent occupancy and with health protocols in place; these relaxed restrictions superseded all local orders.[144][145] Businesses in counties with five or fewer cases of COVID-19 were allowed to operate with increased occupancy once Phase I went into effect.[146] The de facto statewide stay-at-home order issued on March 19 was allowed to expire on April 30.[147] Following intraparty pressure, Abbott authorized the reopening of hair salons and pools on May 5.[148] Abbott announced the initiation of Phase II of the reopening plan on May 18, under which child care centers, massage and personal-care centers, and youth clubs were allowed to open promptly. The phase also allowed bars and office building tenants to begin operating with limited occupancy in addition to raising the restaurant occupancy cap to 50 percent. Other types of businesses were given staggered opening dates out to May 31 under Phase II.[149] Phase III of the reopening was rolled out on June 3, permitting the immediate increase of all business operation to 50 percent capacity. The phase also provided a timetable for amusement parks, carnivals, and restaurants to begin increasing their capacity further out to June 18.[150] Abbott announced on June 18 that Texas public schools would be opening for fall 2020.[151] On June 25, Abbott enacted a "temporary pause" on the reopening of the state's economy following record increases in COVID-19 cases.[152][153] The next day, Abbott issued an executive order closing bars and rafting/tubing businesses, representing the first rollbacks on the reopening plan.[63]
On April 25, polling from the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune found that 56 percent of voters surveyed approved of Abbott's response to the pandemic, including 56 percent of Republicans and 30 percent of Democrats.[154][155] Positive approval of Abbott's response to the pandemic was also found by a Dallas Morning News/University of Texas at Tyler poll, with registered voters approving by a roughly 3-to-1 margin.[156] A survey conducted by the Texas Restaurant Association and released on May 2 found that 47 percent of the 401 responding restaurants stated they would not reopen despite authorization under Phase I of Abbott's reopening plan; 43 percent intended to open while the remaining 9 percent were unsure.[157] A Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters released on June 3 found that 49 percent approved of Abbott's handling of stay-home restrictions while 38 percent believed Abbott moved "too fast" with the reopening.[158] A survey of 1,212 registered voters in Texas conducted by YouGov and sponsored by CBS News between July 7–10 found that 61 percent of respondents believed the state moved "too quickly" in "reopening the economy and lifting stay-at-home restrictions".[159]
Reactions to the initial efforts to reopen Texas businesses were fraught with partisan divides,[160][161] with the overall reaction described as "mixed" by several news agencies.[162][163][164][165] Nine members of the Texas Freedom Caucus in the Texas House of Representatives sent a letter to Abbott on April 14 pressing for business restrictions to be loosened "to the greatest extent possible."[166] Following the first announcement of reopenings on April 17, Texas Representative Chris Turner, the leader of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said that Texas needed to have "widespread testing available" before reopening businesses.[167] Many public health experts lauded the phased approach but iterated the need for increased testing in the state. Others opined that the reopening commenced before adequate steps were taken to reduce the spread of the disease.[163][168] As the reopening plan progressed, Republican legislators pressured Abbott to open additional business sectors and accelerate the reopening process while Democratic legislators criticized the governor for the rapid pace of reopening.[169][170] The lack of consistent policy at the state and local level during the reopening and Abbott's decision to quash criminal penalties for violations also drew criticism. The Texas District and County Attorneys Association stated that there was "little incentive to put your own necks on the line to enforce an order that could be invalidated the next day" in guidance to state prosecutors.[171] After the reopening's pause and subsequent roll back, some attributed the concurrent rise in cases to the reopening.[172] Hidalgo stated that the reopening occurred "too quickly" and that other communities seeking to reopen would need to heed the spike in cases as "a word of warning".[160] Abbott stated in an interview with KVIA-TV in El Paso that "If I could go back and redo anything, it would probably would have been to slow down to opening bars, now seeing in the aftermath of how quickly the coronavirus spread in the bar setting."[173]
June–July 2020 restrictions[edit]
At a news conference on May 5, Abbott indicated that his administration was emphasizing the state's COVID-19 positivity rate to evaluate the reopening of Texas businesses that formally began on May 1.[143][174] Abbott considered a positivity rate exceeding 10 percent as a "red flag". In mid-April, the number of new cases began to stabilize and the 7-day average positivity rate fell below 10 percent. When Abbott announced the reopening plan on April 27, the positive rate was 4.6 percent, while number of active cases, active infection spread among population, was growing, meaning the chance of infection was increasing. As a result, the number of new cases began to rise in early May.[174] On June 24, the seven-day average positive rate rose above 10 percent for the first time since mid-April.[175] Entering mid-June, restaurants were allowed to operate at increased capacity and most businesses were opened under Phase III of the state's reopening plan. Following a pronounced outbreak of COVID-19 in the state (with the weekly average of new cases increasing by 79 percent) and a large increase in hospitalizations, Abbott paused the reopening process on June 25.[176][63] On June 26, bars were ordered to shut down and restaurants were ordered to lower their maximum operating capacity to 50 percent in what The Texas Tribune called Abbott's "most drastic action yet to respond to the post-reopening coronavirus surge in Texas". River-rafting businesses were also ordered to close and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people without local government approval were banned.[177] The mandated closures made Texas the first U.S. state to reinstate restrictions and closures after reopening.[178]
Only on July 2, when Texas had already recorded more than twice the infections in all of China, Abbott announced some small measures in an executive order effective the afternoon of July 3 requiring local government approval of gatherings of 10 or more people. In counties with at least 20 confirmed cases, the order mandated masks in enclosed public spaces and when social distancing was not feasible (subject to fines of up to $250 for multiple infractions).[179] The Texas Medical Association supported the mask mandate. However, the governor was chided by Democrats for being too slow to react to the resurgence in cases and by Republicans for overstepping his remit and infringing on personal freedoms.[180][68] Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman released a statement saying that the order was "far too little, far too late," and criticized Abbot for "[leading] from behind."[181] Republican State Representative Jonathan Stickland tweeted "[Abbott] thinks he is KING!"[68] Six county Republican parties formally censured Abbott for his use of executive power in responding to the pandemic, including in Montgomery and Denton Counties.[182] Some local law enforcement agencies chose not to enforce the mandate.[183]
On September 17, 2020, Governor Abbott announced that businesses could expand to 75% capacity.[184]
March 2021 lifting of restrictions[edit]
On March 2, 2021 (Texas Independence Day), Abbott announced that the state would rescind nearly all COVID-19-related health orders state-wide effective March 10 via executive order.[185] Businesses are no longer mandated to limit their capacity, the mask mandate expired, and no jurisdiction may enforce a penalty of any kind for not wearing masks in public.[185] Counties may reinstate mitigation strategies if COVID hospitalizations account for more than 15 percent of their local bed capacity for at least seven days, but businesses may not be limited to any capacity lower than 50 percent.[186]
Abbott argued that since Texans had "mastered the daily habits to avoid getting COVID", the state no longer required enforceable health orders to be followed by residents and businesses, and that "too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities. Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end. It is now time to open Texas 100%." However, the Governor still noted that the decision "does not end personal responsibility and caring for your family members, friends and others in your community."[186]
Reaction to the announcement was mixed, with local and national government and health officials warning that the decision to ease all restrictions was premature,[187] and criticism towards the inability for local leaders to enforce health orders.[188][189] President Joe Biden criticized the move and a similar decision announced the same day by Mississippi, arguing that "the last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters."[187][190] Governor Abbott responded to the comment, arguing that it was inappropriate for a president, and accusing Biden of importing COVID-19 cases into the state and others via immigrants by not testing them at the border.[191]
On March 10, 2021, the Texas Attorney General threatened to sue the city of Austin for violating the executive order by declaring an intent to continue enforcing the previous "Phase 4" guidelines and mask mandate, and issued a 6:00 p.m. deadline.[192][185] The city challenged the legal threat, arguing that masks were effective, and that the mask mandate was issued by the Travis County public health authority and not by a jurisdiction.[185] The suit was filed the next day.[193] On March 26, District Judge Lora Livingston blocked a request by the AG for a temporary injunction, thus allowing the mandate to remain in force.[194][195]
Testing[edit]
As of July 11, 2020[update], 2.7 million COVID-19 tests have been reported by the DSHS; of these, 2.49 million were viral tests while 217,000 were antibody tests. The total number of tests passed 100,000 on April 9 and passed 1 million on May 28, 2020.[196] In mid-February, the DSHS provided outlines of coronavirus patient protocols to medical facilities statewide. Possible cases were to be reported to local health departments, with potential viral samples to be sent to the CDC in Atlanta.[197] The agency also prepared laboratories to test for the virus within Texas using kits provided by the CDC.[198][199]
The DSHS and TDEM initiated bi-weekly emergency planning meetings with other state agencies after February 27.[198] A laboratory at Texas Tech University in Lubbock became the first laboratory to test for SARS-CoV-2 in Texas.[200] By March 5, six of the ten health labs comprising the state Laboratory Response Network were ready for COVID-19 testing.[201] The Texas National Guard began supporting testing efforts on March 27.[202]
Vaccination efforts[edit]
Large-scale vaccination sites, referred to as "vaccination hubs", were established throughout the state beginning in January 2021.[203] As of January 16, 2021, the original number of vaccination hubs was increased from 28 to 79,[204] and on January 14, 2021 Texas became the first state to administer one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.[205] As of January 27, 2021, more than two million doses have been administered.[205] By February 2021 more than six hundred providers, including public health departments, vaccination hubs and retail pharmacies,[206] were administering first doses of the vaccines, reaching an allotment rate of approximately 400,000 doses per week.[207] On February 4, 2021, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that almost three million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given to Texas residents. Over two million Texans had received one dose of the vaccine and 620,000 Texans had been fully vaccinated with both the first and second doses.[208]
The vaccine rollout in Texas has faced numerous challenges, including uncertainties in record keeping, prioritization of the order in which groups were deemed eligible to receive the vaccine, and the availability of second doses for those who had already received the first dose.[209][210] As of January 18, 2021, vaccination providers who had received first dose allotments were not automatically being shipped equal quantities of second dose allotments. Instead, the providers were required to request allocations of the second dose through the state government allocation system.[211] A major and catastrophic February winter storm brought record low temperatures, which led to power, food and water outages throughout the state,[212] disrupting hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccine deliveries and injections.[213][214]
Local responses[edit]
On March 2, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County both declared a "local state of disaster and a public health emergency" after an individual was mistakenly released from quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio by the CDC before a third test for coronavirus returned a positive result.[215] The city subsequently petitioned the federal government to extend the quarantine of US nationals at Joint Base San Antonio; the petition was denied by Judge Xavier Rodriguez in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.[216][217] Both the city of Dallas and Dallas County have declared a "local disaster of public health emergency".[218]
Abbott left the decision to local governments to set stricter guidelines. Two hours later, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins ordered residents of Dallas County to shelter in place beginning 11:59 p.m. on the following day.[219] A day later on March 23, Bell,[220] Bexar,[221] Brazos,[222] Cameron,[223] Hunt,[224] McLennan,[225] Stephens[226] counties and the city of Forney,[227] issued a shelter in place for their communities. Collin,[228] Galveston,[229] Harris,[230] Travis,[221][231] and Williamson[231] counties issued same measures on March 24. However, Collin County had more relaxed guidelines for their shelter in place order. Collin County's order stated that all businesses are essential and would be allowed to remain open as long as they followed physical distancing guidelines.[232]
In Austin, where the South by Southwest festival was closed, many bar owners on Sixth Street boarded their windows to protect the stock they had amassed in preparation for the cancelled event. A street art campaign decorated the boarded businesses with art capturing the mood of lockdown.[233]
In mid-June 2020, some county officials requested that the governor grant them the power to fine individuals for not wearing a mask in public, as local governments were prohibited from doing so by the governor's order; the governor refused.[234] Nelson Wolff, the Bexar County judge, found a loophole in the order, and on June 17 issued an order fining businesses for allowing in customers without a mask. Other counties and cities followed suit. In response, the governor said this had been the "plan all along", which some local officials doubted,[235] and that the judge "finally figured that out". This angered some people in areas where people had been dying of COVID-19.[236]
Nacogdoches County sheriff Jason Bridges announced he would not be enforcing the statewide mask order, because it was "borderline infringing on some ... constitutional rights", even though legal experts agree[237] such measures are constitutional under the state's police power.[238] Bridges said enforcing public health measures during the pandemic "is not something we have time to be doing", despite health experts' agreement that mask wearing reduces transmission significantly.[238]
During a July 14 press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner along with Dr. David Persse and Houston Fire Department Chief Sam Pena announced that the Army medical task force arrived Monday July 13 to help ramp up the city's response to COVID-19 with plans to open more facilities as medical resorts.[239] Over the weekend prior, Turner said he proposed a two-week shutdown to Abbott to help curb the soaring rates; Hidalgo, an early proponent of extending the shutdown, voiced support for another shut down.[240] During a July 15 press conference, Turner announced 16 new COVID-19 related deaths as well as two new testing sites to handle the demand of residents seeking testing in response to the surging coronavirus cases, calling for a minimum 90 percent compliance from residents for the safety measures to be effective.[241] In a July 15 press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced 16 new COVID-19 related deaths as well as two new testing sites to handle the demand of residents seeking testing in response to the surging coronavirus cases, calling for a minimum 90 percent compliance from residents for the safety measures to be effective.[241]
On October 29, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged a two-week shutdown of nonessential businesses ordered by El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego. El Paso had daily case counts of over 1,000 per day, and hospitals were overwhelmed, with 44% of patients under treatment for COVID-19.[73][74]
Business and community responses[edit]
H-E-B, in January 2020, activated a comprehensive pandemic emergency management plan first conceived in 2009 in response to concerns over H1N1.[242] Other essential businesses collectively began limiting operational hours, providing previously in-store experiences in palatable to-go forms, restricting points of entry, and requiring use of sanitizer or face masks for all customers. Many restaurants began offering pre-prepared ingredients to recreate their experiences at home, and a resurgence of drive-in theaters was seen particularly in the Greater Austin and Greater San Antonio areas.
Economic and social impact[edit]
Effect on businesses[edit]
On March 13, Six Flags (based in Texas) suspended operations to all twelve of their properties nationwide as well as in Mexico, that were operating in the month of March, until the end of the month; these include the two Texas parks, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Over Texas. On March 30, the closure was extended to all of their properties.[243] Sea World San Antonio announced plans to close from March 16 to April 1, along with all Schlitterbahn waterparks,[244] the parks have delayed the closure. Both Schlitterbahn waterparks announced they'd be the first major water park in the state to reopen in mid-June.[245] The two Texas Six Flags parks will reopen the parks on June 19.[246][247]
On March 14, H-E-B announced that all of their stores across the state will reduce open hours, to help restock items. This also includes their pharmacies and Central Market locations.[248] The announcement comes a day after the company announced that its Houston area stores would be the only locations to implement changes to their operations.[249] A month later, H-E-B expanded their store hours across the state (closer to normal store hours), as supply availability has improved.[250][251]
As of May 26, KVUE reported that "The Texas Restaurant Association estimates that 6% of restaurants in Austin have shut down for good during the pandemic, and that number is estimated to be at 12% statewide".[252] A number of these restaurants that closed had been famous and well-established in the state for decades. Some notable ones include Highland Park Cafeteria, a Dallas restaurant that had served comfort food for 95 years, and Threadgill's, an 81-year old tavern that was the first post-Prohibition Austin business with a beer license before becoming a restaurant in 1981 (Janis Joplin started her music career here).[253][254]
Abbott's plans to lift the stay-at-home order and reopen Texas was followed by a spike in coronavirus cases reaching 50,000 new cases by Memorial Day weekend.[255] The number rose consistently pushing Texas to chart at the top of cases nationwide and hospitals in the state's largest cities reaching near or full ICU capacity.[256][257] In response to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, Abbott issued an executive order shutting down bars for a second time since the beginning of the pandemic.[258] Several Texas bar owners filed a $10 million federal lawsuit stating that Abbott's order violates their constitutional rights; the order impacted restaurants with high alcohol sales as well, with the Texas Restaurant Association estimating that at least 1,500 restaurants that serve alcohol were forced to close, which displaced more than 35,000 employees.[259]
Event cancellations[edit]
For the first time in the event's history, South by Southwest was cancelled as a result of local health concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.[260][261] The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cancelled the rest of the event on March 11, that was slated to run until March 22. It was confirmed that a resident from Montgomery County, Texas that was tested positive, attended the BBQ cook off at the rodeo on February 28.[262] The attendance for the rodeo on February 28, was 77,632, with 73,433 of the visitors went to the "World Championship Barb-B-Que Contest," where that person attended.[263] The FIRST Championship, slated to occur in Houston around mid-April, was canceled due to the Coronavirus, along with all the other FIRST competitions in Texas. The Championship is one of the world's largest gatherings in competitive robotics.[264]
After the announcement of the ban of gatherings of over 500 people on March 13 (in San Antonio), Fiesta San Antonio postponed their event to November 2020, that was originally slated for mid-April and eventually cancelled to April 2021, and then later pushed to June 2021.[265]
Austin City Limits Music Festival, originally scheduled for October 2020, was cancelled on July 1; its organizers describing the cancellation as "the only responsible solution."[266][267]
Impact on education[edit]
Among the closures of school districts and universities across the state, Abbott waived all State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing for the 2019–20 school year for public grade schools on March 16.[268]
On March 19, Abbott issued an executive order that closed schools statewide until at least April 3.[269] On March 31, the Governor announced that schools in the state will continue to stay closed until May 4.[270] On April 17, Abbott said that Texas public schools would be closed for the remainder of the 2019–20 school year and that schools will continue to offer distance learning.[271]
As of July 16, the state had still not established concrete rules for school reopenings in the Fall, but the latest word from Abbott on July 14 was that districts can expect more flexibility on opening classrooms, with state education officials agreeing to continue to fund school districts who choose to stay virtual if mandated by local health officials.[272]
K-12 schools[edit]
Houston Independent School District, the state's largest school district, is among dozens of school districts extending their spring break, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.[273][274] The closures are not without precedent, as many schools closed for two weeks during the 2009 H1N1 flu when Houston experienced a major outbreak.[273] The CDC issued guidelines for K-12 school administrators to help "protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of students, teachers, other school staff, their families, and communities" as they prepare to return to school in fall 2020.[275]
Universities[edit]
As of May 19, University of Texas at Austin disclosed that they were rolling out a series of "financial mitigation measures" to alleviate employee furloughs and other economic distress from COVID-19, even after receiving government grants.[276][277] On May 20, it was announced that UT-Austin would open the campus for the Fall semester of 2020, but would conduct all classes and tests remotely after Thanksgiving break.[278] They later announced on June 3 that classrooms would be kept at 40 percent capacity, and that around 2,100 classes (about a fifth of all available classes) will be conducted online during the fall.[279] On June 8, both UT-Austin and Texas A&M University announced that wearing masks will be required when inside campus buildings during the Fall 2020 semester.[280] On June 23, UT Austin announced that it is waiving SAT and ACT testing requirements for high school students who apply for fall 2021 undergraduate admission to ensure that COVID-19 does not affect a student's ability to apply to the university.[281][282]
Sports[edit]
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All major professional sports leagues in Texas suspended play, including the NBA (Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs)[283] NHL (Dallas Stars),[284] Major League Baseball (Texas Rangers and Houston Astros),[285] and Major League Soccer (Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas).[286] The XFL (Dallas Renegades and Houston Roughnecks) suspended play, and later filed for bankruptcy part-way into the rebooted league's inaugural season.[287] In April 2020, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) cancelled all spring high school sports state-wide.[288]
On May 28, Governor Abbott announced that professional sporting events at outdoor venues would be allowed to admit a limited number of spectators, capped at 25% of normal capacity, and subject to approval by health authorities.[289] In June 2020, Fort Worth hosted the first IndyCar Series and PGA Tour events held since pandemic-related restrictions took affect, the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway,[290] and the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.[291] Both events were held without spectators.[291][290]
The pandemic impacted sports across the state at all levels: Texas high school started voluntary summer workouts on June 8 in anticipation of a full season return, but the UIL recommended all workouts statewide be postponed from July 3–13 as a safety measure, impacting around 200 schools across the state, many of which had already made the decision to shut down independently ahead of official orders.[292] Professional teams such as the Houston Rockets were further impacted as players tested positive for COVID-19.[293] On July 21, the UIL announced its plan to resume fall sports, splitting them into two categories: football and volleyball practices would begin first with 1A through 4A schools on August 3, schools with 5A and 6A designations would resume practices on September 7, with state football championships held in January.[294]
To reduce travel and the impact of outbreaks, Major League Baseball scheduled its 2020 playoffs at neutral sites in Texas and California; Minute Maid Park in Houston and newly opened Globe Life Field in Arlington would host National League Division Series games during the postseason, while the 2020 National League Championship Series and 2020 World Series would be hosted entirely in Arlington (marking the first World Series to be held at a single ballpark since 1944). The NLCS and World Series would also be the first MLB games that season to admit spectators, capped at a capacity of 11,500 out of around 40,000.[295][296] Citing looser restrictions in comparison to its traditional home of Las Vegas, the National Finals Rodeo also relocated to Globe Life Field.[297]
To take advantage of the loosened restrictions, the Texas Rangers announced that they would not cap their capacity for their home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 5. The team did not limit capacity for a pre-season exhibition series against the Milwaukee Brewers either, although they only attracted 12,911 and 10,859 spectators respectively. The official attendance for the home opener was 38,238, nearly 95% capacity.[298]
Corrections[edit]
In November 2020 the University of Texas at Austin concluded that from March to October, 231 prisoners in the state died due to COVID-19. Due to the delay in announcing whether someone died from the disease, which can take as long as several months, Jerusalem Demsas of Vox wrote that "The 231 figure is likely to be a conservative count."[299] Based on an early 190 deaths count, UT Austin issued a report stating that the death rate of people in correctional supervision in Texas was 135% the general death rate.[300]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) banned prisoner visitation on March 12, 2020 and resumed it on March 15, 2021.[301] The agency vaccinated prison staff but as of February 2021 the prisoners did not yet receive them.[302]
Statistics[edit]
| County[a] | Confirmed Cases[b] |
Probable Cases[b] |
Total Cases[b] |
Deaths[c] | Population[d] | Total Cases / 100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 / 254 | 2,478,241 | 415,473 | 2,893,714 | 49,362 | 29,001,602 | 9,977.8 |
| Anderson | 4,735 | 1,359 | 6,094 | 121 | 59,025 | 10,324.4 |
| Andrews | 1,816 | 0 | 1,816 | 47 | 19,279 | 9,419.6 |
| Angelina | 4,911 | 3,634 | 8,545 | 279 | 90,989 | 9,391.2 |
| Aransas | 956 | 292 | 1,248 | 39 | 23,710 | 5,263.6 |
| Archer | 688 | 114 | 802 | 12 | 9,228 | 8,690.9 |
| Armstrong | 133 | 50 | 183 | 6 | 2,001 | 9,145.4 |
| Atascosa | 4,300 | 1,449 | 5,749 | 150 | 50,898 | 11,295.1 |
| Austin | 1,783 | 362 | 2,145 | 34 | 32,067 | 6,689.1 |
| Bailey | 605 | 216 | 821 | 19 | 7,113 | 11,542.2 |
| Bandera | 981 | 406 | 1,387 | 27 | 23,129 | 5,996.8 |
| Bastrop | 7,100 | 2,284 | 9,384 | 92 | 89,564 | 10,477.4 |
| Baylor | 126 | 172 | 298 | 12 | 3,751 | 7,944.5 |
| Bee | 3,108 | 384 | 3,492 | 72 | 33,471 | 10,432.9 |
| Bell | 22,401 | 0 | 22,401 | 417 | 359,255 | 6,235.4 |
| Bexar | 180,885 | 37,662 | 218,547 | 3,489 | 1,997,417 | 10,941.5 |
| Blanco | 605 | 128 | 733 | 20 | 12,159 | 6,028.5 |
| Borden | 22 | 9 | 31 | 2 | 680 | 4,558.8 |
| Bosque | 1,359 | 307 | 1,666 | 33 | 19,062 | 8,739.9 |
| Bowie | 4,724 | 2,223 | 6,947 | 213 | 96,380 | 7,207.9 |
| Brazoria | 30,755 | 6,575 | 37,330 | 488 | 380,439 | 9,812.3 |
| Brazos | 22,389 | 4,036 | 26,425 | 249 | 230,789 | 11,449.9 |
| Brewster | 837 | 91 | 928 | 16 | 9,092 | 10,206.8 |
| Briscoe | 97 | 71 | 168 | 5 | 1,572 | 10,687.0 |
| Brooks | 673 | 128 | 801 | 36 | 7,115 | 11,257.9 |
| Brown | 1,994 | 2,241 | 4,235 | 118 | 38,993 | 10,860.9 |
| Burleson | 1,960 | 438 | 2,398 | 46 | 18,373 | 13,051.8 |
| Burnet | 4,181 | 556 | 4,737 | 64 | 48,716 | 9,723.7 |
| Caldwell | 5,255 | 333 | 5,588 | 97 | 43,199 | 12,935.5 |
| Calhoun | 1,854 | 432 | 2,286 | 23 | 22,028 | 10,377.7 |
| Callahan | 610 | 577 | 1,187 | 39 | 14,070 | 8,436.4 |
| Cameron | 40,489 | 0 | 40,489 | 1,479 | 426,210 | 9,499.8 |
| Camp | 827 | 417 | 1,244 | 42 | 12,914 | 9,633.0 |
| Carson | 358 | 163 | 521 | 14 | 5,951 | 8,754.8 |
| Cass | 1,197 | 718 | 1,915 | 81 | 30,451 | 6,288.8 |
| Castro | 713 | 271 | 984 | 32 | 7,380 | 13,333.3 |
| Chambers | 4,944 | 0 | 4,944 | 26 | 44,298 | 11,160.8 |
| Cherokee | 2,252 | 1,901 | 4,153 | 140 | 53,539 | 7,757.0 |
| Childress | 1,346 | 39 | 1,385 | 17 | 7,038 | 19,678.9 |
| Clay | 937 | 92 | 1,029 | 16 | 10,351 | 9,941.1 |
| Cochran | 259 | 44 | 303 | 15 | 2,904 | 10,433.9 |
| Coke | 226 | 236 | 462 | 12 | 3,390 | 13,628.3 |
| Coleman | 487 | 262 | 749 | 32 | 8,191 | 9,144.2 |
| Collin | 74,215 | 15,947 | 90,162 | 822 | 1,033,046 | 8,727.8 |
| Collingsworth | 242 | 81 | 323 | 9 | 2,853 | 11,321.4 |
| Colorado | 1,399 | 321 | 1,720 | 30 | 22,283 | 7,718.9 |
| Comal | 5,516 | 4,843 | 10,359 | 295 | 156,317 | 6,626.9 |
| Comanche | 1,173 | 381 | 1,554 | 51 | 13,878 | 11,197.6 |
| Concho | 231 | 145 | 376 | 8 | 2,716 | 13,843.9 |
| Cooke | 3,178 | 534 | 3,712 | 72 | 40,477 | 9,170.6 |
| Coryell | 6,959 | 273 | 7,232 | 86 | 75,137 | 9,625.1 |
| Cottle | 143 | 47 | 190 | 7 | 1,354 | 14,032.5 |
| Crane | 204 | 326 | 530 | 12 | 4,678 | 11,329.6 |
| Crockett | 216 | 356 | 572 | 15 | 3,461 | 16,527.0 |
| Crosby | 392 | 262 | 654 | 29 | 5,702 | 11,469.7 |
| Culberson | 336 | 26 | 362 | 11 | 2,211 | 16,372.7 |
| Dallam | 826 | 138 | 964 | 24 | 7,053 | 13,667.9 |
| Dallas | 257,895 | 41,516 | 299,411 | 3,988 | 2,647,576 | 11,308.9 |
| Dawson | 1,735 | 0 | 1,735 | 68 | 12,720 | 13,639.9 |
| Deaf Smith | 2,112 | 696 | 2,808 | 66 | 19,572 | 14,347.0 |
| Delta | 181 | 138 | 319 | 11 | 5,295 | 6,024.6 |
| Denton | 54,859 | 19,626 | 74,485 | 748 | 886,563 | 8,401.5 |
| DeWitt | 1,928 | 0 | 1,928 | 59 | 20,611 | 9,354.2 |
| Dickens | 116 | 70 | 186 | 10 | 2,119 | 8,777.7 |
| Dimmit | 1,799 | 367 | 2,166 | 32 | 9,709 | 22,309.2 |
| Donley | 204 | 201 | 405 | 15 | 3,228 | 12,546.5 |
| Duval | 1,122 | 125 | 1,247 | 41 | 10,907 | 11,433.0 |
| Eastland | 945 | 404 | 1,349 | 48 | 18,307 | 7,368.8 |
| Ector | 8,811 | 8,380 | 17,191 | 368 | 167,383 | 10,270.5 |
| Edwards | 199 | 49 | 248 | 6 | 1,959 | 12,659.5 |
| El Paso | 134,441 | 0 | 134,441 | 2,663 | 852,224 | 15,775.3 |
| Ellis | 18,873 | 3,847 | 22,720 | 310 | 188,464 | 12,055.4 |
| Erath | 2,834 | 1,346 | 4,180 | 68 | 43,042 | 9,711.4 |
| Falls | 1,892 | 195 | 2,087 | 32 | 17,401 | 11,993.6 |
| Fannin | 2,612 | 874 | 3,486 | 108 | 36,230 | 9,621.9 |
| Fayette | 1,634 | 1,074 | 2,708 | 61 | 26,328 | 10,285.6 |
| Fisher | 299 | 0 | 299 | 14 | 3,859 | 7,748.1 |
| Floyd | 376 | 471 | 847 | 30 | 5,535 | 15,302.6 |
| Foard | 87 | 35 | 122 | 10 | 1,139 | 10,711.2 |
| Fort Bend | 57,386 | 9,530 | 66,916 | 662 | 805,788 | 8,304.4 |
| Franklin | 502 | 221 | 723 | 26 | 10,791 | 6,700.0 |
| Freestone | 1,092 | 803 | 1,895 | 50 | 20,621 | 9,189.7 |
| Frio | 2,215 | 606 | 2,821 | 50 | 19,103 | 14,767.3 |
| Gaines | 1,434 | 0 | 1,434 | 43 | 21,170 | 6,773.7 |
| Galveston | 33,486 | 5,703 | 39,189 | 412 | 339,931 | 11,528.5 |
| Garza | 255 | 232 | 487 | 22 | 6,115 | 7,964.0 |
| Gillespie | 1,707 | 838 | 2,545 | 50 | 27,375 | 9,296.8 |
| Glasscock | 41 | 63 | 104 | 2 | 1,369 | 7,596.8 |
| Goliad | 283 | 165 | 448 | 13 | 8,007 | 5,595.1 |
| Gonzales | 2,365 | 366 | 2,731 | 57 | 20,769 | 13,149.4 |
| Gray | 1,979 | 334 | 2,313 | 56 | 21,930 | 10,547.2 |
| Grayson | 11,284 | 0 | 11,284 | 340 | 135,612 | 8,320.8 |
| Gregg | 6,108 | 4,990 | 11,098 | 352 | 126,116 | 8,799.8 |
| Grimes | 3,328 | 360 | 3,688 | 69 | 29,466 | 12,516.1 |
| Guadalupe | 10,923 | 3,679 | 14,602 | 210 | 166,961 | 8,745.8 |
| Hale | 6,111 | 0 | 6,111 | 155 | 33,165 | 18,426.1 |
| Hall | 360 | 102 | 462 | 14 | 3,017 | 15,313.2 |
| Hamilton | 713 | 58 | 771 | 27 | 8,641 | 8,922.6 |
| Hansford | 390 | 506 | 896 | 25 | 5,327 | 16,820.0 |
| Hardeman | 323 | 57 | 380 | 12 | 3,856 | 9,854.8 |
| Hardin | 2,677 | 3,003 | 5,680 | 111 | 59,178 | 9,598.2 |
| Harris | 393,183 | 0 | 393,183 | 6,230 | 4,698,655 | 8,368.0 |
| Harrison | 2,469 | 2,356 | 4,825 | 108 | 68,559 | 7,037.7 |
| Hartley | 523 | 109 | 632 | 2 | 5,861 | 10,783.1 |
| Haskell | 200 | 245 | 445 | 27 | 5,628 | 7,906.9 |
| Hays | 18,436 | 2,013 | 20,449 | 206 | 228,364 | 8,954.6 |
| Hemphill | 538 | 47 | 585 | 2 | 3,838 | 15,242.3 |
| Henderson | 3,896 | 1,943 | 5,839 | 184 | 82,989 | 7,035.9 |
| Hidalgo | 58,398 | 28,708 | 87,106 | 2,529 | 886,294 | 9,828.1 |
| Hill | 3,784 | 705 | 4,489 | 108 | 37,069 | 12,109.8 |
| Hockley | 2,428 | 391 | 2,819 | 102 | 22,862 | 12,330.5 |
| Hood | 4,315 | 2,217 | 6,532 | 129 | 60,984 | 10,711.0 |
| Hopkins | 1,609 | 1,478 | 3,087 | 109 | 37,312 | 8,273.5 |
| Houston | 904 | 731 | 1,635 | 52 | 23,381 | 6,992.9 |
| Howard | 3,033 | 1,604 | 4,637 | 101 | 36,294 | 12,776.2 |
| Hudspeth | 454 | 76 | 530 | 11 | 3,680 | 14,402.2 |
| Hunt | 5,117 | 827 | 5,944 | 168 | 97,842 | 6,075.1 |
| Hutchinson | 1,530 | 482 | 2,012 | 71 | 20,550 | 9,790.8 |
| Irion | 52 | 73 | 125 | 1 | 1,592 | 7,851.8 |
| Jack | 523 | 85 | 608 | 16 | 9,265 | 6,562.3 |
| Jackson | 1,550 | 265 | 1,815 | 31 | 14,561 | 12,464.8 |
| Jasper | 984 | 1,486 | 2,470 | 89 | 35,726 | 6,913.7 |
| Jeff Davis | 150 | 40 | 190 | 5 | 2,411 | 7,880.5 |
| Jefferson | 19,641 | 0 | 19,641 | 422 | 251,590 | 7,806.7 |
| Jim Hogg | 579 | 34 | 613 | 16 | 5,092 | 12,038.5 |
| Jim Wells | 3,701 | 565 | 4,266 | 101 | 40,204 | 10,610.9 |
| Johnson | 16,753 | 2,992 | 19,745 | 367 | 174,777 | 11,297.3 |
| Jones | 1,931 | 699 | 2,630 | 55 | 19,697 | 13,352.3 |
| Karnes | 1,805 | 278 | 2,083 | 37 | 15,508 | 13,431.8 |
| Kaufman | 13,345 | 2,647 | 15,992 | 256 | 135,410 | 11,810.1 |
| Kendall | 1,710 | 1,561 | 3,271 | 72 | 47,284 | 6,917.8 |
| Kenedy | 20 | 18 | 38 | 2 | 390 | 9,743.6 |
| Kent | 41 | 65 | 106 | 2 | 759 | 13,965.7 |
| Kerr | 2,268 | 2,198 | 4,466 | 88 | 52,829 | 8,453.7 |
| Kimble | 209 | 59 | 268 | 6 | 4,604 | 5,821.0 |
| King | 5 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 274 | 4,014.6 |
| Kinney | 330 | 17 | 347 | 6 | 3,575 | 9,706.3 |
| Kleberg | 1,946 | 691 | 2,637 | 93 | 32,135 | 8,206.0 |
| Knox | 171 | 87 | 258 | 17 | 3,683 | 7,005.2 |
| La Salle | 902 | 142 | 1,044 | 28 | 7,426 | 14,058.7 |
| Lamar | 2,660 | 3,153 | 5,813 | 155 | 50,440 | 11,524.6 |
| Lamb | 1,793 | 492 | 2,285 | 82 | 12,565 | 18,185.4 |
| Lampasas | 1,842 | 334 | 2,176 | 32 | 21,326 | 10,203.5 |
| Lavaca | 1,972 | 500 | 2,472 | 76 | 20,437 | 12,095.7 |
| Lee | 1,018 | 1,168 | 2,186 | 39 | 17,411 | 12,555.3 |
| Leon | 1,271 | 356 | 1,627 | 43 | 17,588 | 9,250.6 |
| Liberty | 5,974 | 1,842 | 7,816 | 183 | 91,098 | 8,579.8 |
| Limestone | 2,139 | 635 | 2,774 | 76 | 23,709 | 11,700.2 |
| Lipscomb | 300 | 35 | 335 | 12 | 3,208 | 10,442.6 |
| Live Oak | 872 | 257 | 1,129 | 22 | 12,164 | 9,281.5 |
| Llano | 1,175 | 479 | 1,654 | 51 | 21,784 | 7,592.7 |
| Loving | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 2,083.3 |
| Lubbock | 48,956 | 0 | 48,956 | 784 | 308,880 | 15,849.5 |
| Lynn | 618 | 0 | 618 | 23 | 6,151 | 10,047.1 |
| Madison | 1,714 | 248 | 1,962 | 29 | 14,188 | 13,828.6 |
| Marion | 351 | 188 | 539 | 33 | 9,760 | 5,522.5 |
| Martin | 353 | 278 | 631 | 18 | 5,731 | 11,010.3 |
| Mason | 240 | 156 | 396 | 6 | 4,301 | 9,207.2 |
| Matagorda | 3,377 | 651 | 4,028 | 109 | 36,292 | 11,098.9 |
| Maverick | 10,426 | 0 | 10,426 | 356 | 57,888 | 18,010.6 |
| McCulloch | 412 | 163 | 575 | 19 | 8,323 | 6,908.6 |
| McLennan | 27,043 | 0 | 27,043 | 470 | 255,400 | 10,588.5 |
| McMullen | 64 | 19 | 83 | 5 | 749 | 11,081.4 |
| Medina | 3,778 | 1,189 | 4,967 | 103 | 53,794 | 9,233.4 |
| Menard | 142 | 66 | 208 | 9 | 2,128 | 9,774.4 |
| Midland | 17,433 | 0 | 17,433 | 266 | 176,814 | 9,859.5 |
| Milam | 1,436 | 1,089 | 2,525 | 48 | 25,185 | 10,025.8 |
| Mills | 594 | 62 | 656 | 21 | 4,899 | 13,390.5 |
| Mitchell | 604 | 0 | 604 | 30 | 8,531 | 7,080.1 |
| Montague | 1,753 | 331 | 2,084 | 71 | 19,695 | 10,581.4 |
| Montgomery | 42,589 | 10,205 | 52,794 | 562 | 604,391 | 8,735.1 |
| Moore | 2,104 | 373 | 2,477 | 72 | 21,046 | 11,769.5 |
| Morris | 581 | 285 | 866 | 33 | 12,428 | 6,968.1 |
| Motley | 54 | 61 | 115 | 8 | 1,205 | 9,543.6 |
| Nacogdoches | 3,389 | 1,125 | 4,514 | 169 | 65,027 | 6,941.7 |
| Navarro | 3,460 | 2,321 | 5,781 | 140 | 52,013 | 11,114.5 |
| Newton | 300 | 320 | 620 | 35 | 13,317 | 4,655.7 |
| Nolan | 1,533 | 0 | 1,533 | 51 | 14,256 | 10,753.4 |
| Nueces | 27,190 | 11,516 | 38,706 | 690 | 363,049 | 10,661.4 |
| Ochiltree | 1,016 | 127 | 1,143 | 27 | 10,219 | 11,185.0 |
| Oldham | 137 | 131 | 268 | 4 | 2,126 | 12,605.8 |
| Orange | 4,115 | 4,309 | 8,424 | 146 | 82,461 | 10,215.7 |
| Palo Pinto | 2,493 | 398 | 2,891 | 75 | 29,008 | 9,966.2 |
| Panola | 986 | 617 | 1,603 | 75 | 24,586 | 6,520.0 |
| Parker | 12,421 | 3,246 | 15,667 | 180 | 141,080 | 11,105.0 |
| Parmer | 904 | 365 | 1,269 | 36 | 9,501 | 13,356.5 |
| Pecos | 1,386 | 274 | 1,660 | 34 | 15,052 | 11,028.4 |
| Polk | 1,493 | 1,789 | 3,282 | 114 | 50,293 | 6,525.8 |
| Potter | 17,323 | 0 | 17,323 | 384 | 116,063 | 14,925.5 |
| Presidio | 642 | 175 | 817 | 24 | 6,535 | 12,501.9 |
| Rains | 405 | 392 | 797 | 25 | 12,416 | 6,419.1 |
| Randall | 16,688 | 0 | 16,688 | 279 | 139,034 | 12,002.8 |
| Reagan | 198 | 182 | 380 | 8 | 3,836 | 9,906.2 |
| Real | 275 | 36 | 311 | 12 | 3,499 | 8,888.3 |
| Red River | 409 | 283 | 692 | 37 | 11,649 | 5,940.4 |
| Reeves | 1,021 | 753 | 1,774 | 43 | 16,154 | 10,981.8 |
| Refugio | 582 | 80 | 662 | 21 | 6,871 | 9,634.7 |
| Roberts | 56 | 5 | 61 | 1 | 851 | 7,168.0 |
| Robertson | 1,703 | 419 | 2,122 | 41 | 17,708 | 11,983.3 |
| Rockwall | 9,262 | 2,217 | 11,479 | 153 | 103,363 | 11,105.5 |
| Runnels | 787 | 502 | 1,289 | 37 | 10,121 | 12,735.9 |
| Rusk | 2,222 | 1,724 | 3,946 | 107 | 54,526 | 7,236.9 |
| Sabine | 167 | 352 | 519 | 45 | 10,917 | 4,754.1 |
| San Augustine | 332 | 241 | 573 | 32 | 8,458 | 6,774.7 |
| San Jacinto | 888 | 395 | 1,283 | 36 | 29,506 | 4,348.3 |
| San Patricio | 3,295 | 1,051 | 4,346 | 148 | 66,688 | 6,516.9 |
| San Saba | 529 | 256 | 785 | 23 | 6,227 | 12,606.4 |
| Schleicher | 124 | 111 | 235 | 6 | 2,822 | 8,327.4 |
| Scurry | 2,340 | 84 | 2,424 | 62 | 16,697 | 14,517.6 |
| Shackelford | 131 | 140 | 271 | 5 | 3,382 | 8,013.0 |
| Shelby | 932 | 743 | 1,675 | 67 | 24,249 | 6,907.5 |
| Sherman | 191 | 31 | 222 | 12 | 3,077 | 7,214.8 |
| Smith | 11,737 | 8,412 | 20,149 | 468 | 231,516 | 8,703.1 |
| Somervell | 589 | 489 | 1,078 | 14 | 9,569 | 11,265.5 |
| Starr | 7,767 | 1,729 | 9,496 | 297 | 63,690 | 14,909.7 |
| Stephens | 443 | 345 | 788 | 25 | 9,556 | 8,246.1 |
| Sterling | 50 | 57 | 107 | 4 | 1,254 | 8,532.7 |
| Stonewall | 49 | 107 | 156 | 6 | 1,382 | 11,288.0 |
| Sutton | 275 | 195 | 470 | 8 | 3,664 | 12,827.5 |
| Swisher | 445 | 383 | 828 | 17 | 7,439 | 11,130.5 |
| Tarrant | 216,096 | 41,280 | 257,376 | 3,022 | 2,060,239 | 12,492.5 |
| Taylor | 7,288 | 8,393 | 15,681 | 406 | 139,044 | 11,277.7 |
| Terrell | 65 | 10 | 75 | 2 | 794 | 9,445.8 |
| Terry | 1,692 | 0 | 1,692 | 56 | 12,544 | 13,488.5 |
| Throckmorton | 50 | 23 | 73 | 5 | 1,448 | 5,041.4 |
| Titus | 2,721 | 981 | 3,702 | 83 | 33,690 | 10,988.4 |
| Tom Green | 4,648 | 8,320 | 12,968 | 269 | 117,613 | 11,026.0 |
| Travis | 82,526 | 0 | 82,526 | 998 | 1,273,554 | 6,480.0 |
| Trinity | 529 | 221 | 750 | 26 | 14,530 | 5,161.7 |
| Tyler | 602 | 716 | 1,318 | 38 | 22,735 | 5,797.2 |
| Upshur | 1,338 | 1,919 | 3,257 | 74 | 41,204 | 7,904.6 |
| Upton | 69 | 298 | 367 | 10 | 3,619 | 10,140.9 |
| Uvalde | 3,440 | 132 | 3,572 | 72 | 26,743 | 13,356.8 |
| Val Verde | 7,855 | 0 | 7,855 | 220 | 50,853 | 15,446.5 |
| Van Zandt | 2,653 | 1,615 | 4,268 | 117 | 56,376 | 7,570.6 |
| Victoria | 8,625 | 9 | 8,634 | 207 | 91,329 | 9,453.7 |
| Walker | 7,935 | 909 | 8,844 | 126 | 75,949 | 11,644.7 |
| Waller | 3,455 | 654 | 4,109 | 46 | 54,822 | 7,495.2 |
| Ward | 707 | 479 | 1,186 | 24 | 11,530 | 10,286.2 |
| Washington | 3,296 | 749 | 4,045 | 93 | 35,570 | 11,371.9 |
| Webb | 43,738 | 0 | 43,738 | 788 | 280,775 | 15,577.6 |
| Wharton | 3,646 | 452 | 4,098 | 115 | 41,224 | 9,940.8 |
| Wheeler | 475 | 55 | 530 | 10 | 5,178 | 10,235.6 |
| Wichita | 14,971 | 0 | 14,971 | 376 | 132,920 | 11,263.2 |
| Wilbarger | 1,617 | 290 | 1,907 | 55 | 12,465 | 15,298.8 |
| Willacy | 2,751 | 208 | 2,959 | 88 | 21,566 | 13,720.7 |
| Williamson | 38,967 | 6,681 | 45,648 | 464 | 589,216 | 7,747.2 |
| Wilson | 3,285 | 1,184 | 4,469 | 68 | 52,127 | 8,573.3 |
| Winkler | 574 | 193 | 767 | 21 | 7,990 | 9,599.5 |
| Wise | 6,054 | 1,257 | 7,311 | 121 | 69,609 | 10,503.0 |
| Wood | 1,978 | 1,442 | 3,420 | 127 | 45,084 | 7,585.8 |
| Yoakum | 871 | 0 | 871 | 26 | 8,829 | 9,865.2 |
| Young | 1,928 | 236 | 2,164 | 44 | 19,029 | 11,372.1 |
| Zapata | 1,573 | 193 | 1,766 | 36 | 14,196 | 12,440.1 |
| Zavala | 1,647 | 209 | 1,856 | 40 | 12,116 | 15,318.6 |
| Updated May 4, 2021 Data is publicly reported by Texas Department of State Health Services[303][304] | ||||||
| ||||||
See also[edit]
- Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austin, Texas – for impact on Texas's state capital
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States – for impact on the country
- COVID-19 pandemic – for impact on other countries
- COVID-19 County Projections
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- ^ "COVID-19 In Texas (Dashboard)". Texas Department of State Health Services. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "CaseCountData.xlsx". Texas Department of State Health Services. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
Further reading[edit]
- "COVID AND CORRECTIONS: A PROFILE OF COVID DEATHS IN CUSTODY IN TEXAS" (PDF). University of Texas at Austin. November 2020.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to COVID-19 pandemic in Texas. |
- Coronavirus information from the Texas Department of State Health Services
- List of COVID-19-related county orders from the Texas Association of Counties
- COVID 19 emergency ordinances as of April 13 from the Texas Oil & Gas Association
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