Imagine what the state agency in charge of the response is not allowed to tell you. Open your eyes and your mind will follow... The news clips include news stories, editorials and opinion columns about health and human services from major state and national media outlets. They do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the agency and may contain inaccuracies. Texas HHS Announces New Chief Operating Officer Crossroads Today Maurice McCreary, Jr. has been named the Texas HHS Chief Operating Officer, effective July 20. The chief operating officer is responsible for overseeing the agency’s information technology, procurement and contracting services and system support services. McCreary most recently served as the interim chief executive officer of Hamad General Hospital, in Qatar, where he led daily operations of the clinical and non-clinical support services departments and facilities management. Daily COVID-19 cases hit new high in Bexar County KSAT-TV San Antonio Bexar County’s coronavirus case count continued to grow on Sunday as the region added 538 new cases, the most ever recorded in a single day in the area. The new cases brought the total case tally to 6,882. According to the city of San Antonio’s website, one new death was reported, bringing the toll up to 97. If trends persist, Houston 'would become the worst affected city in the US,' expert Peter Hotez says Houston Chronicle The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas continued to reach record highs over the weekend while new cases also climbed in the Houston area. Harris County is averaging 610 new cases per day over the last week, compared to 313 new cases per day the previous week. Third day in a row of record-breaking daily coronavirus cases: 506 Austin American-Statesman For the third day in a row, Austin-Travis County health officials on Sunday reported another record number of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. Sunday’s tally of 506 new cases is a 21% jump over the last single-day record of 418 new cases, which was set Saturday. The previous single-day record for new lab-confirmed cases in Travis County was set Friday, with 295 new cases. Dallas County Adds 408 Cases of COVID-19, Reports 314th Death KXAS-TV - Dallas/Fort Worth Dallas County Health and Human Services reported 408 more cases of the new coronavirus -- the fifth day in a row on which it has reported at least 392 cases. In total, Dallas County has reported 16,845 cases of COVID-19. Texas childcare centers see sharp increase in coronavirus cases after months of relative calm Dallas Morning News As of Friday, 410 total cases of coronavirus — 267 staff members and 143 children — had been reported at 318 licensed child care operations across the state. On May 18, Gov. Abbott allowed daycares to open for non-essential workers, as well. Emergency requirements for entry and pre-screening were put into place, but they were repealed on June 12. The lack of requirements puts the onus on parents to ensure their kids are going to a safe venue. Coronavirus cases are increasing at Texas child care centers, but the state repealed safety rules Texas Tribune As of last week, state-licensed child care centers are no longer required to comply with a list of safety precautions in effect since mid-April. In mid-May, 36 employees and 23 children in 53 centers had reportedly been infected, according to a state tally. As of this Tuesday, 167 employees and 75 children at 203 centers had been infected. And Thursday the numbers rose further to 226 employees and 113 children in 270 centers. Texas attributes record-high coronavirus cases to bars, beaches and a data backlog in Harris County Texas Tribune For the fourth time in five days, Texas reported a record number of new coronavirus cases Saturday. State health officials credit some of the 4,430 new cases to a data entry backlog in Harris County, which accounted for about 1,200 of the recorded illnesses. But DSHS said part of the increase is also attributable to Texans gathering at bars, beaches, rivers and other social gatherings like graduation parties. With hospitalizations and positive test rates up, Gov. Abbott addresses state’s COVID-19 response at 2 p.m. KXAN-TV - Austin Gov. Abbott will give an update about the state’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic at 2 p.m. Monday. In the update, Abbott is expected to address the COVID-19 positive test rate and hospitalizations. Currently, hospitals both statewide and locally in Austin-Travis County are approximately 75% full, and the positive test rate is at 8.8%, both higher than what they were during Phase 1 of the governor’s plan. WHO reports largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases Associated Press The virus has infected over 8.8 million people worldwide and killed more than 464,000, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, though the true numbers are thought to be much higher because many cases go unreported or undetected. The U.S. has the world’s highest number of reported infections, over 2.2 million, and the highest death toll, at about 120,000. As face mask requirements pop back up across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott faces criticism from local leaders and fellow Republicans Texas Tribune City and county officials, some of whom signed on to a letter asking for the power to mandate face masks, fault Abbott for two things. They say he should have explicitly told them that businesses could require face masks. And, they say, his lack of a statewide mandate even as he emphasized the importance of wearing a mask prompted some Texans to let their guards down against taking precautions to stop the virus' spread. Commentary: Masking the real problem — a deadly virus Texas Tribune More people are out and about. Their interactions — whether for work, for shopping, dining, drinking, demonstrating, you name it — give the virus more opportunities to spread. And the numbers show it, whatever your politics. This is getting worse, and the easiest way to slow it down, short of closing everything down again, is for more Texans to do the simple things: distance, handwashing and masks. Editorial: Hey, Fort Worth. Put on a mask. Fort Worth Star-Telegram We know a face mask isn’t foolproof. Yes, the experts’ advice has changed. But for now, the best knowledge we have tells us that transmission of the virus is cut dramatically if a large share of people in crowded, indoor public places cover their faces. And no, it’s not the only thing to be done. It’s still vital to distance from others. City leaders must enforce restrictions on crowd capacities more forcefully. Editorial: Wolff’s new mandate on masks will save lives San Antonio Express-News Sure, it’s surprising and welcome that Abbott has endorsed Wolff’s order, but the governor is in a position to do so much more. Masks are recommended by the CDC and other public health experts, and Abbott could still mandate masks across all of Texas or allow local governments to make that call. A mask mandate is not a political statement, it’s a public health best practice.
Lol obviously when you have a 'surge' of something then it goes down. Data dude. Do you understand what 'flatten the curve' means? Smh As you say since april which translates directly with mitigation and social distancing measures since then. Fought by repugs every step of the way mind you.. Now..btw as we had seemingly started flattened it and starting to see a decline... and yet here since memorial day in all the Republican run states cases in fl tx are on rise!! Imagine that you jagoff! This is documented fact! Woo hoo Deaths are a lagging indicator woo hoo but will take your good news as praise to medical and great leader like cuomo and attack that curve. cuomo were able to show leadership and bring it down.. aka flatten the curve..this a result you praise here so good one its pretty funny actually i laughed the hardest at this part. What about here in tx? Under guys like abbott whats it doing? You betcha to the moon alice!! Open er um main!! Its all going up around here and you seem to be doing some weird dance when rising cases simply is not a good thing. Now way to sugarcoat and even repugs are jumping off the ' more tests means more positive' bandwagon since the 2 arent in line statistically and gotta do better on that..wait maybe just maybr cases are rising in the repug states. Whoopsie facts!! ..sorry that one wont work. So its hot af and repugs told us it would go down due to heat.... and no amount of bleach can rewrite things. Its not a rewrite but an act of morbidity to get to excited about a flattened based death drop when some experts are calling this still the first wave.. but more importantly your death number glances over the 100k+ part !! Good one!! I shudder to hear hannity and rush going on about 100k+ since it would be all you would hear if a democrat was president. So this is reality and fact and hardly something to dance about. Nastiness some extreme nastiness in feeling sick Lets review..I mean its not that hard... increase in cases = bad 100k+ deaths = bad surge drop = normal Im not sure what you are going for past that. Obviously we want deaths to go down as they should! Lets hope with advances in treatment.. understanding and the collective brain power of medical tech in the world going at this, the death number will go down even more! We all want it to! Doesnt mean i dont friggin want to get it or think its ok to get it ( you think its ok?) and the fact our own president doesnt want to do comprehensive testing and track..so guess the f*ck what? Us responsible non repugs are all still inside!! Still inside dude!! All the repugs in their camo you cant see them with so much camo but can see they dont have a mask on. Good for you if you do since yes einstein we are trying to bring the deaths and cases down! Stay with me breh So we will have to wait for a vaccine? Or a better president that wants to track the dogsh**it out of this virus!?! Cause it ain't trump bucko! This virus could be like aids and never find a cure. Im not trying to be like magic johnson and live with it. You can go ahead and get the virus tough guy and let us know how it goes. We have no idea on long term effects and the most effective plan starts and ends with comprehensive test track quarantine. This is fact. We have 100k+ dead and cases rising i will take good news but I hope biden and cuomo will fix this disaster trump left us with. Vote biden thank you for validating cuomo too I knew the numbers and facts would show the same!! your legwork is appreciated but we all knew about worldmeters on st Patrick's day wish you could keep up glad you finally found it cheers THATS A FACT JACK WOOOOO
What. The. Hell. If I saw Greg Abbott or his fellow cronies in person, I’d want nothing more than to punch them all in the face.
Fauci now says we should go back to strict stay at home.....GODDAMNED GOP killing thousands of Americans with their greed and ineptness. Failing to act in January, when they should have, finally acting in March, but not having the courage to go the distance, and opening up too early, so thousands more will die. No honor or integrity at all in the GOP any longer, just greed and more greed.... DD
....but you're cool with Cuomo's handling in NY, the state with the worst results in the country? bias detected!
Now that Texas is going the wrong way in COVID-19, the governor is now *asking* people to wear masks?
NY should've been the warning, not the exception or "outlier" . Meanwhile people going nuts and "shooting" the messengers. You'll get your "freedoms" by silencing these public workers, but a watered down isolation is no isolation at all. Thanks for dragging this out narcissitic shitbags. www.washingtonpost.com /health/amid-threats-and-political-pushback-public-health-officials-leaving-posts/2020/06/22/6075f7a2-b0cf-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html Amid threats and political pushback, public health officials are leaving their posts For Lauri Jones, the trouble began in early May. The director of a small public health department in western Washington State was working with a family under quarantine because of coronavirus exposure. When she heard one family member had been out in the community, Jones decided to check in. The routine phone call launched a nightmare. “Someone posted on social media that we had violated their civil liberties [and] named me by name,” Jones recalled. “They said, ‘Let’s post her address . . . Let’s start shooting.’ ” People from across the country began calling her personal phone with similar threats. “We’ve been doing the same thing in public health on a daily basis forever. But we are now the villains,” said Jones, 64, who called the police and set up surveillance cameras at her home. Public health workers, already underfunded and understaffed, are confronting waves of protest at their homes and offices in addition to pressure from politicians who favor a faster reopening. Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said more than 20 health officials have been fired, resigned or have retired in recent weeks “due to conditions related to having to enforce and stand up for strong public health tactics during this pandemic.” Although shutdown measures are broadly popular, a vocal minority opposes them vociferously. There have been attacks on officials’ race, gender, sexual orientation and appearance. Freeman said some of the criticisms “seem to be harsher for women.” Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said attacks on health officials have been particularly awful in California, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. This month in California, Nichole Quick, Orange County’s chief health officer, stepped down after she faced threats and protests at her home for requiring face coverings in many businesses as cases rose. The mandate, issued May 23, was softened to a recommendation a week later. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine who is part of a county task force, said it was not the first time Quick had been undermined. On March 17, Quick issued a strict lockdown order; a day later it was amended to add exceptions. “It was couched as a clarification, but it was a walk back,” Noymer said, because of pressure from business leaders. Quick’s departure is part of an exodus of public health officials across the country who have been blamed by both citizens and politicians for the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody resign for the kinds of reasons we’ve seen recently,” Plescia said. “We are very concerned that if it continues to get worse it’s going to have major implications for who will be willing to have these jobs.” Ohio’s public health director, Amy Acton, shifted to an advisory role after enduring months of anger against the state’s preventive measures, including armed protesters at her home bearing messages including anti-Semitic and sexist slurs. One Republican lawmaker linked Acton, who is Jewish, to Nazi Germany; another called her a dictator. Georgia’s public health director said last month that she receives threats daily and now has an armed escort. Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, who is transgender, has come under fire for the state’s handling of the pandemic, including from a county official who resigned after saying at a recent meeting that he was “tired of listening to a guy dressed up as a woman.” Four public health officials in Colorado have left their jobs recently. A day after telling political leaders in Weld County, Colo. that their insistence on a speedy reopening despite a high case rate and widespread transmission was giving him “serious heartburn,” Public Health Director Mark Wallace got a 7:30 p.m. email: He had until 9 a.m., it said, to weigh in on guidelines for reopening businesses — “churches, salons, restaurants, etc.” They would go public an hour later. Wallace, who declined to comment for this article, retired soon after. Theresa Anselmo, executive director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials, said 80 percent of members had reported being threatened and more than that were at risk of termination or lost funding. “It’s exhausting to be contradicted and argued with and devalued and demoralized all the time, and I think that’s what you’re seeing around the country,” Anselmo said. “We’ve seen from the top down the federal government is pitting public health against freedom, and to set up that false dichotomy is really a disservice to the men and women who have dedicated their lives . . . to helping people.” Not everyone has left willingly. In Colorado’s Rio Grande County, Emily Brown was fired, she says, after advocating a more cautious response to the virus. “I think I just finally pushed too hard,” she said. “There was resistance to taking steps as quickly as I felt they needed to be taken or move in directions I thought we needed to.” She had been in her position for six years and valued being part of a close-knit rural community. But during the pandemic, she began getting threatening messages online from people she considered neighbors, including one Facebook post that referenced hanging. She became worried about who she might run into at the grocery store. “I’ve been surprised at who professes that vitriol so vocally on platforms like social media,” she said. Derrick Neal, who runs the public health department in Round Rock, Texas, and is past president of the state public health workers’ association, said given the virus’s impact on daily life, public health was inevitably tied up in politics. “But a community has to be healthy in order to be economically solvent,” he said. “That’s been lost in the politics of all this.” Public health workers in California have also been battered publicly by business groups, ordinary citizens and elected officials. Several have resigned. “Half a dozen county health leaders are leaving their positions in the coming weeks. All of them have served with distinction and in the interest of public health,” California Medical Association president Peter Bretan Jr. said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned that politics may be trumping public interest.” After Los Angeles County health official Barbara Ferrer held a news conference on May 13 saying some stay-at-home restrictions may remain in place for three more months, a doctored photo of her with dark circles under her eyes made its way across social media. One tweet, liked or retweeted more than 100,000 times, called her “the most unhealthy looking person I have ever seen.” In a full-page ad in the local newspaper, a business council accused Santa Clara County’s public health officer, Sara Cody, of “cratering our economy” for being the first in the nation to impose a shelter-in-place order. The local sheriff is now investigating threats against her. People in the field worry that many of these vacant positions will be difficult to fill. “This is the beginning of a wave of people leaving,” Anselmo said. “Who would want to go work as a director in a public health department when you have a target on your back?”
Arizona hits new COVID-19 hospitalization records as cases continue to spike ahead of president's visit Arizona reported another record day for COVID-19 hospitalizations along with another big increase in new cases Monday, as the virus continues its rapid spread through the state ahead of President Donald Trump's visit Tuesday. Inpatient beds, ICU beds, ventilators in use and emergency department visits for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients all hit their highest-ever numbers Sunday, according to hospital data released by the Arizona Department of Health Services Monday. The highest jump came in inpatient beds, with 1,992 beds occupied by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients Sunday, compared with 1,942 Saturday. As of Sunday, 82% of current inpatient beds and 84% of ICU beds were in use for COVID-19 and other patients. More than 1,000 new cases have been reported on each of the past 13 days, with more than 2,000 new cases reported on each of the past five days, according to state data. While increased testing over the past month has contributed to an increase in numbers, the percentage of those tests coming back positive has spiked sharply since mid-May, indicating a sharp increase in community spread. Case spikes prompted Gov. Doug Ducey last week to allow Arizona cities and counties to enforce their own mask mandates, although he stopped short of issuing a statewide requirement despite growing pressure from the medical community. Ducey acknowledged a troubling shift in the state's COVID-19 landscape, saying he was "adjusting" policy because "what we're seeing today concerns us." Cities, counties and towns rushed to put rules in place, but Maricopa County stepped in on Friday and issued a mandate that applies to every community in metro Phoenix and the broader county. Some local jurisdictions had held back from imposing the rule, though most of the Valley's larger cities moved to adopt their own. Arizona's sharp uptick in coronavirus cases since Ducey's stay-at-home order expired in mid-May has raised questions and alarm locally and nationally about whether the state has done enough to slow the spread. Here's what you need to know about Monday's new numbers. Cases increased by 2,196, or 4.2%, from Sunday's 52,390 identified cases since the outbreak began. Deaths increased by three from Sunday's 1,339 known deaths. Inpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 tallied 1,992 as of Sunday, the highest number so far, passing Saturday's 1,942 inpatients. Hospitalizations statewide have eclipsed 1,000 daily for the past three weeks, the highest they’ve been since the state began reporting the data April 8. Ventilator use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was at its highest on Sunday, with 379 patients on ventilators, surpassing the previous record of 368 on ventilators Friday. ICU bed use for suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 patients was at 583 on Sunday, passing the previous high of 556 on Saturday. Sunday was the seventh consecutive day it has passed 500. https://www.azcentral.com/story/new...ospital-metrics-hit-record-levels/3234845001/
Texas reports 10 consecutive days of record-high hospitalizations for coronavirus https://apps.texastribune.org/featu...4.1767373893.1592835242-1249078918.1585589244
Even here in Montgomery county... focus on stopping the spread (distance, masks, washing hands) and not on how many recovered cases. Must be getting bad...
I do hope you are right that deaths from this are going down and will continue to trend down even in the face of rising infections. After all, politics aside, I would hope that everyone here is ultimately for less people dying. Unfortunately, death from this illness takes about a month after being infected, so we will know in a few weeks whether or not this holds true with all the new infections.
