COVID-19 updates: State of Texas reports record-high case count
COVID-19 hospitalizations are also up to 9,628 statewide, and a record-high 2,828 in North Texas, where they’ve gone up 85% since Nov. 1. Author: WFAA Staff Updated: 5:39 PM CST December 17, 2020
This story will be updated as new information is released.
Texas is reporting a record high 16,864 new COVID-19 cases today plus 3,524 new probable cases along with 266 new deaths.
COVID-19 hospitalizations are also up to 9,628 statewide, and a record-high 2,828 in North Texas, where they’ve gone up 85% since Nov. 1.
Collin and Denton counties have each reported more new cases in the past month than in all of April, May, June, July and August combined.
December 17, 2020, 4:51 PM)
Sergio Soriano, 33, of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, looks at shuttered shops as he walks to work downtown Friday, May 1, 2020, in El Paso, Texas, after crossing through customs.
Abilene recently became the eighth region in Texas to meet Gov. Greg Abbott s threshold for rolling back business capacity, as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. A host of local leaders across the state say they would like to do more, but the governor s statewide orders limit their power to impose restrictions part of Texas ongoing struggle between state and local control.
Earlier this fall, COVID-19 cases started to climb in El Paso, stretching hospitals thin and leading to a backlog of bodies at the medical examiner s office. County Judge Ricardo Samaniego ordered a temporary shutdown of nonessential businesses.
Many celebrated following the Pfizer vaccine’s Dallas arrival on Monday, but despite its 95% efficacy rate, persuading some North Texans to take it could be a challenge.
That’s why the county’s health department is teaming with local leaders, hospital systems and other community partners to craft a vaccine awareness campaign. Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said the campaign will provide the public with pertinent vaccine information, including why it’s safe to take.
Huang said the speed with which the Pfizer vaccine was released has caused concern among some people. Some may be wary of taking the vaccine because of the way it’s been politicized; President Donald Trump s chief of staff, for instance, threatened to fire the Food and Drug Administration commissioner if he didn’t approve it by last Friday. Though there s no indication his threat had any effect at all on the FDA, it might have had an effect on the public.
Associated Press
Sergio Soriano, 33, of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, looks at shuttered shops as he walks to work downtown Friday, May 1, 2020, in El Paso, Texas, after crossing through customs.
Some local officials would like more power to respond to the virus as they see fit, but an appeals court already squashed one county s attempt to impose new restrictions.
Abilene recently became the eighth region in Texas to meet Gov. Greg Abbott’s threshold for rolling back business capacity, as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. A host of local leaders across the state say they would like to do more, but the governor’s statewide orders limit their power to impose restrictions part of Texas’ ongoing struggle between state and local control.
Dallas County reports 1,699 new coronavirus cases, six deaths; Tarrant County fatalities surpass 1,000 As first vaccines are administered, Judge Jenkins urges county residents to continue taking precautions.
Dallas County reported 1,699 more coronavirus cases and six COVID-19 deaths Monday.
The latest victims include three Dallas residents two women in their 60s and a man in his 70s. The other victims were a Richardson woman in her 60s, a Cedar Hill man in his 80s and a Garland man in his 90s. All had underlying health problems.
Monday marked the first day vaccines against the coronavirus were administered in North Texas, but experts cautioned that it will be months before immunizations will be available to all.