COVID concern takes no Christmas break FacebookTwitterEmail HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 22: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Dr. Joseph Varon watches the endoscope screen while performing a tracheotomy procedure on a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at the United Memorial Medical Center on December 22, 2020 in Houston, Texas. According to reports, Texas has reached over 1,610,000 cases, including over 26,190 deaths. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)Go Nakamura, Stringer / Getty Images Increased COVID-19 infections in Southeast Texas are continuing to push the death toll in rural areas past previous records. Officials say the most recent reports don’t begin to reflect what is on the horizon.