![]() Obviously, this grueling marathon would be easier if Congress would put some wind at our backs. Leadership - and smart social marketing - helped make a difference. Once we littered roadways, drove without seat belts, allowed kids to ride in the backs of pickups. We suggested launching a Don’t Mess with Texas-style effort to rally his fellow Texans. We encouraged him to give freer rein to local officials. Last week, we too urged Abbott to take stronger measures. 22 White House task force report had already called out Texas for “unsustainable increase in hospitalizations” and urged more aggressive statewide action, such as significantly reducing capacity in indoor spaces and increasing testing. Some, such as Attorney General Ken Paxton, aren’t even trying.Īn earlier Nov. Until then, we have to rely on ourselves as it’s increasingly clear that state leadership is failing to keep up. Still, it could be months until we hear the hoofbeats of welcome rescue. Greg Abbott announced last week that the CDC is sending 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Texas within the next few weeks. Last week, Britain became the first Western country to authorize mass inoculations that could defeat the pandemic, granting emergency approval to the coronavirus vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the German company BioNTech.Ī vaccine is coming, not as quickly as we would hope but it will soon be distributed on a limited basis here. Endure the Zoom happy hours, the restaurant takeout devoid of ambiance, the discomfort of the omnipresent face mask and keep your eyes on the finish line, which looms closer every day. In those moments of weakness, there’s a grim statistic being reported that should help jar us back to red alert: In recent days, one American has died every 30 seconds of COVID-19.ĭon’t be the reason that statistic persists. It’s easy to see how some, especially people at lower risk, can lull themselves into denial or even for conscientious people who are usually vigilant to be tempted into an indoor family gathering or long-delayed dinner with friends, thinking one little exception won’t kill anyone. The next three months, he said, would be the “most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.” coronavirus death toll could reach 450,000 by February. ![]() Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned last week that the U.S. McDeavitt: Houston is not at ‘DEFCON 1 but it is a 3’ĭirector Robert Redfield of the U.S. “Our next-door neighbor’s house has flooded. Still, he told the editorial board Friday things are getting worse. James McDeavitt, dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine. “This is not DEFCON 1 but it is a 3,” says Dr. In Houston, hospitals are opening auxiliary ICUs, but the system is holding - for now. Health care workers across the state are being pushed to their limits. In far West Texas, small towns and rural areas are reporting record numbers. Hospitals in Lubbock, Amarillo and other medium-sized cities are running out of beds. Hospitals in El Paso are overwhelmed the city is using refrigerated trucks for morgues. ![]() This is in part because so many more of us are getting tested, of course, but a more accurate indicator of danger, the positive test rate statewide, is the highest it has been since early August. posted more than 200,000 new cases in a single day - the first time that’s happened - Texas recorded 14,626 new cases, pushing the statewide total to 1,258,011. “A further post-Thanksgiving surge will compromise COVID patient care, as well as medical care overall.”Ī very dangerous place, indeed: As the U.S. “We are in a very dangerous place due to the current, extremely high COVID baseline and limited hospital capacity,” the report warned. Why? The White House Coronavirus Task Force provided the answer in a Nov. We have to summon the strength to keep running.
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