The trend is troublesome … in my humble view, but that isn’t stopping Texas Gov. Greg Abbott from proceeding quickly to reopen the state, which has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Abbott has announced the next phase of the state’s reopening, all the while Texas is recording an increase in infections from the killer virus. The Texas Tribune reports some troubling numbers, all of which tell my wife and me to keep doing what we’re doing, which is to stay home and venture out only when we absolutely must.
As the Tribune reports: Throughout the state, the number of new cases reported each day has grown from an average of about 1,081 during the week ending May 24 to about 1,527 in the past week. (Public health data varies day to day, so officials use a seven-day rolling average to better capture trends over time.)
The 14-day trend line shows new infections in Texas have risen about 71% in the past two weeks. Although confirmed infections have increased across the state, hot spots like state prisons and meatpacking plants, which have recently been the sites of mass or targeted testing, are responsible for a portion of the increase, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Yikes, man!
I want to stipulate that I am among those who wants the state to reopen, but only as soon as it is prudent and healthy. I do not want to become a casualty in this fight; of course, that’s no flash as no one wants to become sick from COVID-19. I am just troubled by the steepening infection rate in our state, indeed in Collin County.
Meanwhile, we keep getting pressure from on high — namely the White House — to speed up the resumption of “normal” business and recreational activity. Donald Trump is shopping around for a site to stage the Republican Party’s presidential nominating convention. He wants that big crowd to cheer his nomination, exposing every one of the participants in whatever arena opens up to being infected by the virus. Baloney!
This kind of foolishness is playing out in our public parks, in our eating establishments as Texans are increasingly tossing caution aside just because the governor says it’s OK to do so.
It’s ridiculous. And frightening.
Take a look at the hospital data. It’s gone down all across the state. The numbers reported are primarily more testing and asystematic results. We closed in the first place to keep the load off the hospitals. At this point, that’s not an issue. They keep reporting cases, but fail to clarify systematic from asystematic. There’s a data site for Texas that gives hospital data and recoveries. Recoveries have been higher than new cases, or at least even on some days, over the last couple of weeks.
Didn’t check spelling. Eyes don’t see well on phone. Should be “asymptomatic“.
Also, The World Health Organization on Monday said asymptomatic people spreading the disease is actually “very rare.” That should ease your mind quite a bit. What are the odds of being in the presence of a symptomatic person?
But, then again, can we trust the WHO? How many times have they changed their message?