Delta Variant Spurs Huge Increase in COVID-19 Hospitalizations
The number of Texans hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases is increasing faster than at any other point since the pandemic began in early 2020, due to the highly contagious delta variant.
As of Sunday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 8,892 people were in Texas hospitals. That is up more than four-fold from a month ago. The Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University reported 96,807 cases in the past week and 384 deaths. That is nearly eight times the number of new cases reported a month ago and more than double the deaths.
In Austin, health authorities warned the public that a surge in cases has swamped hospitals, according to a New York Times report. Intensive-care units are near capacity, with only a handful of ICU beds available.
Gov. Greg Abbott has barred local governments and public schools from reinstituting mask mandates but is urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The vast majority of those hospitalized have not been vaccinated.
A total of 12.84 million Texans are fully vaccinated, about 44% of the state’s total population, according to DSHS.
Second special session underway
Abbott convened a second special session just hours after the first session expired but there still wasn’t a quorum present to pass bills. Many Texas House Democratic legislators remained in Washington, D.C. in an effort to both block a quorum and lobby members of Congress to pass a federal voting rights bill.
Abbott has put forth a 17-item agenda that includes the election reform bill, bail reform, border security and other issues that were presented but not passed during the regular session.
“I will continue to call special session after special session to reform our broken bail system, uphold election integrity, and pass other important items that Texans demand and deserve,” Abbott said when announcing the new session. “Passing these special session agenda items will chart a course towards a stronger and brighter future for the Lone Star State.”
Texas House Democrats predictably were critical. State Rep. Ina Minjarez said Abbott is “wasting” taxpayers’ money, chiding the governor in a tweet with the hashtag #StopGaslightingTexans.