Coronavirus: Texas Illness Count Exceeds 59K, 39 More Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — State health officials on Thursday said the number of cases of the coronavirus grew by 1,855 from the previous 24 hours, bringing to total illness count to 59,776. In the same time period, officials added, 39 more patients died of the respiratory illness in bringing the fatality count to 1,601.

The increase in cases represents the biggest single-day spike to date.

The total number of people across the state who have been hospitalized for treatment rose to 1,692 after 47 additional hospitalizations were reported over the past 24 hours, according to Texas Department of State Health Services officials. Health officials apprise the public on the latest statistics related to coronavirus on a dashboard that is updated daily.

The uptick comes after another 1,371 cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday, when another 26 deaths emerged.

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According to the statistical dashboard, the highest rates of illness are in the following counties:

• Harris County: 11,542 cases.
• Dallas County: 9,385 cases.
• Tarrant County: 5,190 cases.
• Travis County: 3,057 cases.
• El Paso County: 2,569 cases.
• Bexar County: 2,525 cases.
• Potter County: 2,266 cases.
• Fort Bend County: 1,766 cases.
• Denton County: 1,285 cases.
• Collin County: 1,217 cases.
• Montgomery County: 926 cases.
• Walker County: 869 cases.

Elevated rates of illness and deaths come against a backdrop of expanded business reopening across the state as Gov. Greg Abbott seeks to reignite an economy stalled by virus-spurred closures. This week, water parks were added to the list of business set to reopen to the public on Friday.

Related stories:

• U.S. Coronavirus Live Blog: 100,000 Dead
• Texas To Reopen Water Parks, Food Courts, More
  
• Coronavirus: Abbott To Let More Businesses Reopen Friday
  
• Texas Governor Allows Malls, Restaurants, More To Open By May 1
• Coronavirus: Texas Illness Count Exceeds 57K, 26 More Deaths

By gubernatorial proclamation, Abbott launched a multi-phased state economy reopening when he allowed restaurants, malls and movie theaters to open their doors to the public again, albeit at limited occupancy levels.

View Texans Helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas.

Restaurant operators initially were allowed to reopen at 25 percent occupancy, a level later upped to 50 percent. In the next round of reopening, barbershops, nail salons, tanning booths, bowling alleys, bingo halls and other business were allowed to reopen.