Coronavirus: Texas Illness Count Soars To 35,290, 25 More Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — As the state prepares to launch the second phase of an economy reopening on Friday, the number of new coronavirus cases grew by 968 in the past 24 hours and 25 more people died of the respiratory illness, according to the latest figures posted on Thursday.

The nearly 1,000 new cases of the illness increased the total number of diagnoses to 35,390, as reported by Texas Department of State Health Services officials. Statistics are updated each day on a data-rich dashboard created by the agency to apprise residents of the spread of illnesss that is accessible by clicking here. To date, 973 people have died of the illness.

Increased illness and death rates reported Thursday come a day after an additinal 1,062 cases of the respiratory illness were reported on Wednesday. At the time, health officials reported there had been an estimated 948 fatalities to date.

The increased toll comes one week after Gov. Greg Abbott launched the first phase of his planned reopening of the economy, allowing malls, restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses to open their doors to business again. The mass closure of businesses was previously ordered in adherence to physical distancing guidelines seen as an effective way of blunting the spread of an illness for which there is no vaccine.

According to the dashboard, 18,440 people have recovered since contracting the COVID-19 virus to date but there are 15,977 active cases of new coronavirus statewide.

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In terms of testing, there have been 455,162 screenings for the illnesss to date as indicated on the dashboard. The population of Texas is around 29 million.

The counties with the greatest concentration of illness are:

• Harris County: 7,244 cases.
• Dallas County: 4,869 cases.
• Tarrant County: 2,813 cases.
• Travis County: 1,946 cases.
• Bexar County: 1,761 cases.

The rising rate of illness comes one day before the second phase of an economic reopening ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday. Additional businesses, including barbershops and tanning salons, will be allowed to reopen on Friday per the governor's new set of executive orders. Last week, the governor lifted restrictions on restaurants, malls and movie theaters in allowing for partial reopening of those industry sectors.

Related stories:

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The governor also waived the mandatory requirement dictating that residents wear protective face coverings as a safeguard against the spread of illness. The governor on Tuesday made a point to alert municipalities they can no longer assess fines to residents not adhering to the wearing of protective facial coverings as his new executive orders trump local ordinances.

Among the governor's orders:

• Beginning May 8, cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and shops — and other establishments where licensed cosmetologists or barbers practice their trade — will be allowed to open but must adhere to a distance of at least six feet between operating work stations, the governor said. Tanning salons may also reopen under the same limitation, Abbott added.
• Also starting May 8, the governor said swimming pools may open subject to certain limitations that include occupancy or operating levels.
• Beginning May 18, office buildings may open with the greater of five or less individuals or 25 percent of the total office workforce per the governor's new order. Office workers must adhere to physical distancing guidelines, per the order.
• Gyms, exercise facilities, and exercise classes could open as soon as May 18, but must operate at 25 percent occupancy. Locker rooms and shower facilities will remain closed, but restrooms may open. Non-essential manufacturing services may also open on May 18 but facilities must limit their occupancy to 25 percent. These newly opened services are subject to recommended minimum standard health protocols outlined by state health officials, the governor noted. These protocols will be made available on the Open Texas webpage.
• The governor also issued new guidance from the Texas Education Agency centered on graduation ceremonies. In expanding the businesses allowed to reopen, Abbott said gyms could open their doors again as early as May 18 so long as customers wear gloves while using the machines and maintain a buffer of at least 6 feet from others. However, showers and locker rooms must remain closed, the governor said.
• Other sites cleared for reopening are wedding venues and services required to conduct weddings allowed to open their doors immediately, the governor said. However, weddings held indoors other than at a church, congregation, or house of worship must limit occupancy to 25 percent. Wedding reception services may also resume, but facilities also must limit their occupancy to 25 percent occupancy. These occupancy limits do not apply to the outdoor areas of a wedding reception or to outdoor wedding receptions, Abbott noted.
• No timeline was given as to when bars might reopen.

"Texas is in a position to continue opening parts of our economy because of the efforts and determination of the people of Texas," Abbott said during his press conference. "Over the past month, Texans have worked together to contain the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing practices and staying at home whenever possible. As we move forward, I urge all Texans to continue following these social distancing guidelines and the health standards we have provided. With every Texan doing their part, we will contain COVID-19, we will unleash our entrepreneurs, and we will make it through this challenge together."

As Abbott made his remarks on Tuesday, health officials were upgrading the illness increases for that day: 33,360 cases total, with 1,028 new cases and 22 additional deaths.