Coronavirus: Texas Illness Count Soars Past 51K, 50 More Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — The number of cases of new coronavirus in Texas increased by 1,411 cases on Wednesday from the prior day, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 51,323. In addition, another 50 died of the respiratory illness in a 24-hour period, bringing the total fatality count to 1,419.

The illness uptick comes during a week when Gov. Greg Abbott launched another round of business reopening in an effort to reignite the stilled state economy. On Monday, the governor issued another Executive Order in calling for various types of businesses to open — including child care centers, massage and personal-care centers and youth clubs that were allowed to reopen on Monday.

Other businesses slated to reopen in the coming days by virtue of the gubernatorial decree:

• Child Care Centers (May 18)
• Massage and Personal-Care Centers (May 18)
• Youth Clubs (May 18)
• Rodeo and Equestrian Events (May 22)
• Bowling Alleys, Bingo Halls, Simulcast Racing, and Skating Rinks (May 22)
• Bars (May 22)
• Aquariums and Natural Caverns (May 22)
• Zoos (May 29)
• Day Youth Camps (May 31)
• Overnight Youth Camps (May 31)
• Youth Sports (May 31)
• Certain professional sports without in-person spectators (May 31)

Previously, Abbott called for restaurants, movie theaters and malls to reopen albeit at limited occupancy. The following week, the governor allowed more businesses to open, including barbershops and nail salons.

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Some worry the brisk pace of reopening may usher in — and expedite — a new wave of illness outbreak. But Abbott assured on Monday that the gradual reopening of the economy has been guided by advice from health officials and a critical eye on illness trends — "doctors and data," as the governor has often summarized.

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"Every decision I have made, as well as every decision I have announced today, is supported by our team of medical experts," Abbott said on Monday. "That commitment to data and doctors underpins today's announcement."

During his announcement, Abbott cited White House recommendations guiding states to reopen their economies, with the central barometer being a downward trajectory of coronavirus cases over a two-week period. "A downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14 day period," Abbott explained. "And that is exactly what we have seen in Texas. The past month has shown a downward trajectory in the positivity rate. For example, on April the 13th, the seven-day rolling average was about 13.8 percent. Since then that rate has steadily declined to now about 5 percent.

But others have noted the cumulative rate of illness has continued its upward trend in Texas. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the number of new cases reported each day has grown from an average of about 918 during the week ending May 1 to about 1,227 this week.

To assuage such concerns, Abbott also touted an abundance of available hospital beds as part of his reasoning to further reopen the state economy. He attributed increases in the case numbers as to amplified testing for the virus: "To state the obvious, as testing increases so will raw number of people testing positive," Abbott noted. "What matters most is the percentage of people testing positive," he added, saying the decision to open up more businesses was due to a perceived downward trajectory of positive data.