Coronavirus: Texas Records Biggest Single-Day Rise Of Illness

AUSTIN, TX —The number of coronavirus cases in Texas rose by 986 on Tuesday from the previous day — the highest single-day increase since records have been kept tracking the spread of illness — to bring the total number of confirmed case to 8,262.

To date, 154 fatalities have been reported from the respitory illness across the state. The COVID-19 virus is a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have triggered outbreaks in the past. Tuesday's increase ofCOVID-19 cases in Texas is the biggest so far, as teh Austin American-Statesman reported.

The Texas Department of Health State Services updates the illness count daily on a dashboard created to apprise the public of the growing threat. Health officials continue to urge residents to stay at home unless absolutely necessary to blunt the spread of an illness transmitted via respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.

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The growing spread of illness comes as officials in Travis and Williamson counties have urged the use of fabric face coverings as a safeguard to avert illness.

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The increasing illness toll prompted Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday to order all state park and historic sites closed to the public to ensure physical distancing. The city of Austin the same day ordered all city parks closed toward the same social distancing goal.