Texas Averaging 99 Daily Coronavirus Deaths Amid Illness Spikes

AUSTIN, TX — Texas reported 5,756 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday with 143 new deaths, bringing cumulative totals to 993,841 cases and 19,147 fatalities since the onset of illness across the state.

The data are found on a statistical dashboard maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The total number of new cases reported Thursday is less than the 10,087 reported the previous day and the single-day high of 10,865 new cases reported on Tuesday.

Despite the lower numbers, the upticks have alarmed health officials. According to state officials, the Lone Star State is now averaging 7,225 new cases each day, along with an average o 99 daily deaths. There are currently 6,925 hospitalizations for the respiratory illness among an active-cases pool of 138,137, according to the state dashboard.

While cases were down from the 10,000-plus cases reported the two days before, the number of deaths reported statewide on Thursday was 143 — two more than the number reported the previous day.

In a tweet, Texas Department of State Health Services tick of the grim coronavirus calculus: "New cases steadily increasing. Hospitalizations and fatalities likely to rise higher. Texas in a serious fight with COVID-19."

State officials added the state now is averaging 7,225 new cases and 99 fatalites each day.

Amid the spikes, state officials are poised to reach the 1 million mark for cumulative cases — a grim milestone other sources such as John Hopkins University insist has already been reached. As of Thursday, the state was a mere 6,159 in reaching that unwanted milestone.

Illness spikes are not endemic to Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of cases continues to rise, with 94 percent of all U.S. jurisdictions experiencing increases. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 143,408 new cases — the highest for a single day.

"Help slow the spread," CDC officials wrote in repeating advice achieving frequency and cadence of daily mantra. "Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay six feet apart."

The CDC tabulated a total of 10.3 million coronavirus cases, with 143,408 people newly diagnosed as of Thursday. In the last seven days along, the U.S. has seen the emergence of 883,827 cases. Total deaths since the onset of illness numbers 241,069 — including 1,479 new fatalities recorded on Thursday.

For coronavirus data nationwide, visit the CDC COVID Data Tracker.

Back in Texas, the 20 counties with the highest number of cumulative illness cases are:

• Harris County: 170,835.
• Dallas County: 105,377.
• El Paso County: 68,804.
• Tarrant County: 68,726.
• Bexar County: 57,645.
• Hidalgo County: 37,214.
• Travis County: 33,769.
• Cameron County: 24,825.
• Lubbock County: 23,913.
• Collin County: 21,034.
• Fort Bend County: 18,249.
• Webb County: 16,665.
• Nueces County: 16,606.
• Denton County: 16,350.
• Montgomery County: 13,602.
• Galveston County: 13,260.
• Brazoria County: 13,098.
• McLennan County: 11,625.
• Williamson County: 10,676.
• Potter County: 9,924.

The 25 counties with the highest cumulative death totals are:

• Harris County: 2,887
• Hidalgo County: 1,756
• Bexar County: 1,444.
• Dallas County: 1,350.
• Cameron County: 995.
• Tarrant County: 898.
• El Paso County: 751.
• Travis County: 456.
• Nueces County: 417.
• Webb County: 353.
• Fort Bend County: 318.
• Lubbock County: 243.
• Collin County: 207.
• Denton County: 194.
• Brazoria County: 190.
• Montgomery County: 190.
• Starr County: 187.
• Galveston County: 171.
• Smith County: 167.
• Maverick County: 166.
• Jefferson County: 165.
• McLennan County: 160.
• Williamson County: 159.
• Val Verde County: 130.
• Potter County: 109.