Gov. Abbott considers additional measures to slow the spread of Coronavirus in Texas

Washington Examiner:

The number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations has increased in Texas and several states in the South and West, leading governors to eye more aggressive responses.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that increased rates in hospitalizations and record daily highs of new coronavirus cases show that “COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas, and it must be corralled.”

He pleaded with Texans to wear masks but stopped short of mandating mask-wearing, as California Gov. Gavin Newsom did last week.

If numbers of cases and hospitalizations double next month, he said, “That would mean that we are in an urgent situation where tougher actions will be required to make sure that we do contain the spread of COVID-19.”

Abbott did not say what kinds of restrictions were under consideration, but said, “Closing down Texas again will always be the last option.”

The rate of new positive tests in Texas has surpassed 10%, according to research published by COVID Exit Strategy.

Cases and hospitalizations have spiked in recent weeks, primarily in Southern and Western states. California, Texas, and Florida have each reported over 22,000 new cases of the coronavirus since June 15, according to the Washington Post. Arizona, which has seen the sharpest increase in new cases since the start of June, reported another record day for COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday. South Carolina has also emerged as a new hot spot for the coronavirus.

The number of coronavirus cases across the United States has reached 2.3 million. At least 120,300 people have died.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Monday that President Trump's comment at a rally over the weekend that he'd told aides to slow down coronavirus testing was made “in jest."

“Any suggestion that testing has been curtailed is not rooted in fact,” McEnany said. She justified his remarks by saying that the media has only focused on drastic increases in new cases without explaining that testing has become more widely available. Yet, some of the states that have seen rising reported cases of COVID-19 have also seen increasing rates of positive tests.

At his Tulsa rally Saturday, Trump said, “When you do testing to that extent, you’re gonna find more people, you’re gonna find more cases. So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’”

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Monday that, despite the coronavirus case increases in over 20 states, “there is no second wave coming.” He added that lawmakers will likely develop another fiscal relief package by the end of next month.
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I think there is a tendency in the media to deliberately misinterpret the President's tongue in cheek comments such as slowing down the testing.  If a comment can be presented in such a way to make the President look bad, the media will do so.

I do not get the impression that the hospitals in Texas are overwhelmed by the new coronavirus cases.  The hospitals were harmed like other businesses with the original lockdown and it would not be a good idea to reinstate it.  I have been receiving treatment that is in no way related to the virus and I found the hospital to be functioning at a high level of service despite the precautions they now have to screen everyone when they enter the facility.

BTW, Austin liberals have overreacted in typical fashion.