The Delta variant is raging in the US state of Texas. The number of deaths increases significantly. The governor, known as a mask opponent, is also infected with the corona virus.
Austin, Texas – The coronavirus pandemic continues to afflict many parts of the United States. First of all, the state of Texas should be mentioned, where the fourth corona wave is currently particularly bad. This is particularly evident from the fact that the authorities in Texas now have to think again about how to deal with the corpses.
Even at the first peak of the corona pandemic, mobile and refrigerated hearses were used across the United States. In addition, huge funeral trailers were delivered to the cities and served as makeshift morgues. Now it could be that time again. In any case, the authorities in Texas have again requested five of these special refrigerated trucks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency “as a precautionary measure”.
Corona in Texas: spread among children causes concern
In fact, Covid-19 deaths in Texas have tripled in the past two weeks, now rising back to 92 per day. More than 54,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Texas so far. The seven-day average of new cases in Texas was 15,554 as of Tuesday (1708.2021).
The Texas authorities are particularly concerned about the spread of the coronavirus among children. “Schools in Texas are already canceling classes due to Covid outbreaks among students and staff,” wrote Beto O’Rourke on Twitter. The former Texas Democratic Congressman urged parents to “call your school board” and ask them to push for masking requirements and “do the right thing”. At the same time, a palliative care doctor from Houston drew attention to the worsening situation. On Twitter, Nancy Glass pointed out that on Tuesday (August 17, 2021) alone, 35 children with Covid were hospitalized. “The numbers have never been so high.”
Texas governor infected with coronavirus
The Republican governor of Texas is partly responsible for the situation. Greg Abbott has repeatedly spoken out vehemently against a mask requirement. In addition, he banned all government agencies and institutions that receive public funds from making mandatory vaccination requirements by decree. Several Texas school districts issued regulations on the wearing of masks on their own.
| Texas | |
| governor | Greg Abbott (Republican Party) |
| capital city | Austin |
| surface | 695,662 km² |
| population | 29 million (2019) |
But Abbott has now infected himself with the corona virus. One day after meeting numerous party friends at an event in a closed room, the governor of Texas tested positive, his office announced. The governor is doing well and showing no symptoms of Covid 19 disease. He went into self-isolation in his residence.
The reactions were not long in coming. Julian Castro, for example, spoke up on Twitter. Abbott “put political considerations above public health” from the outset in the corona pandemic, wrote the former Democratic presidential candidate and former mayor of the Texas city of San Antonio. He hoped that the governor would reconsider his position on masking requirements in schools. (cs)
