Coronavirus surge
Thank you for publishing the “Coronavirus” section. The graphical statistics are clear and very easy to interpret by anyone interested and they are alarming. I wonder if Gov. Greg Abbott is interested enough to read these daily reports.
During his June 16 status update, Abbott presented voluminous hospital capacity statistics that he clearly believes will make us feel better about Texas’ record infection rate. My wife and I are 80 years of age, and hospital capacity offers little solace. This is particularly exasperating because from the beginning he emphasized responsible reopening while protecting the vulnerable. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that 44 percent of Texas’ COVID-19 deaths occurred in nursing homes.
We are fortunate that we can stay isolated at home because of heroes who risk their lives working in grocery stores and delivery services. And many of them are among the vulnerable because they live in underserved communities where COVID-19 deaths are statistically higher. Houston was a success story praised by President Donald Trump until Abbott took over and usurped the local leadership provided by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Kenneth Meyers, Houston
Our governor, in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases, plans to encourage further opening of the economy since the hospitals still have available beds. When they fill, we can fall back on the availability of room in the cemeteries of Texas.
Manley Mandel, Houston