COVID cases hit new highs in Calif., Texas
California and Texas both reported new state records for daily COVID-19 cases on Wednesday amid a distressing surge in positive tests throughout the United States.
The 18,350 new coronavirus cases reported by California officials on Wednesday exceeded the state’s previous high mark, which was set last Saturday, by more than 3,000 positive tests.
Texas, meanwhile, set its latest record Wednesday with 14,648 cases, meaning the state has now experienced a new daily high two days in a row. On Tuesday, Texas recorded 13,998 confirmed cases across the state.
As the spikes in cases raged, the Texas Department of State Health Service’s commissioner encouraged people to celebrate a virtual Thanksgiving, calling it the “safest” option.
“Please, let’s not lose our stamina,” John Hellerstedt said Wednesday in a video. “Let’s realize that it is not over yet and we still have to protect ourselves and others.”
Texas also reported 200 deaths on Wednesday. The death toll in the state now stands at nearly 21,000 fatalities from coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
In California, the past seven days have seen the rate of positive tests climb from 5.3% to 6.5%. Los Angeles County instituted a ban on outdoor dining this week that’s scheduled to last for three weeks.
“We are really, really concerned,” said Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 testing officer, Dr. Marty Fentersheib, according to The Associated Press.
“All of the metrics that we have been following, that have done well in previous months, are now going up very steeply. Our positivity rate in our county is rising and especially in our most affected communities.”
The United States has recorded more than 12.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 260,000 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began, which are both the highest totals among all countries.