After weeks of gradually flattening the curve, COVID-19 cases in Texas are rising again. Data from the Department of State Health Services shows that the two week running averages of metrics like cases and positive test rates are up. Hospitalizations of patients with COVID 19 in Texas reached a record high on Monday..
Dr. Rama Thyagarajan is an assistant professor of internal medicine at Dell Medical School at UT-Austin, and an infectious disease physician. Thyagarajan told Texas Standard host David Brown that Texas responded well to stay-at-home orders and other lockdown measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“As the state has opened up, the cases are going up, and we expect it to continue to increase,” Thyagarajan said. “This is not surprising for public health officials and physicians.”
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– Why the numbers of cases is rising
– How people should continue to protect themselves
– Whether Texas hospitals are prepared for increases in COVID-19 cases
