Texas health officials reported a single-day record for positive COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, breaking a record previously set in December. Meanwhile, Americans are traveling on vacation, despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the Texas State Department of Health Services, there were 19,185 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday. The state’s previous record occurred on December 17, when 16,864 cases were recorded. Another 294 deaths attributable to the virus were also reported on Wednesday, bringing the state’s count to 25,900. The authorities said the increase in cases reflected the “impacts of Thanksgiving meetings”.
“Texans now need to change their behavior,” Dr Coronavirus consultant at the White House, Dr. Deborah Birx, told WFAA during an interview on Tuesday.
“We have to stop the spread within Texas. You can see what’s going on in Dallas. You can see what’s going on all over Texas. I know it’s tough in the holiday season, we’re asking people to make sacrifices, we are asking you to make sacrifices until we can have your beloved grandparents, aunts and parents vaccinated. “
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in November that he would not request COVID-related closings in the state again. “There are many tools in the toolboxes of local authorities to achieve the necessary results,” said Abbott.
Joel Angel Juarez / AFP / Getty
On Wednesday, Abbott posted a short video of a Christmas service in Austin. “Who said Austin is locked up?” Abbott wrote. “Christmas is being celebrated in Austin and Texas. Everyone already knows what to do safely.”
Who said Austin is locked up?
Christmas is being celebrated in Austin and Texas.
Everyone already knows the safe things to do. https://t.co/zsC4WIYiXT
– Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 24, 2020
In a televised event, Abbott received the COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday. “I will never ask a Texan to do something I am not willing to do,” Abbott told reporters.
Traveling during winter holidays was discouraged by the CDC. “Traveling can increase your chances of advertising and getting COVID-19,” read the vacation travel information page on the CDC website. “CDC continues to recommend postponing travel and staying at home, as this is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.”
Despite the increase in cases, millions of Americans plan to celebrate the Christmas holiday outside their immediate home. According to a statement from the American Automobile Association (AAA), “up to 84.5 million Americans can still travel from December 23 to January 3”. However, that figure represents an approximate 29 percent decline from the number of holiday travelers in 2019.
Delta Air Lines also saw a decline in passenger numbers, according to a statement sent to Newsweek On thursday.
“Delta expects to fly approximately 3.5 million passengers from Friday, 12/18, until Monday, 4/1,” said the airliner. “In 2019, we flew over 9.3 million passengers during the same vacation period.”
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, 12,230,242 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, with 322,765 deaths attributed to the virus on December 23.
Updated 24/12/2020 17:29 EST: This story was updated with a statement from Delta Air Lines.