AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas on Wednesday reported a third consecutive day with a record number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as a new rise in coronavirus cases ripples across states nationwide.


What You Need To Know


  • More than 2,500 new cases were also reported in Texas

  • Six weeks into the reopening of the state

  • Hotspot areas in rural area, meatpacking factories

  • 42% surge in admitted COVID-19 patients since Memorial Day

More than 2,500 new cases were also reported in Texas, by far a single-day record.

The upward trends comes six weeks into Texas’ reopening that began in May, which kicked off one of the fastest reboots of daily life in the U.S, and as restaurants get permission to expand their dining rooms to nearly full capacity starting Friday. While thousands of hospital beds remain available, officials are voicing concern.

Throughout the record-setting week in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and state health officials have pointed out hotspots in rural counties with meatpacking plants and prisons but have not offered an explanation for rising caseloads elsewhere. But on Wednesday, some big city officials and health experts readily linked the worsening numbers to businesses reopening and people growing more complacent with social distancing.

READ MORE | As State Economy Reopens, Texas Sees Spike in Coronavirus Hospitalizations

“This is a concerning trend,” said Dr. Mark Escott, the interim health authority for Austin Public Health in the Texas capital. Surrounding Travis County set a record Tuesday with 161 new cases, nearly double its previous single-day high.

The 2,153 hospitalizations in Texas on Wednesday reflects a 42 percent surge in admitted COVID-19 patients since Memorial Day, when restless beachgoers swarmed Texas’ coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Abbott’s orders at the time.

Texas is one of a number of states nationwide grappling with rising virus caseloads as summer begins. In Arkansas, hospitalizations on Wednesday were up 83 percent since Memorial Day, but Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said it is still going forward with relaxing hospital restrictions next week.

Arizona and North Carolina are also being closely monitored over its rising numbers.

READ MORE | Gov. Abbott Announces Nearly All Texas Businesses Can Expand to 50% Capacity

On Wednesday, Abbott reiterated that he was “concerned but not alarmed” in Texas. He has not signaled any intention of putting social or business restrictions back in place and urged residents to continue wearing masks, sanitizing their hands and maintaining social distancing.

Texas has had nearly 80,000 positive cases and more than 1,800 deaths since the pandemic began, according to state health figures.