TEXAS — The latest COVID-19 numbers from the Texas Department of State Health Services are a mixed bag.
Although the state only reported 10,930 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, down from 15,103 the day prior, there were 273 new fatalities attributed to the virus, up from 181 on Tuesday.
The latest Texas numbers come as the United States has set a grim record, on Wednesday recording 3,124 coronavirus-related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
For context, the attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in 2,400 deaths and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 claimed about 3,000 lives. However, at its peak, it’s estimated the 1918 flu pandemic claimed in excess of 6,300 people per day.
As it stands now Texas has had a total of 1,283,674 confirmed cases of the virus, an estimated 1,062,398 recoveries, 23,081 deaths attributed to the disease, and has roughly 202,457 active cases.
There are currently 9,053 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Texas hospitals, 11,243 available hospital beds, and 675 available ICU beds. Texas has 7,274 ventilators available.
Also, on Wednesday, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller reported he has tested positive for coronavirus. Miller, 65, said he is quarantining at his Texas ranch.
“Not feeling my best, but I’ve survived rodeo injuries, broken bones, hip, double knee and shoulder surgery, west nile virus and cancer, and I’m going to beat this too,” he said in the statement.
Miller has been critical of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s measures to slow the spread of the virus.