TEXAS  — It’s a grim milestone during a week that brought plenty of bad news about the novel coronavirus in Texas: The Lone Star State has surpassed New York, which was once the COVID-19 epicenter in the U.S., in the total number of virus cases.


What You Need To Know

  • Texas surpasses New York's 418,000 cases of novel coronavirus

  • Florida and California have also surpassed New York 

  • Texas among first states to restart economies

  • Texas on Wednesday surpassed 6,100 COVID deaths

Texas has surpassed 418,000 total cases of the novel coronavirus.

In fact, Florida and California have surpassed New York as well.

Texas was one of the first states to reopen their economies, but Gov. Greg Abbott has applied the brakes, in June pausing further reopening phases.

On Wednesday, Texas surpassed 6,100 deaths related to COVID-19 and reported 9,042 new cases and 313 new deaths. In addition, the state reported an estimated 145,771 active cases of the virus and an estimated 251,346 recoveries.

Texas’ most notable hotspot is the Rio Grande Valley, where hospital began reaching capacity weeks ago. That’s not to say that’s the only region of concern.

Harris County, which includes Houston, on Thursday reported 67,660 cases. Dallas County reported 48,028 cases, and Bexar County 31,804.

A new survey conducted by the New York Times identifies the University of Texas at Austin as the college with the most reported cases of the virus with 449 confirmed cases.