Abbott asks Texas hospitals to postpone elective procedures to free beds for latest Covid surge

“The State of Texas is taking action to combat the recent rise in Covid-19 cases and ensure that our hospitals and communities have the resources and support they need to mitigate the virus,” Abbot said. “Texans can help bolster our efforts by getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it is our best defense against the virus.”

Over the weekend, Austin officials warned that the city’s Covid situation was “dire.”

In an alert sent via text, email, phone call and social media, Austin residents received this message Saturday: “The Covid-19 situation in Austin is dire. Healthcare facilities are open but resources are limited due to a surge in cases.”

But the governor didn’t budge Monday on his refusal to issue business restrictions or to allow schools and local jurisdictions to issue mask mandates. In March, Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting mask mandates by all government entities. Earlier Monday, the school districts of Dallas and Houston, the state’s largest, said they wished to defy the state on masks.

Texas’ seven-day average for new cases was 13,708 on Sunday, up from 1,710 on July 9, according to Covid Act Now. There were almost 9,600 people hospitalized on Saturday, and 28 deaths on Sunday.