Jeffrey Ndove and Dr. Joseph Varon perform hypothermia treatments on a patient at the COVID-19 ICU on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020, Houston, Texas. Getty ImagesDALLAS Hospitals in Texas have suspended elective procedures and turned to 2,500 doctors from other states in an effort to combat the rise in Covid cases. This is because more younger, healthier patients are not getting vaccinated against this virus and are crowding treatment rooms. As the delta variant of the coronavirus rips across the country, the state is preparing for its most aggressive fight yet against it. This virus is particularly dangerous to states in the South and Midwest. In the Lone Star State, covid cases have increased by more than 50% in the past few weeks. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Texas has an average of 15,419 new cases each day. This is 34% more than a week ago, and more than twice the 7,762 cases just two weeks ago. "What is concerning about this trajectory is that there's a much faster increase in the number cases," Dr. Trish perl, chief infectious diseases at UT Southwest Medical Center in Dallas said. "We're seeing younger people who are unvaccinated than we did earlier in the pandemic, when there were a lot more hospitalizations for those over 65." The 18- to 49-year-olds are seeing the greatest and most dramatic increases, although many of them don't have any underlying diseases.Republican Governor. Greg Abbott is waging war on local officials and school officials who have reinstated mask mandates. He threatens $1,000 fines for officials and municipalities who resist him. First, he banned local mask mandates with a May 18 executive directive. Then, he issued a second July 29 order that imposed fines on any county, city or school district, as well as government officials who violate his directive. The second order prohibited public and private agencies from mandating that individuals get vaccinated. Local officials in Texas are challenging Abbott's authority and turning to the courts.On Thursday, February 11, 2021, a person received the Moderna Covid-19 vaccination at the American Bank Center, Corpus Christi (Texas), U.S.A. Go Nakumura | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBexar County's district judge issued Tuesday a temporary restraining notice against Abbott's ban regarding mask requirements. This allowed local officials to restore the mandates and emergency orders to fight the delta variant. The Dallas Independent School District, located 300 miles north, issued Monday's temporary mask requirements for all district properties. Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge, issued a temporary mask requirement for all schools, businesses, and county buildings on Monday. This was after a local judge granted him a temporary order that prohibits Abbott from enforcing the ban. Abbott has pledged to fight the restraining order. The State Attorney General Ken Paxton and Abbott jointly released a press release in which they stated that they will rely on individual responsibility and protect "the rights, freedoms and dignity of all Texans." Paxton stated in the statement that "attention-grabbing judges have defied executive order before, when the pandemic started." I am confident that the outcome of any suit will favor liberty and individual choice and not mandates or government overreach.Austin Mayor Steve Adler stated that he will consider a citywide mandate for masks if the science, data and doctors indicate that it is necessary to do so to ensure safety in the city. Adler stated that local school districts should be able make the decision to protect their children in a July 28 interview with CNBC. Adler stated that "I have not heard any scientific or data-driven reason for a policy that doesn’t allow masking being enforced in order to preserve the public health." The number of hospitalizations continues to rise. According to officials, the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital Houston and St. Luke's Hospital Woodlands have set up tents outside to accommodate the large number of patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas is behind the United States in terms of vaccinations, with 53.6% receiving at least one shot. This compares to 58.9% nationally.Construction crew sets up tents for hospital officials to use when there is an overflow of patients with COVID-19 outside Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Monday, August 9, 2021 in Houston. Godofredo A. Vsquez | Houston Chronicle via AP
