State health officials also reported 12,783 new coronavirus infections, a day after setting a new record for daily infections with more than 19,000 new cases.
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As cases continue to rise, health officials are warning of the Christmas holidays. After the Thanksgiving meetings, the state began registering more than 10,000 new cases daily.
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In the Texas capital, authorities raised the risk of coronavirus to stage 5, the highest alert. This is the first time that the area has moved to stage 5. At this risk stage, all Austinites are encouraged to avoid meetings with people outside of their home, avoid shopping and avoid eating inside establishments.
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The Texas capital is not the only area that is experiencing an increase in cases and hospitalizations. Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, Dallas-Fort Worth, Longview, Lufkin, El Paso, Waco, Galveston and Laredo have crossed the threshold, reporting that COVID-19 patients have occupied more than 15% of available hospital beds for at least seven days.
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Governor will not order business closure
Despite the drastic increase in coronavirus cases, which exceeded those registered during the summer, President Greg Abbott assured that there will be no more business closures.
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“There will be no more closings. We need to start opening businesses, ”Abbott said this week while discussing the coronavirus vaccine distribution plan in the state. Since last month, Abbott has reiterated that will not implement any more closures in the state.
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Under the governor’s plan, the companies began to reopen in May. The president paused reopening plans in June after a drastic increase in the region. When hospitalizations spiked in the summer, Abbott issued a order that forces Texans to wear face masks.
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In September, numbers fell and Abbott allowed capacity to be increased in restaurants and bars opened. Distribution of the vaccines began last week and Abbott indicated that the state would have received more than 800,000 doses.
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