Houston Officials Call for Lock-down

COVID-19 Positive Cases Surge and City Officials Push for Another Lockdown

The top offiicials of Houston are urging the city to go into another lock down given the high rise of COVID-19 cases in the past months. Hospitals have undergone a large increase in sick patients bringing them to the point of capacity.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are both insisting there is a need for a stay at home order. They say it is the only way to contain the rise of COVID-19 positive cases in Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

Lina Hidalgo stated on Twitter that "not only do we need a stay at home order now, but we need to stick with it this time until the hospitilization curve comes down, not just flattens." She also says that the communities that have reopened indefinitely and sucessfuly had a long lockdown, and she says that Houston needs to "learn from that and not make the same mistake twice." The tweet had almost 90,000 views and many are in support of her.

In the past week, Texas has broken daily records of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. The state health officials reported "8,196 new cases Sunday, another 80 deaths, and a total of 10,410 people hospitilized due to the virus," (FOX26). Officials say that the number of cases may even be much higher because people are not being tested, and studies show that people can carry the virus without feeling sick.

The ultimate decision to lockdown again is up to Gov. Greg Abbott who has stated another lockdown would be the last resort. He has reversed the reopening efforts by closing bars and requiring face coverings in public. He issued a statewide disaster order on Friday warning Texans that "another shutdown might be needed if the virus' spread isn't contained." He also announced on Sunday that "the federal government will continue to fund large testing centers in Dallas and Houston through the end of July." (FOX26).

Studies show that coronavirus causes mild to moderate symptoms like fever and cough that can clear up in 2 to 3 weeks. And for others, specifically older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions, the virus can be more severe and cause pneumonia, and death.

To stay up to date on COVID-19 cases and health info, visit the CDC Website.