“Our Hospitals Look Like War Zones”: Texas Fights COVID-19 Flow


A revealing study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said coronavirus cases they are much higher than the numbers reported in some parts of the country, up to 13 times more, because many of those infected did not know it and unknowingly spread the virus. Now, we are looking at the results of this undetected spread.

Confirmed cases in the U.S. they are reaching 4 million. The virus has killed more than 141,000 Americans. Texas recorded 1,000 deaths in just 10 days. Those are as many deaths as in the past three months.

In Rio Grande Valley hospitals, state health authorities say 37 beds are available in the ICU. Hidalgo County is the epicenter.

“Unfortunately, our hospital rooms look like war zones because there are so many sick people there,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez told CBS News.

Cortez issued a home shelter order on Monday night. Although, Texas Governor Greg Abbott argues that he is not enforceable.

“My job is to take care of public health,” Cortez explained. “We brought in many refrigerated trailers to access more morgues, and their capacity is 50. Well, in the last eight days, we have an average of 22 people dying per day.”

While cities like Dallas and Houston are now seeing a decline in positive cases and hospitalizations, virus-related deaths in the state have increased 33% in the past 10 days.

Texas - coronavirus
A vendor who wears a mask to protect himself against COVID-19 organizes merchandise at his San Antonio business on Monday, July 20, 2020. COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Texas.

Eric Gay / AP


Nationwide, only nine states are seeing a decrease in cases or remain stable; three of them, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, are asking visitors from 31 states to self-quarantine.

This occurs when new CDC data released Tuesday estimates that COVID infections were up to 13 times higher in some parts of the country than was actually reported. But the results found that more people are still vulnerable to infection.

“What’s interesting about this study is that even given the fact that many people have probably had COVID-19 without having any symptoms or having been officially diagnosed. Still, it implies that the vast majority of Americans have not yet been infected, “CBS News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explained.

And while a new study found that effective social distancing with masks and handwashing could stop 90% of the big outbreaks, the big drug companies continue their race towards a vaccine. AstraZeneca and Pfizer executives predicted that millions of doses could be delivered by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, California passed 400,000,000 COVID cases and could soon move to New York as the most affected state. The city of Los Angeles is preparing for the possibility of another stay-at-home order.

In Florida, at least five counties do not have ICU beds available at this time.

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