the mask mandate because we don't like it, but we think it is necessary. the surge of new cases is so bad in texas that some hospitals are once again setting up tents as covid wards to create more room for patients. the linden b. johnson hospital's icu is at 100% capacity with at least 63% of those positive for do covid-19. two hospitals have also temporarily closed their emergency rooms so staff could be transferred to work with covid patients. less than 500 icu beds are currently available in texas. the covid surge across the south is so bad that mississippi has no icu beds available at many hospitals. more than 200 patients are stuck in emergency rooms as they wait to get into an icu. the state's health department also says that there are more than 150 ongoing covid outbreaks in long term care facilities.