COVID-19 testing rates down across Central Texas; experts credit vaccines and good hygiene
and last updated 2021-03-15 23:35:20-04
While many Texans were snowed in their homes last month, operations across Central Texas closed, including COVID-19 testing sites. This has left the state with some of the lowest testing rates seen in months.
However, the state bounced back from both the low temperatures and the low testing numbers.
âAt first, we knew that the terrible winter storm had really decreased testing for those couple of weeks,â explained Amy Mersiovsky, the director of nursing at Texas A&M - Central Texas.
Texas sees fewer flu cases, tests taken compared to last year
Experts credit low numbers to COVID-19 precautions
and last updated 2021-02-03 23:39:34-05
This flu season, hospital labs reported only 620 positive cases between January 17, 2021, and the end of the month, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
During this time last year, there were more than 30,000 flu cases, although more labs reported results.
Kelly Craine with the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District says the dip in cases has a lot to do with the precautions weâve taken for COVID-19.
âWearing a mask, social distancing, staying home when you re sick, all of these things protect you from a number of respiratory diseases, and the flu is one of those,â she said.
Gov. Abbott praises Regeneron treatment, but local officials say state s distribution of drug is haphazard
Regeneron
AP
In this undated image from video provided by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, scientists work with a bioreactor at a company facility in New York state, for efforts on an experimental coronavirus antibody drug. The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 authorized the use of the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. drug to try to prevent patients with mild-to-moderate disease from worsening and needing hospitalization. It s given as a one-time treatment through an IV and is still going through more testing to establish its safety and effectiveness. (Regeneron via AP)
Officials stress importance of vaccinations for everyone, especially minorities heavily impacted by COVID-19
and last updated 2021-01-05 20:06:54-05
KILLEEN, TX â According to the CDC, both Black and Hispanic communities die from COVID-19 at a near 3% higher rate than the white population, and their hospitalizations are worse than that.
In that population is Patrick Arryn, who knows how deadly this virus can be.
âIâve dealt with more death than ever last year,â the founder of Change Is Here said. âAnd 90% of those who died from COVID were Black and brown, you know Black and Hispanic.â
Arryn contracted COVID-19 at the peak of the pandemic and says heâs been feeling the effects ever since.
Source: Xinhua|
Editor: huaxia
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DENVER, the United States, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) Despite a day filled with ominous reports from Central Texas and Southern California that the more lethal variant of COVID-19 had surfaced, the U.S. state of Colorado on Wednesday eased restrictions imposed on state residents and businesses. In reviewing the data, Colorado has been in a sustained decline for 13 days, and only 73 percent of ICU beds statewide are in use, Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted Wednesday night.
The popular governor said he would move counties in Red on the dial to Orange on Jan. 4, 2021, thus allowing many businesses to reopen.