The county is experiencing a record-breaking rise of COVID-19 cases that have overwhelmed hospitals.
Coronavirus in Texas
As the coronavirus spread across the state, The Texas Tribune covered the most important health, economic, academic and breaking developments that affected Texans. Our map tracker showed the number of cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations in Texas from 2020-22.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ new coronavirus surge is leaving critically sick patients stranded in rural areas, hospitals say
Rural hospitals say they’re in a bind as larger facilities in places like Lubbock, Amarillo and El Paso fill with coronavirus patients and often cannot accept gravely ill patients who need more advanced care than small hospitals can offer.
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Coronavirus in Texas
A MAGA face mask? A Black Lives Matter T-shirt? Here’s what you can and can’t wear to vote in Texas
Wearing T-shirts, buttons or hats supporting political candidates at the polls is illegal. But in the pandemic era, voters are now being reminded that the electioneering rules also apply to face masks.
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Coronavirus in Texas
In Lubbock, pandemic fatigue sets in as hospitalizations rise
Experts and officials say people are exhausted with coronavirus restrictions and have begged them to don face coverings, socially distance and take “personal responsibility” for keeping themselves and their neighbors safe.
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Coronavirus in Texas
State sends emergency medical personnel, supplies to El Paso as COVID-19 cases rise across Texas
A new University of Texas report says the El Paso area is at high risk of exceeding hospital bed and ICU capacity early next month, and many other Texas cities could see similar problems in the coming weeks.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t require masks at polling places. It’s made some voters uncomfortable.
Polling locations are one of Abbott’s 11 exemptions to his statewide mask mandate that went into effect July 3. Abbott said at the time that the exemption is meant to prevent people from being turned away at the polls just because they don’t have a mask, though he has also recommended that people wear them.
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Coronavirus in Texas
For many Texas kids, trick-or-treating is canceled because of the pandemic. These parents have other plans.
At least two counties – Hidalgo and El Paso – have banned door-to-door trick-or-treating. Others are discouraging participation while promoting safer alternatives such as carving pumpkins or having a candy hunt at home.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Some Texas school districts are requiring in-person instruction again, leaving parents scrambling for options
As the numbers of people infected and hospitalized by the coronavirus tick back up across the state, dozens of Texas school districts eliminated the option for remote learning and forced students, faculty and staff to return to the classroom, with few exceptions.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas is on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge. Is the state better prepared to handle it?
Experts say Texas is more prepared to handle another wave. But they fear that if the state fails to control the outbreak, it could quickly spiral out of control.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Health officials predict most Texans won’t have access to COVID-19 vaccine until July at the earliest
Under the state’s vaccine distribution plan, vulnerable people, including health care workers, older people and people with underlying medical conditions, would likely be the first to get the vaccine in the early months that it’s available.