The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
Ricardo Ramos, Ramon Fuentes III and Andres Arguelles were all 45. Loving husbands. Strangers who died with the coronavirus in neighboring South Texas cities. They left behind young widows who found each other in Facebook groups and bonded over the similarities in their stories. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/72296cbf53e4ec7e82cea1c7cc906141/COVID%20Widows%20Group%20JG%20TT%2007.jpg)
Texans face challenges trying to book a vaccine appointment through a time-consuming process that inherently favors people who have easy access to internet and transportation. The situation is contributing to inequitable access for many people in the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e4469da901b3f540e1ade51c3eda60ec/Delco%20Vaccination%20Site%20SF%20TT%2005)
As more people become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, some of the most vulnerable Asian American communities struggle to access it at all. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce74c2580e77255b1e58c2d7728d580b/BIPOC%20Fair%20Park%20Vaccine%20ST%20TT%2020.jpg)
White Texans are being vaccinated at nearly twice the rate of Hispanic Texans and more than six times the rate of Black Texans, according to state data. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bfe484f82a56569911db34b7f6bccd69/BIPOC%20HTX%20COVID%20Vaccine%20MYL%20TT%2011.jpg)
The provisions are packaged in one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority measures, dubbed the “heartbeat bill.” Senate Bill 8 would ban abortions as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7633b101c55f4a6d8153be23f19e3d7/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20SS%20TT%2006.jpg)
The legislative session that began in January has been driven by the coronavirus pandemic and the response to last month’s power crisis. But abortion-related measures dominated a Senate State Affairs committee hearing Monday, and lawmakers advanced all of the proposals. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d8a6d44bcb4602f26a92afaa2ceed93/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20CR%20TT%2004.jpg)
The deaths occurred in at least 25 counties. And 25 of the fatalities occurred in Harris County. Some Texas deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and medical equipment failure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/60d9a1e998baa75ba8416804a991f556/ATX%20Snow%20Storm%20MG%20TT%2018.jpg)
This timeline tracks COVID-19’s rampage through Texas over the last year: the growing death toll, the policy decisions made in response to the pandemic that often influenced its course, and the stories of some of the Texans claimed by the virus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32f01f56b68d5f3319472e7c42803b20/share-art-one-year-covid.jpg)
In cities with diverse populations, people of Asian descent say they continue to be encouraged to help their fellow Texans weather the health crisis. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f720c51b727f7850db6e8caa2ddbf80e/TheBriefPodcast_March%2013%202.jpg)
Austin and Travis County residents will be required to keep their masks on after a district judge delayed action on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to end the mandates immediately. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9a541744450948e72d6d77a2f45327d/ATX%20Mask%20Signage%20EL%20TT%2013.jpg)
Experts say testing is still a crucial step as Texas continues to deal with the pandemic, but the public messaging has shifted away from testing and toward vaccinations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2b8480849a16798c54523bf560e21af7/Falfurrias%20Flu%20Shot%20JG%20TT%2019.jpg)
Some schools are letting students have a full week off. Others are spreading out free days to discourage travel. And some plan on-campus alternatives to leaving for vacation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/07f367fa9833a572ac72d6e6c732c3be/SPI%20COVID%2019%20Spring%20Break%20JG%20TT%2004.jpg)
Texas lawmakers expected to be sweating over a very tight budget right now, after strong early signs that the pandemic would stall the economy. But an improved economy and a huge infusion of federal aid is erasing those fears. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91fb982015811aa41562a78622267726/Lege%202021%20Opening%20Day%20MG%20TT%2002.jpg)
Texas' mask mandate was lifted this week, and Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered that "no jurisdiction" can implement a local one if coronavirus hospitalizations don't meet a certain metric. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1be68002674de015202f1bbc57ac2402/ATX%20COVID%20File%20June%2024%20MG%20TT%2019.jpg)
A newly "open" state will likely look very different in rural towns and suburban neighborhoods compared to more populous areas and coronavirus hot spots, residents and business owners say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b9a9866b7bcf4e22fd5ee66dc2ec158b/DTX%20Mask%20Life%20BT%20TT%2003.jpg)
Health officials had told Planned Parenthood's Medicaid patients they had until early February to find new doctors, but the health provider filed an emergency lawsuit saying the state had not followed the proper procedures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/30b48dcb5839c108d3a9c5f9df819cfc/Planned%20Parenthood%20EG%20TT%2002.jpg)
Before the Wednesday announcement, already between 10 million and 13 million people — more than one-third of Texas’ population — were eligible, according to state health officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cef08c241ef0dc9666c46d247f1a2114/Wilco%20Mass%20Vaccination%20SF%20TT%2022.jpg)
Austin and Travis County officials said they would continue to require masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott ended his statewide mandate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3b9ef1575416eedea39601cd741a1fc4/Austin%20Thunderbirds%20Flyover%20EG%20TT%2006.jpg)
Texas’ statewide mask mandate has ended as of March 10. Businesses are also now allowed to operate at full capacity as long as the hospitals in their region haven’t been treating a large share of patients for COVID-19. Here’s a look at what the loosened restrictions mean for Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f55a2f9cb1a167173ab29104b7c75f05/ATX%20Mask%20Signage%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order effective Wednesday that says "no jurisdiction" can impose jail time or other penalties for not wearing a mask. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a22a7cefa6d698de98e85e86350c0736/ATX%20COVID%20File%20June%2024%20MG%20TT%2008.jpg)