Texas Hits Record 14,648 Coronavirus Cases On Thanksgiving Eve

AUSTIN, TX — Texas reported a new record for the most cases of the coronavirus cases reported in a single day on Wednesday, with 14,648 new diagnoses emerging from the previous day. Health officials also reported 200 new deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 20,950.

The data were input in a statistical dashboard maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services agency. The new single-day high breaks the previous record set the day before by 650 cases. The previous record level of new cases set on Tuesday comprising 13,998 new infections supplanted a previous single-day high set the previous Saturday, when 12,587 new coronavirus cases emerged.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to 14,648 new cases, state officials wrote on the dashboard, health officials are reporting 961 older cases recently reported by labs at 38 counties from Atascosa to Wilbarger. The most number of retroactive cases emerging from those areas were reported in Harris County, with 771 confirmed diagnoses. El Paso County was a distant second in previously unreported cases, with 55, according to the dashboard notation.

Related stories:

• Texas Hits Record 14K New Coronavirus Cases, 162 More Deaths
• Texas Logs Record 12,597 New Coronavirus Cases, 171 More Deaths
  
• Texas Gains 8,554 New Coronavirus Cases, 89 More Deaths
  
• Texas Surpasses 1 Million Coronavirus Cases
• Texas Logs Record 12,597 New Coronavirus Cases, 171 More Deaths
• Texas Gains 8,554 New Coronavirus Cases, 89 More Deaths
• Texas Reports 6,576 New Coronavirus Cases, 32 New Deaths

The single-day record comes one day before Thanksgiving as many people take the risk of infection to be with their families during the holiday despite being dissuaded by health officials from traveling. The soaring rates of illness prompted John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, to plead with people to wear protective facial coverings and limit gatherings to those living in their households.

“Please, let’s not lose our stamina,” Hellerstedt said in a message posted on Twitter. “Let’s realize that it is not over yet, and we still have to protect ourselves and others. The safest thing for Thanksgiving would be to have a virtual Thanksgiving.”

Hospitalizations are also on the rise. According to the dashboard, 8,585 Texas residents were being treated for the illness — the highest level recorded since early August. The dashboard also shows a total of 177,573 actives cases of illness.

According to the state dashboard, the top 20 counties with the highest number of cumulative coronavirus cases are:

• Harris County: 185,304.
• Dallas County: 120,999.
• Tarrant County: 83,867.
• El Paso County: 83,451.
• Bexar County: 62,701.
• Hidalgo County: 41,469.
• Travis County: 37,120.
• Lubbock County: 30,054.
• Cameron County: 25,701.
• Collin County: 24,571.
• Fort Bend County: 19,718.
• Webb County: 19,204.
• Denton County: 19,019.
• Nueces County: 17,512.
• Montgomery County: 14,815.
• Galveston County: 14,388.
• Brazoria County: 14,050.
• McLennan County: 13,817.
• Williamson County: 12,272.
• Potter County: 12,047.

The top 25 counties with the greatest number of fatalities since the start of the pandemic, according to the dashboard, are:

• Harris County: 2,984.
• Hidalgo County: 1,805.
• Dallas County: 1,497.
• Bexar County: 1,486.
• El Paso County: 1,013.
• Cameron County: 1,010.
• Tarrant County: 1,008.
• Travis County: 468.
• Nueces County: 425.
• Webb County: 376.
• Fort Bend County: 329.
• Lubbock County: 328.
• Collin County: 245.
• Denton County: 208.
• Montgomery County: 207.
• Brazoria County: 200.
• Smith County: 190.
• Starr County: 188.
• McLennan County: 183.
• Galveston County: 179.
• Jefferson County: 175.
• Maverick County: 172.
• Williamson County: 164.
• Potter County: 154.
• Val Verde County: 139.

To study the full range of coronavirus data statewide, visit theTexas Department of State Health Servicesdashboard.