June 16, 2020 / Nicholas Reimann, Forbes Staff
TOPLINE
Texas has again reported its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began—and Memorial Day gatherings may be partially to blame, Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference Tuesday, which he held to address growing concerns over rising hospitalizations in the state after record highs for hospitalizations have now been reported for five days in a row.
KEY FACTS
- Texas reported 2,622 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, according to Abbott, topping the previous record set on June 10.
- The amount of new cases has risen quickly over the past few weeks in Texas, as has the percentage of tests coming back positive, while the state has broken the record for its highest number of coronavirus hospitalizations for five days in a row.
- Abbott and health officials acknowledged that the spread of coronavirus has definitely increased in Texas, with the governor specifically saying that Memorial Day gatherings or people going out to bars and violating social distancing guidelines may be the cause of the increased spread.
