During Monday’s briefing, Turner said the Houston Department of Health reported 777 cases of COVID-19, bringing Houston’s total to 111,211. In addition to the new cases, Turner reported that there were three more deaths due to the virus, bringing the total death toll in the city to 1,530.
As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be rolled out, this week the Houston Department of Health and the Houston Fire Department plan to receive 3,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
“We are ready to receive this inventory. We have the tools and equipment to properly store the equipment and a plan to administer these vaccines to these employees,” said Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Pena.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, there have been growing concerns about reports of a new chain of the virus in the UK. During Monday’s briefing, Houston Department of Health doctor David Persse addressed that the new variant does not cause any more serious illness.
“The new mutant virus doesn’t seem to be more lethal, it doesn’t cause any more serious disease, it doesn’t cause more death. The change seems to be that the virus is transmitted more easily,” Drs. Persse.
As the city of Houston sees an increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate, Mayor Turner is urging Houstonians to cancel the upcoming Christmas meetings.
“To avoid a climb apart from a climb, postpone trips until next year. I know a lot of people fly here and there, I don’t think it’s a good thing to do that right now,” he said Turner. . “There is, of course, hope on the horizon with the approval now of two vaccines.”
Health workers have already started receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and Monday’s president-elect, Joe Biden, received a vaccine.
Biden received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television on Monday as part of a growing effort to convince the American public that inoculations are safe. The president-elect took a dose of Pfizer vaccine at a hospital not far from his home in Delaware, hours after his wife, Jill Biden, did the same.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to receive a vaccine tomorrow, Dec. 22.
Abbott announced Monday that he will be allowed to return to the public at the Capitol on Jan. 4, about a week before the Texas legislature meets again. The decision comes as new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise to the highest levels since the summer. Texas had more than 9,800 patients hospitalized with coronavirus as of Sunday, most since a deadly summer outbreak.
Copyright © 2020 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.