Texas is in the "red zone" for COVID cases. The White House Coronavirus Task Force released a report this week listing the state as having a positivity rate over ten-percent. The report recommends residents wear masks, socially distance, minimize travel outside of the home and get tested. Health officials say 42-hundred lives could be saved if everyone just wears a mask. At this point, they expect hospitals to be overwhelmed from outbreaks stemming from holiday gatherings, especially with Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's still ahead.
Texas health officials say they expect to get nearly 225-thousand doses of the COVID vaccine. They could arrive in the state as soon as December 14th and will be distributed to 109 hospitals in 34 counties. The first doses will go to healthcare and frontline workers among other vulnerable populations. The Pfizer vaccine has been found to be 95-percent effective in preventing infections of COVID-19.
photo: Gerry Images