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In recent weeks, cases of the novel coronavirus have spiked in the U.S., with Texas leading the pack in the amount of deaths and new daily cases.

According to recent data, Texas reported 13,768 new cases and 218 new deaths on Thursday, Nov. 19. In total, Texas has recorded 1.14 million cases and 20,689 deaths related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Not far behind is California, with 1.08 million cases to date and 18,555 deaths.

Lubbock County has been one of the areas hit hardest in the latest coronavirus surge. More than 606 new cases were reported on Thursday, Nov. 19th, along with 6 additional deaths. In total, Lubbock has reported 27,660 cases of COVID-19, with 5,605 (20.3 percent) of those cases still active and over 21,763 (78.7 percent) recoveries.

In Texas Trauma Service Area B where Lubbock County is located, the COVID-19 hospitalization percentage has risen to 29.2 percent. The only trauma service areas in Texas with a higher rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is Amarillo at 35.7 percent and El Paso at 40.9 percent. Even so, during a visit to Lubbock on Thursday, Nov. 19th, Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference and announced there would be no new state-wide lockdowns forthcoming.

Instead, Governor Abbott offered hope that with the help of a COVID-19 antibody therapy called bamlanivimab, hospitalization rates in Lubbock and other hot spots would start to decline over the coming weeks. Gov. Abbott said the therapy drug has been delivered to Lubbock County and that more will also be on its way to other parts of Texas.

Meanwhile, Lubbock city officials and even the CDC is discouraging large gatherings over the Thanksgiving holiday to try and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. During a press conference on Nov. 18th, Dr. Ron Cook recommended groups of no more than 10 on Thanksgiving as well as social distancing and mask-wearing.

READ MORE: See how some companies are changing their businesses to combat COVID-19

 

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